Died: Martin Lauer, 82
On October 6; in Pegnitz, Germany. At both the ’56 and ’60 Olympics, he placed 4th for West Germany in the 110 hurdles. In ’60 he also anchored the WR-setting 4×1 to gold. He World Ranked 5 times in the hurdles, with a No. 1 in ’59, the year he won our first-ever Athlete Of The Year honors. He also Ranked twice in the decathlon, with a No. 2 in ’59. He set World Records in both the 110 and 200 hurdles, the former in ’59 with the first 13.2 ever.
Died: Blaine Lindgren, 80
On October 5; in Payson, Utah; of natural causes. The ’64 Olympic silver medalist in the 110 hurdles, he World Ranked 4 times 1962–65, topped by the No. 2 in the Olympic year. Collegiately, he ran for Utah, placing 3rd in the ’61 NCAA. When he ran 13.5y in ’63, only 9 other men had ever run faster.
Died: Jarred Rome, 42
On September 21; in Tulalip, Washington. The ’97 NCAA runner-up in the discus for Boise State and twice the USATF winner, Rome made two Olympic teams and was twice a World Championships finalist. He World Ranked No. 9 in both ’05 & ’06 and was U.S. Ranked 12 times, 5 of those at his high of No. 2. His PR of 225-7 (68.76) puts him at No. 15 on the all-time U.S. list.
Died: Ted Vogel, 94
On September 27; in Dover, New Hampshire. Winner of all three Olympic Trials marathons in ’48, he placed 14th in the Olympic race. The Tufts grad was also AAU 10,000 champ in ’46. ◻︎
