Died: Joseph Chebet, 52
On July 7, in Eldoret, Kenya. He won the Boston and New York Marathons in ’99 and Ranked No. 1 in the world. Was also World Ranked the two previous years. Set his PR of 2:08:23 in ’97.
Died: Emanuil Dyulgerov, 68
On June 26, in Sofia, Bulgaria. World Ranked No. 6 in the hammer in ’77, the year he won the World University Games. Placed 6th in the ’80 Olympics.
Died: Annamária Tóth, 77
In July, in Budapest, Hungary. Bronze medalist for Hungary in the pentathlon at the ’68 Olympics (and also ran on the 4×1). A 3-time World Ranker, she was No. 1 in ’67.
Died: Remigius Valiulis, 64
On July 19, In Vilnius, Lithuania. Part of the Soviet Union’s gold medal 4×4 at the ’80 Olympics, he won the Euro Indoor 400 bronze that same year. Was an 8-time Lithuanian 400 champ.
Died: Lee Yoder, 92
On May 17, in Green Cove Springs, Florida; after a brief illness. The runner-up in the 1952 NCAA 400H for Arkansas, he also took 2nd in the ’52 Olympic Trials but didn’t advance from the Olympic heats. Fifteen years later he earned a Pan-Am bronze playing field hockey.