Died: Geoff Capes, 75
On October 23; in Lincoln, England. The 5th-place finisher in the ’80 Olympic shot, the Briton was a 2-time champion at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Indoor. A 6-time World Ranker, he was No. 1 in ’75.
Died: Marise Chamberlain, 88
On November 05; in Christchurch, New Zealand. The bronze medalist in the ’64 Olympic 800, she also was an early WR holder in the 440 and mile. A 5-time World Ranker at 800, she was No. 2 in ’63. She also Ranked 4 times at 400.
Died: Annalie Ehrhardt, 74
On October 18; in Magdeburg, Germany. Competing for East Germany, she was the first-ever gold medalist in the 100H in ’72. Indoors and out she set 20 WRs. Ranked No. 1 in the world in 1972–74 as part of a streak of 7 straight Rankings.
Died: Dallas Long, 84
On November 10; in Whitefish, Montana. A 3-time NCAA champion for USC, 1960-62, Long won the ’60 Olympic Trials and bronze in Rome. In ’64, he captured the Olympic gold. He set 11 World Records. A 7-time World Ranker, he was No. 1 in ’61, ’62 & ’64. A prep prodigy, he was the AAU runner-up as a senior (North, Phoenix, Arizona) and was No. 2 in the World Rankings.
Died: Dave Romansky, 86
On October 31; in Vineland, New Jersey. He represented the U.S. at the ’68 Olympics, finishing 36th in the 50K walk at the ’68 Olympics. He set multiple national titles during his career, including 7 different distances in ’70. One of only 3 Americans ever to World Rank in the 20K.
Died: Alan Simpson, 84
On October 24; in Great Britain. The 4th-placer in the ’64 Olympic 1500, he also won a silver for England in the ’66 Commonwealth Games. In ’65 he set an indoor world best for 5000. He World Ranked 4 times, with a No. 4 in ’64.
Died: Dave Stephens, 95
On November 05; in Melbourne, Australia. The “Flying Milkman” broke the World Record for 6M with his 27:54.0 in ’56. Then injured, he finished 20th in the Olympic 10K. He World Ranked No. 8 that year. At 5000, he Ranked No. 9 in ‘55.