Retired: Justin Gatlin, 40
On February 10. The ’04 Olympic 100 champ announced the end of his long career on his 40th birthday (see “Last Lap”).
Died: Rex Cawley, 81
On January 21, in Orange, California. The 400H gold medalist in the ’64 Olympics, he had set a World Record 49.1 at the Olympic Trials that year. He World Ranked 7 years straight, with No. 1s in ’63 and ’64. A prep phenom, in his HSAOY season (’59), he earned World Rankings in both hurdle events and at the AAU became the first and only one ever to reach the top 6 in the 120H, 220H and 440H. Won the ’63 NCAA 400H for USC and was twice a flat-400 scorer.
Died: Marty Engel, 90
On January 29. The NCAA hammer runner-up as an NYU soph in ’52 he went on to make the Olympic final, but fouled three times. The next year he was AAU champion and set an American Record at 195-4 (59.55).
Died: Roddie Haley, 57
On February 17, in Texarkana, Texas. The NCAA 400 champ as an Arkansas frosh in ’85, he also won the Indoor 500m titles in ’86 & ’87. He won a World Championships gold as part of the 4×4 in ’87. Was 3 times World Ranked, with a high of No. 3 in ’85; 4 times U.S.-Ranked with a high of No. 2 in ’85. His PR was 44.48 and he ran the fastest relay leg ever at Penn, a 43.5 on a distance medley.
Died: Ivanka Khristova, 81
On February 18, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The ’76 Olympic shot gold medalist, she had also won bronze in ’72 and didn’t medal in ’68 (6th) and ’64 (10th). In ’76 she set 2 World Records. She World Ranked 10 times 1967–76, with her sole No. 1 coming in ’76. At 71-10 (21.89) she’s still No. 5 on the all-time world list.
Died: John Landy, 91
On February 24, in Castlemain, Australia, of Parkinson’s. See “Last Lap” for more on the second man to break the 4:00 barrier.
Died: Klaus Ploghaus, 66
On January 11, in Hambühren, Germany. The winner of the hammer bronze for West Germany at the ’84 Games, he World Ranked 6 times, with a best of No. 3 coming in ’81.
Died: Siegfried Valentin, 85
On January 11, in Potsdam, Germany. The 2-time Olympian (failed to advance from heats in ’60 & ’64) set a 1000m World Record with his 2:16.7 in ’60. It was the first WR set by an East German. World Ranked 4 times in the 1500, with a No. 3 in ’59, the same year as his sole 800 ranking (No. 9). Twice ran on WR-setting 4 x 1500 teams.