Ron Whitney

Ronald Howard "Ron" Whitney (born October 5, 1942) is a retired American hurdler and sprinter. Known for his fast finish, he was sixth in the 400 m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[1] He had entered the race as one of the favorites,[2] having been ranked #1 in the world in 1967 [3] and winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event for the second time earlier that year.[4] At the Olympics, his first heat victory established a new Olympic record, only to be surpassed by David Hemery two days later.[5]

Ron Whitney
Personal information
Born (1942-10-05) October 5, 1942
Modesto, California, United States
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight78 kg (172 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)400 m, 400 m hurdles
ClubSouthern California Striders, Anaheim
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)400 m – 46.6 (1967)
880 yd – 1:48.6 (1963)
400 mH – 49.06 (1968)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
1967 Winnipeg 400 m hurdles
Summer Universiade
1967 Tokyo400 m hurdles
1965 Budapest400 m hurdles

Previously he had been the Pan American Games champion in the same event.[6] While working on his master's degree at Colorado State University, he was the 1967 Gold Medalist at the World University Games. He also had won bronze two years earlier[5] and while competing for Occidental College, where he was coached by Jim Bush, was runner up at the NCAA Championships in 1963.

At Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, California, Whitney was the champion at the 1960 Golden West Invitational, the equivalent of a national champion, at 800 m,[7] a week after finishing fourth in the CIF California State Meet in the same event.[8]

Whitney continued to compete into masters age groups as a pioneer of masters athletics.[9]

Whitney continues to be involved in the sport as head track and field coach at Santa Rosa Junior College.[10] He is a member of the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame and the Occidental College Hall of Fame.[11]

References
  1. "UKA David Hemery". Ukathletics.org. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  2. "Greatest British Olympic Hurdlers". About Olympics. July 11, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  3. "All-Time World Rankings – Men's 400 Hurdles" (PDF). Trackandfieldnews.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  4. "Statistics – USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions". USATF. Archived from the original on June 13, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  5. "Ron Whitney Biography and Olympic Results | Olympics at". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
  6. Ralph Hickok (November 26, 2011). "History – Pan American Games Track and Field Medalists – Men". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  7. "Past Champions : 13 Golden West : June : Results : Track : 2009 : DyeStatCal : The Internet Home of California High School Track, Field and Cross Country | DyeStatCal". Archive.dyestatcal.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  8. "California State Meet Results – 1915 to present". Hank Lawson. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  9. "U.S. Masters International Track Team – September 1978" (PDF). Mastershistory.org. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  10. "Santa Rosa Junior College". Santarosa.edu. August 13, 2004. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  11. "Occidental : Occidental College Track and Field Hall of Fame". Oxyathletics.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
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