Ron Whitney

Ron Whitney

Personal information
Born	(1942-10-05) October 5, 1942 Modesto, California, United States
Medal record Men's Athletics Competitor for the  United States Pan American Games Gold 1967 Winnipeg 400 metres hurdles Summer Universiade Gold 1967 Tokyo 400 metres hurdles Bronze 1965 Budapest 400 metres hurdles

Ronald Howard "Ron" Whitney (born October 5, 1942 in Modesto, California) is a retired American hurdler and middle-distance runner. Known for his fast finish, he finished in 6th place in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico as David Hemery demolished the world record.^[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] In the Olympics, his first heat victory established a new Olympic record, only to be surpassed by Hemery two days later.

Previously he had been the Pan American Games champion in the same event.^[5] While working on his Masters Degree at Colorado State University, he was the 1967 Gold Medalist at the World University Games. He also had won Bronze two years earlier^[6] 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 metres^[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

1968 USA Olympic Track & Field Team Qualification 1968 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) Men's track & road athletes Jack Bacheler Wade Bell John Carlos Leon Coleman Willie Davenport Ronald Daws Bob Day Tom Dooley Lee Evans Tom Farrell Ron Freeman Boyd Gittins Charles Greene Ervin Hall Rudy Haluza Jim Hines Larry James Goetz Klopfer Ronald Kutchinski Ron Laird Tom Laris Marty Liquori Vincent Matthews Kenny Moore Van Nelson Conrad Nightingale Mel Pender Larry Questad William Reilly David Romansky Jim Ryun Lou Scott Ronnie Ray Smith Tommie Smith Tracy Smith Geoff Vanderstock Tom Von Ruden Ron Whitney George Young Larry Young Men's field athletes Bob Beamon Ralph Boston Reynaldo Brown Edward Burke Gary Carlsen Casey Carrigan Ed Caruthers Hal Connolly Frank Covelli Dick Fosbury Albert Hall Dave Maggard Randy Matson Charles Mays Mark Murro Al Oerter John Pennel Bob Seagren Jay Silvester Rick Sloan David Smith George Stenlund Norman Tate Bill Toomey Tom Waddell Arthur Walker George Woods Women's track & road athletes Margaret Bailes Doris Brown Lois Ann Drinkwater Julie Mae Dyer Barbara Ferrell Francie Kraker Madeline Manning Mildred Netter Mamie Rallins Jarvis Scott Esther Stroy Patty Jean Van Wolvekaere Women's field athletes RaNae Bair Estelle Baskerville Sharon Callahan Olga Connolly Barbara Friedrich Cathy Hamblin Eleanor Montgomery Carol Moseke Maren Seidler Martha Watson Willye White Pat Winslow Coaches —