Athletics at the 1955 Pan American Games

The Athletics Competition at the 1955 Pan American Games
1955 Pan American Games
The 2nd Pan American Games opened on March 12, 1955 in the University Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, in front of a capacity crowd of 100,000 spectators....

was held in Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

Men's events

100 metres 100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...	Rod Richard Rod Richard Rodney Richard is an American athlete who competed in the 1955 Pan American Games.At the 1955 Pan American Games he won the gold medal in the 100 metre event as well as in the 200 metre competition... United States	10.3A	Mike Agostini Mike Agostini Mike Agostini is a former track and field athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. In 1954, he became the first athlete from that state to take a gold medal at what is now known as the Commonwealth Games when he won the 100 yards final in Vancouver, Canada on July 31.-References:* * * at Best of Trinidad... Trinidad and Tobago	10.4A	Willie Williams Willie Williams (athlete) Willie Williams is a former American sprinter who set the 100 metres world record in 1956, with a new time of 10.1s, one-tenth of second faster than Jesse Owens' previous record.... United States	10.4A
200 metres 200 metres A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...	Rod Richard Rod Richard Rodney Richard is an American athlete who competed in the 1955 Pan American Games.At the 1955 Pan American Games he won the gold medal in the 100 metre event as well as in the 200 metre competition... United States	20.94A	Charles Thomas United States	21.42A	José Telles da Conceição Brazil Mike Agostini Mike Agostini Mike Agostini is a former track and field athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. In 1954, he became the first athlete from that state to take a gold medal at what is now known as the Commonwealth Games when he won the 100 yards final in Vancouver, Canada on July 31.-References:* * * at Best of Trinidad... Trinidad and Tobago	21.66A 21.67A
400 metres 400 metres The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...	Lou Jones United States	45.68A	Jim Lea United States	45.78A	Jesse Mashburn Jesse Mashburn Jesse William Mashburn is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics.... United States	46.44A
800 metres 800 metres The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...	Arnie Sowell Arnie Sowell Arnold M. Sowell is a former middle distance runner from the United States, who represented his native country at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's 800 metres event during the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City... United States	1:49.86A	Lon Spurrier United States	1:50.51A	Ramón Sandoval Chile	1:52.52A
1500 metres 1500 metres The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...	Juan Miranda Argentina	3:53.30A	Wes Santee Wes Santee David Wesley Santee was an American middle distance runner and athlete who competed mainly in the 1,500 meters and mile events.... United States	3:53.44A	Fred Dwyer United States	3:56.04A
5000 metres 5000 metres The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...	Osvaldo Suárez Osvaldo Suárez Juan Osvaldo Roberto Suárez is a long-distance runner from Argentina who won four gold medals at the Pan American Games. He represented his native country at two Summer Olympics: 1960 and 1964. After his active career, he became a professional athletics coach.-References:... Argentina	15:30.6A	Horace Ashenfelter Horace Ashenfelter Horace Ashenfelter, III is a retired American athlete. He competed in international athletics from 1947 to 1956 after service in World War II and the completion of his degree at Penn State.... United States	15:31.4A	Jaime Correa Córdoba Chile	15:39.2A
10,000 metres	Osvaldo Suárez Osvaldo Suárez Juan Osvaldo Roberto Suárez is a long-distance runner from Argentina who won four gold medals at the Pan American Games. He represented his native country at two Summer Olympics: 1960 and 1964. After his active career, he became a professional athletics coach.-References:... Argentina	32:42.6A	Vicente Sánchez Mexico	33:00.4A	Jaime Correa Córdoba Chile	33:42.6A
Marathon Marathon The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...	Doroteo Flores Guatemala	2:59:10A	Onésimo Rodríguez Mexico	3:02:22A	Luis Velázquez Guatemala	3:05:26A
3000 m steeple Steeplechase (athletics) The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...	Guillermo Solá Guillermo Solá Guillermo Solá Aravena is a retired middle- and long-distance runner from Chile. He won the gold medal in the men's 3.000 metres steeplechase event at the 1955 Pan American Games. Solá represented his native South American country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.-References:*... Chile	9:46.8A	Santiago Novas Chile	9:50.4A	Eligio Galicia Mexico	9:54.2A
110 m hurdles	Jack Davis Jack Davis (athlete) Jack Wells Davis is a former American athlete, silver medalist in the 1952 and 1956 Olympics over 110 meter high hurdles. Davis lost to Harrison Dillard in 1952 with the same time as the winner, and lost to Lee Calhoun in 1956, again with the same time as the winner... United States	14.44A	Keith Gardner Keith Gardner Keith Alvin Saint Hope Gardner was a Jamaican athlete who competed in the 110 metre hurdles, 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres.... Jamaica	14.74A	Evaristo Iglesias Cuba	14.94A
400 m hurdles	Josh Culbreath Josh Culbreath Joshua Culbreath was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles — the national outdoor champion from 1953 to 1955; three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays in the same years, and Olympic bronze medal winner in 1956, while he was serving in the U.S... United States	51.5A	Jaime Aparicio Colombia	51.8A	Wilson Carneiro Brazil	53.0A
High jump High jump The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....	Ernie Shelton Ernie Shelton Ernest Shelton was a male high jumper from the United States, who competed in the 1950s. He won the gold medal at the 1955 Pan American Games.... United States	2.01A	Herman Wyatt United States	2.01A	José Telles da Conceição Brazil	1.91A
Pole vault Pole vault Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...	Bob Richards Bob Richards The Reverend Robert Eugene Richards, known as Bob Richards , known as the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson" in his competitive days, was a versatile athlete who made three Olympic teams in two events... United States	4.50A	Bobby Smith United States	4.30A	Don Laz United States	4.30A
