Elected: 12 Athletes Into Hall Of Fame
A half-dozen men and a half-dozen collegiate stars comprise this year’s USTFCCCA class (see “Last Lap”).
Hired: Bernard Lagat, 51
The 13-time medalist in the Olympics and World Championships has been tapped to be the new General Manager Of Youth Programs for USATF.
Died: Don Baird, 74
On February 19. The gold medal winner in the vault at the ’74 Commonwealth Games for Australia, he won the ’77 NCAA Indoor for Long Beach State. Outdoors, he tied for 3rd in the ’75 NCAA and made 2nd in ’77. World Ranked No. 7 in ’75.
Died: Stan Belin, 66
On February 02, in Plainfield, New Jersey. Rutgers athlete ran the second leg on the 4×8 squad that won at the ’81 NCAA Indoor.
Died: Dave Ellis, 88
On February 7. The British-born runner competed for Eastern Michigan and in ’64 won the AAU cross country title. He later represented Canada in the Olympics.
Died: Jeff Galloway, 80
On February 26, in Pensacola, Florida; of a hemorrhagic stroke. The Wesleyan alum placed 2nd in the ’72 Trials 10,000 and a week later, 4th in the marathon. At Munich he finished 11th in his heat at the Games. In ’76, he placed 9th in the marathon trials. He twice U.S. Ranked in the 10,000, with a No. 3 in ’73; he was a 4-time Ranker at the marathon. He later became a noted author and coach.
Died: Marita Lange, 82.
On December 12. The East German won silver in the ’68 Olympic shot. The 10-time World Ranker was No. 2 in ’68.
Died: Hans-Georg Reimann, 84
On February 20, in Döbeln, Germany. The East German walker won the bronze in the 20K at the ’72 Olympics. In ’76, he earned silver. Of his 6 World Rankings, the best came in ’73, when he was No. 1. ◻︎
