Justin Oliver of Redan Georgia won the 400 m dash at the prestigious Mobile(Al) Challenge of Champions this weekend with a nations best time of 46.87.

Nice!

From lane 7 in the cold as reported by Dyestat. Just think if it was warm and from lane 4. Good things are in store for the Aggies if all of the signees are this talented.

Lane 7 is better than lane 4 because the futher out you are the less curve you run.

yes! If there are no runners in lanes 1 thru 6.
Jan

while it is less intense of a curve, whether or not someone runs curves well makes a bigger difference than how big the curve is...finals always has the top 4 in 3-6, so anyone good gets used to not being on the outside or inside. Good time for lane 7...especially in the weather.

I saw this article about Justin Oliver on Aggie Athletics. He also ran a 46.75 lastweek at a meet in SC. Along with the other track signees, this signing class is looking very strong.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/highschool/0405/06track.html

[This message has been edited by Fanaggie (edited 4/15/2005 10:27a).]

[This message has been edited by Fanaggie (edited 4/15/2005 10:29a).]

That's only slightly slower than Coach Ted ran the 440 yd. dash (longer than 400 meters ) while in HS 43 years ago.

Coach Nelson's 46.5 @ 440 yards (national record) in 1961 at the regional meet in Odessa would be equal to a 46.2 in the 400 meters. His anchor leg on the Andrews High School mile relay national record (3:15.2) in 1960 was 46.0 for his 440 leg (45.7 in meters today.) All his running was on the old cinder and crushed brink used for tracks in those days.

All the above for just a little perspective...

[This message has been edited by Friend of RCII (edited 5/11/2005 1:45p).]

As I recall, Andrews also held the 440 relay national record with a 41.5. Spectacular times then and now by Coach Nelson.

Yes, in 1960 Andrews set the national record in the 440 relay with a 41.5. Larry Shoemaker led off (state champ in 100 yard dash), Ted Nelson ran the second leg (state champ in 220 yard dash), Darvis Cormier ran the third leg (he was a 10.2 100 yard dash guy) and R. E. Merritt (state champ in the 440 yard dash) ran the anchor. AS shown above, in 1960, Andrews High had the state champs in the three sprints with three different sprinters.

At the state meet, Andrews had to beat the Bay City Black Cats who came into the meet with a 42.0, witch tied the former national record held by San Antonio Brackenridge. Andrews came into the meet with a 41.9, having previously beaten the national record. Andrews beat the Black Cats in a great relay with the 41.5 and new national record.

Andrews set the national record in the mile relay with a 3:15.2 in 1960 at the Mustang Relays in Andrews. The previous national record was held by Boys High in Brooklyn NY with a 3:17.5 Second place in the Mustang Relays mile relay went to Midland High School with something like a 3:16.9.

Those were pretty good foot racing days. Andrews won state meets in 1954, 1958-1961. Andrews was segregated in those days and had all white athletic teams...



[This message has been edited by Friend of RCII (edited 5/11/2005 7:44p).]

[This message has been edited by Friend of RCII (edited 5/11/2005 8:46p).]

Here's what I like about Coach Henry's class. Three of the nation's top five high school quarter-milers from the indoor season are signed and delivered to Texas A&M. Young, Oliver and Champagne will be running three legs on A&M's 4x4 next year.

Oliver has been the national leader outdoors for most of the season, although he was recently passed by some guy from Tallahassee

From Dyestat.com/Indoor
B-400 47.37 McCombs, Bryant, 2006, Old Bridge NJ 3/13/2005, NSIC NY, # 1 NYArmory
B-400 47.45 Young, Quentin, 2005, San Antonio TX 3/13/2005, NSIC NY, # 2 NYArmory
B-400 47.62 Summers, Quentin, 2005, Madison San Antonio TX 3/13/2005, NSIC NY, # 3 NYArmory
B-400 47.68 Oliver, Justin, 2005, Redan Stone Mountain GA 2/19/2005, Simplot Games ID, # 1 Idaho State U.
B-400 47.7 Champagne, Shyron, 2005, St. Augustine NO LA 3/13/2005, NSIC NY, # 4 NYArmory

From Dyestat.com/Outdoor
46.59 *JUSTIN TERRY, Leon, Tallahassee, FL FL 3A(1) 5.6
46.71 -JUSTIN OLIVER, Redan, Stone Mountain, GA Reg(1) 4.30
46.75 -OLIVER Taco Bell(1) 4.9
46.81 -DAVID GETTIS, Dorsey, Los Angeles, CA Arcadia(1) 4.9
46.87 -OLIVER Mobile(1) 4.2

Back on Andrews High...

Not too bad for four white guys who each stood about 5'9" tall and each weighed about 145-150 pounds to rip off a 41.5 for the sprint relay.

As a routine, a fifth guy always replaced Cormier from the sprint relay to run on the mile relay as the fourth best quartermiler. The night the national record was set at 3:15.2, the forth best quarter miler did not run in the relay, the fifth best quartermiler was used because he had upset the fourth guy in a practice "challenge" during the week.

If the fourth best quarter miler had run, the time might have been in the 3:13 range instead of 3:15.2. Difference between a 53 lead off leg versus the usual 51 for the regular lead off guy (Leslie Blackburn). On that night, Johnny Landrum had the lead off honors.

Justin regained the 1 ranking in the US yesterday with a 46.5 at the Georgia State Meet.

Good for Justin!