Long jump Long jump The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...	Rosslyn Range Rosslyn Range Rosslyn Range was a male long jumper from the United States, who competed in the 1950s for his native country. Range set his personal best in the men's long jump event on March 14, 1955 at a the 1955 Pan American Games.... United States	8.03A	John Bennett John Bennett (athlete) John Dale Bennett was an American athlete who competed mainly in the Long Jump.He competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the Long Jump where he won the silver medal.... United States	8.01A	Ary de Sá Ary de Sá Ary Façanha de Sá is a former Brazilian long jumper.At the 1952 Summer Olympics he finished fourth in the long jump. He also competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He became South American long jump champion in 1952, won silver medals in 1956 and 1958 and a bronze medal in 1954... Brazil	7.84A
Triple jump Triple jump The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...	Adhemar da Silva Adhemar da Silva Adhemar Ferreira da Silva is a former Brazilian athlete who competed in the triple jump. He won two Olympic gold medals and set four world records in athletics, the last being 16.56 metres in 1955 Pan American Games.He was born in São Paulo, in a poor family, and began competing in the triple jump... Brazil	16.56A	Arnoldo Devonish Arnoldo Devonish Arnoldo Vicente Devonish Romero was a track and field athlete from Venezuela, who won the first Olympic medal for his native country from South America.... Venezuela	16.13A	Víctor Hernández Cuba	15.60A
Shot put Shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....	Parry O'Brien Parry O'Brien William Parry O'Brien, Jr. was an American shot put champion. Born in Santa Monica, California, he competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics where he won two gold medals and one silver medal . In his last Olympic competition he placed fourth. For this, he is inducted in the U.S... United States	17.59A	Fortune Gordien Fortune Gordien Fortune Everett Gordien was an American athlete who competed mainly in the discus throw.Born in Spokane, Washington he competed for the United States in the 1948 Summer Olympics held in London, Great Britain in the discus throw where he won the bronze medal behind two Italians, Adolfo Consolini... United States	15.98A	Marty Engel United States	14.62A
Discus throw Discus throw The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...	Fortune Gordien Fortune Gordien Fortune Everett Gordien was an American athlete who competed mainly in the discus throw.Born in Spokane, Washington he competed for the United States in the 1948 Summer Olympics held in London, Great Britain in the discus throw where he won the bronze medal behind two Italians, Adolfo Consolini... United States	53.10A	Parry O'Brien Parry O'Brien William Parry O'Brien, Jr. was an American shot put champion. Born in Santa Monica, California, he competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics where he won two gold medals and one silver medal . In his last Olympic competition he placed fourth. For this, he is inducted in the U.S... United States	51.07A	Hernán Haddad Chile	47.14A
Hammer throw Hammer throw The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...	Bob Backus Bob Backus Robert Hudson Backus was an American track and field star who set world records in the hammer throw wearing ballet slippers after using weight training to overcome the effects of meningitis.... United States	54.91A	Marty Engel United States	53.36A	Elvio Porta Argentina	51.45A
Javelin throw Javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...	Franklin "Bud" Held United States	69.77A	Ricardo Heber Argentina	66.15A	Reinaldo Oliver Puerto Rico	65.56A
Decathlon Decathlon The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...	Rafer Johnson Rafer Johnson Rafer Lewis Johnson is an American former decathlete and film actor.-Biography:Johnson was born in Hillsboro, Texas, but the family moved to Kingsburg, California, when he was nine. For a while, they were the only black family in the town. A versatile athlete, he played on Kingsburg High School's... United States	6994A	Bob Richards Bob Richards The Reverend Robert Eugene Richards, known as Bob Richards , known as the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson" in his competitive days, was a versatile athlete who made three Olympic teams in two events... United States	6886A	Hernán Figueroa Hernán Figueroa Hernán Figueroa Bueg is a former decathlete from Chile. He won the gold medal in the men's decathlon event at the inaugural Pan American Games in 1951. He is a two-time Olympian for his native South American country.-References:*... Chile	5740A
4 x 100 m relay 4 x 100 metres relay The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...	United States Rod Richard Rod Richard Rodney Richard is an American athlete who competed in the 1955 Pan American Games.At the 1955 Pan American Games he won the gold medal in the 100 metre event as well as in the 200 metre competition... Willie Williams Willie Williams (athlete) Willie Williams is a former American sprinter who set the 100 metres world record in 1956, with a new time of 10.1s, one-tenth of second faster than Jesse Owens' previous record.... Charles Thomas John Bennett John Bennett (athlete) John Dale Bennett was an American athlete who competed mainly in the Long Jump.He competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the Long Jump where he won the silver medal....	40.96A	Venezuela Clive Bonas Guillermo Gutiérrez Apolinar Solórzano Juan Leiva	41.36A	Mexico Higuera Javier Souza René Ahumada Goya	41.94A
4 x 400 m relay 4 x 400 metres relay The 4 x 400 meters relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 400 meters or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first 500 meters is run in lanes...	United States Jesse Mashburn Jesse Mashburn Jesse William Mashburn is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics.... Lon Spurrier Jim Lea Lou Jones	3:07.43A	Jamaica Moore Stick Keith Gardner Keith Gardner Keith Alvin Saint Hope Gardner was a Jamaican athlete who competed in the 110 metre hurdles, 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres.... Mel Spence	3:12.63A	Venezuela Juan Leiva Guillermo Gutiérrez Edie Apolinar Solórzano	3:15.93A

