Named: Noah Lyles & Sha’Carri Richardson
As USATF’s ’23 Athletes Of The Year. Lyles won the Jesse Owens Award for the third time, Richardson the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award for the first.
Died: Walter Adams, 78
On October 30, in Kornwestheim, Germany. The 4th-placer in the ’68 Olympic 800, he Ranked No. 4 in the world that year. He returned to the Rankings with a No. 6 in ’70. Didn’t advance from the heats in ’72. In ’66 he ran second leg on the West German 4×8 that set a WR 7:08.6.
Died: Niels Holst-Sørensen, 100
On October 24. The ’46 European 400 champion for Denmark, and silver medalist in the 800, he later served on the International Olympic Committee for 25 years. In the ’48 Olympics he placed 9th in the 800. Twice World-Ranked with a high of No. 3 in ’47.
Died: Pavel Kantorek, 93
On November 10, in Prague. A 6-time World Ranker in the marathon from 1957-62, he was No. 2 in ’61, the year he won Fukuoka. He competed in three Olympic marathons, with a best finish of 14th in ’60 and was 11th in the 10,000 in ’56.
Died: John Nuttall, 56
On November 9, in Doha; of a heart attack. The ’89 NCAA cross country champion, he led a 1-2 finish for Iowa State, helping the Cyclones to the team title. In ’91 he took 2nd in the NCAA Indoor 3000. Ran the ’96 Olympic 5000 heats for Britain.