Myers earns Throwback Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sprint and middle-distance legend L.E. “Lon” Myers was selected as the winner of the 34th USATF Throwback Athlete of the Week award for setting an American record in the men’s mile on November 11, 1882. In the absence of regular competition during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are taking a weekly look back at some of the great efforts by American track and field athletes through the years.
 
In a race against England’s W.G. George at the Polo Grounds in New York City on Nov. 11, 1882, Myers set an American record of 4:27 ⅗ in a losing effort, as George won easily in 4:21 ⅖. The time for Myers was 1.9 seconds faster than his previous AR, set May 31, 1880. 
 
Myers trounced George over a half-mile the previous Saturday, but through the first 440y of the mile, George had a lead of a few strides as he went through in just over 61 seconds. George continued to lead through the half in 2:05 ⅕ and the three-quarters in 3:16, 10 yards ahead of Myers according to the New York Times account of the race. At the finish, George had a gap of more than 20 yards over Myers but had pulled the American to another national record. In the final race of the series on Thanksgiving Day, George took top honors over three-quarters of a mile.
 
A 1974 inductee into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class, Laurence Eugene “Lon” Myers was the greatest 440 and 880 runner of the 19th century but he also held national records in events from 50 yards to the one mile. He won 15 national titles, including six straight in the 440‑yard dash, and was the first man to break 50 seconds for the quarter mile.
           
A true measure of his versatility came at the 1880 National AAU meet when he won all four races from 100 to 880 yards. Only 5‑8 and 112 pounds, his bests of 10.0 for 100 yards, 22.6 for the 200, 48.6 for the 440, 1:55.4 for the 880 and 4:22.6 for the one mile are still impressive marks for versatility of running. In 1885, he became a professional runner and later moved into bookmaking, which was legal at that time. He died of pneumonia 13 years later.
 
Other historical performances of note from the November 9-15 period in USATF history:
 

• November 9 — Emma Baker pre-AAU American best in women’s long jump, 3.48m/11-5 at Vassar Field Day in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1895
• November 14 — Phil Coleman American record in men’s 2 miles, 8:48.6 at Geelong, Australia, in 1956

 
Now in its 19th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2020 Winners: January 9, Miranda Melville; January 16, Paul Perry; January 23, Natosha Rogers; January 30, Tyler Day, February 6, Devin Dixon; February 13, Elle Purrier; February 20, Tori Franklin; February 27, Sandi Morris; March 4, Abdi Abdirahman; March 12 Marielle Hall; March 19, Tim Tollefson; April 2, Louise Ritter; April 9, Francie Larrieu Smith; April 16, Erin Gilreath; April 23, Suzy Powell; April 30, Joe Dial; May 7, Dawn Ellerbe; May 14, Ramona Pagel; May 21, Brian Oldfield; May 28, Jackie Joyner-Kersee; June 4, Jesse Owens; June 11, Mary Decker Slaney; June 18, Leroy Burrell; June 25, Sandra Farmer-Patrick; July 2, Jim Ryun; July 9, Evelyn Ashford; July 16, Wilma Rudolph & Shelby Houlihan; July 23, Pat Daniels & Ryan Crouser; July 30, Michael Norman & Mildred “Babe” Didriksen; August 6, Valarie Allman & Parry O’Brien; August 13, Sara Hall & Kevin Young; August 20, Justin Robinson & Jackie Joyner-Kersee; August 27, Donavan Brazier & Renaldo Nehemiah; September 3, Ryan Crouser & Mike Powell; September 10, Ryan Crouser & Wilma Rudolph; September 17, Rudy Winkler & Kate Schmidt; September 24, Ryan Crouser & Jay Silvester; October 1, Payton Chadwick & Carl Lewis; October 8, Sara Hall & Florence Griffith Joyner; October 15, Shadrack Kipchirchir & Johnny J. Kelley; October 22, Katie Thronson & Billy Mills; October 29, Jaci Smith & Joan Benoit Samuelson; November 5, Molly Huddle & Julie Brown; November 12, Tierney Wolfgram & Hal Connolly; November 19, Lon Myers.
 
We welcome your nominations!
 
To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org.
 
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