June 20, 1936 – Faster than fast that was how many described him. Jesse Owens the American sprinter, was a legendary athlete and trailblazer for people of color. On this day over 80 years ago, Mr. Owens set the 100-meter record at 10.2 seconds while representing Ohio State at this NCAA-sanctioned event. The previous record was 10.3 seconds.
Think about that for a moment…100 meters is roughly 109 yards. The record for the 100-meter sprint that stands now is 9.58 seconds by Usain Bolt in 2009. Owens went on to win a total of 4 events at the NCAA championships of 1936.
Besides winning the 100-meter sprint he also claimed the ribbons at the 200-meter sprint, 220-yard low hurdles, and the broad jump too. Quite an athlete…quite a man.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Joe Savoldi: From NFL Scandal to Super Spy in World War II
Welcome to this episode of “When Football Was Football.” We hope that you enjoy
Why The Mike Webster Story Is So Important!!!
If you were an NFL fan during the late 1970s and early 1980s, you
The Top Pound-For-Pound Boxers of All-Time
I am going to focus on 3 of the top men who ever laced
Super Bowl XX (Patriots vs. Bears): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XX, which was held on January 26, 1986, between
How I Remember Pro Wrestling in the 1970s
There was a time in my life when I was a big fan of
The Story Of When George Halas Finally Retired For Good
For those who remember George Halas, we might think of him in his later
The Story of the First-Ever Monday Night Football Game
The 1970s ushered in a new birth of competition in pro football. As with
(Mark Pattison) Former NFL WR Conquers Earth’s Seven Summits
In this episode, I talk to Mark Pattison, former NFL wide receiver. I first