Died: Ralph Boston, 84
On April 30, in Peachtree City, Georgia; of a stroke. See the separate feature for more on the Tennessee State legend who became history’s first 27-foot (8.23) long jumper, collected a full set of Olympic medals and set 6 WRs.
Died: Tori Bowie, 32
On April 23, in Horizon West, Florida. The ’17 World Champion in the 100 and the 4×1, Bowie (boo-ee) had been a 2-time NCAA long jump champion for Southern Mississippi before taking on the sprints. She won 100 bronze at the ’15 Worlds, and at the Rio Olympics in ’16 she won 100 silver and 200 bronze, as well as relay gold. A 4-time World Ranker at 100, she was No. 2 in ’14, ’16 & ’17. In the 200 the best of her 4 Rankings was No. 3 in ’16. She also Ranked No. 7 in the long jump in ’19.
Died: Ed Collymore, 85
On May 07. The Villanova sprint ace won the ’58 NCAA 220 after placing 3rd the previous year. Twice a 200 World Ranker, he was No. 2 in ’58. In the 100, he claimed an NCAA 5th in ’58.
Died: Calvin Davis, 51
On May 01, in Springdale, Arkansas. While at Arkansas, Davis won the ’93 NCAA 400 and also the NCAA Indoor in ’94 after being runner-up in ’93. He later switched to the 400H and won bronze in the ’96 Olympics. He World Ranked twice, with a No. 4 in ’96. His PR of 47.91 came in the Atlanta semis, at the time making him the No. 7 American ever.
Died: Willie Deckard, 72
On May 11, in Inglewood, California; of pancreatic cancer. The anchor of the USC 4×1 team that won NCAA titles in ’71 & ’72, Deckard (deh-CARD) was an NCAA scorer in both the 1 and 2. Was World Ranked No. 5 in the 200 in ’71 after finishing as AAU runner-up. In ’71 his 9.2y co-led the world, and his 20.1 (20.2y) made him =No. 5 on the all-time world list.
Died: Tim Heikkila, 73
On April 26, in Thomasville, Georgia. The Minnesota high jumper was the first from that school to clear 7-feet. He placed 6th in the ’69 NCAA, the year he won the Big 10. Two years later, he tied for 2nd. A 3-time U.S. Ranker, he made No. 7 in the ’71 World Rankings.
Died: Shaun Pickering 61
On May 11. The Welsh thrower competed for Stanford, where he finished 8th in the ’84 NCAA hammer. He later represented Great Britain as an Olympic shot putter. He perhaps had a bigger effect on the sport as a coach, commentator and philanthropist.
Died: Eddie Southern, 85
On May 17, in Austin, Texas. As a Texas frosh he placed 2nd in the Olympic Trials 400H and then won Olympic silver. In three years of competition for the Longhorns, he never lost a Southwest Conference race. In ’58, he was NCAA runner-up at 440; the next year, he won. Twice he ran on Texas 4×1 teams that set WRs, and once more in the 4×2. In ’60 he led off the U.S. team that set a mile relay WR prior to the Olympics. World Ranked 3 times at 400H, topped by a No. 2 in ’56. At 400, he Ranked twice, and was No. 1 in ’59.
Died: Georgi Stoikovski, 81
On May 04. Twice an Olympic TJ finalist for Bulgaria, (7th in ’64, 9th in ’68), he was World Ranked 4 times with a high of No. 2 in ’66. ◻︎