Women's events

60 metres 60 metres 60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...	Bertha Díaz Bertha Díaz Julia Bertha Díaz Hernández is a retired sprinter from Cuba, who also competed in the long jump and the hurdling events during her career. She represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1956.-References:*... Cuba	7.5A	Isabelle Daniels Isabelle Daniels Isabelle Daniels is an American athlete, who mainly competed in the 100 metres.... United States	7.6A	Mabel Landry United States	7.6A
100 metres 100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...	Barbara Jones United States	11.90A	Mae Faggs Mae Faggs Heriwentha Faggs Starr1 was an American athlete who mainly competed in the sprint events. She graduated from Bayside High School, and then went to Tennessee State University to run under Hall of Fame coach Ed Temple, one of the first U.S... United States	12.07A	María Luisa Castelli Argentina	12.38A
80 m hurdles	Eliana Gaete Eliana Gaete Eliana Gaete is a female former track and field athlete from Chile. She earned gold medals in women's 80m hurdles at the 1951 and 1955 Pan American Games.-References:*... Chile	11.7A	Bertha Díaz Bertha Díaz Julia Bertha Díaz Hernández is a retired sprinter from Cuba, who also competed in the long jump and the hurdling events during her career. She represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1956.-References:*... Cuba	11.8A	Wanda dos Santos Wanda dos Santos Wanda dos Santos is a retired female hurdler from Brazil, who represented her native country at two Summer Olympics, starting in 1952. She won a total number of four individual medals at the Pan American Games during her career.... Brazil	11.8A
High jump High jump The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....	Mildred McDaniel Mildred McDaniel Millie "Tex" McDaniel-Singleton was an American athlete, who competed mainly in the women's high jump event during her career.... United States	1.685A	Deyse de Castro Brazil	1.59A	Verneeda Thomas United States	1.59A
Discus throw Discus throw The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...	Ingeborg Pfüller Ingeborg Pfüller Ingeborg Ella Pfüller was a female track and field athlete from Argentina, competing in the discus throw. She represented her native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics, and won the gold medal in the women's discus throw event at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico.-References:*... Argentina	43.19A	Isabel Avellán Argentina	40.06A	Alejandrina Herrera Cuba	38.00A
Javelin throw Javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...	Karen Anderson United States	49.15A	Estrella Puente Uruguay	43.43A	Amelia Wershoven United States	43.06A
4 x 100 m relay 4 x 100 metres relay The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...	United States Barbara Jones Isabelle Daniels Isabelle Daniels Isabelle Daniels is an American athlete, who mainly competed in the 100 metres.... Mae Faggs Mae Faggs Heriwentha Faggs Starr1 was an American athlete who mainly competed in the sprint events. She graduated from Bayside High School, and then went to Tennessee State University to run under Hall of Fame coach Ed Temple, one of the first U.S... Mabel Landry	47.12A	Argentina Lilián Heinz Lilián Buglia María Luisa Castelli Gladys Erbetta	47.27A	Chile Eliana Gaete Eliana Gaete Eliana Gaete is a female former track and field athlete from Chile. She earned gold medals in women's 80m hurdles at the 1951 and 1955 Pan American Games.-References:*... Betty Kretschmer ? ?	49.49A

A = affected by altitude

Medal table

1	United States	20	14	8	42
2	Argentina	4	3	2	9
3	Chile	2	1	6	9
4	Brazil	1	1	5	7
5	Cuba	1	1	3	5
6	Guatemala	1	0	1	2
7	Mexico	0	2	2	4
8	Venezuela	0	2	1	3
9	Jamaica	0	2	0	2
10	Trinidad and Tobago	0	1	1	2
11	Uruguay	0	1	0	1
11	Colombia	0	1	0	1
13	Puerto Rico	0	0	1	1

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