David Patrick (athlete)
Encyclopedia
David Patrick is a retired American
hurdler. He ran the 400 metres hurdles
in the 1992 Summer Olympics
and was the second American in the final, which was won by Kevin Young
while setting the still standing current world record
in the event.
Patrick is the husband of Sandra Farmer-Patrick
, who was also an elite 400 metres hurdler. The two had a history of success at the same meets, including the 1989 IAAF World Cup
in Barcelona
, Spain
where both took the gold medal. It was the first time a husband and wife won a gold medal in the same event in international championship. Earlier in the year, they had become the first husband and wife to both win national championships at the same time since Hal Connolly and Olga Connolly did the same thing 29 years earlier. The couple were exorcising frustration at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials
when both failed to qualify. David set his personal record in the 400 hurdles at 47.75 while finishing fourth behind eventual Olympic Champion Andre Phillips
, the legend of the event Edwin Moses
and future world record holder Kevin Young (with 1984 Silver Medalist Danny Harris, one one-hundredth of a second behind Patrick). Running in the difficult lane one, Patrick was behind off the final turn but made an impressive surge at the end of the race to miss making the team by .03. His time makes him still the 22nd best performer in the event. That year, wife Sandra was disqualified after winning her semi-final. David had also attempted to qualify in the 800 metres
in 1988. He should not be confused with another David Patrick, from Villanova, who ran the 1500 metres
in the 1968 Olympic Trials.
In 1992, both made the Olympic team with David finishing second just behind Kevin Young and Sandra winning the Olympic Trials. Sandra won a Silver medal in the event at the Olympics in 1992 and again made the team in 1996.
David Patrick was ranked in the top 10 Americans from 1981 to 1994, excepting 1982 and was in the top 5 through most of that from 1983 to 1993 when the United States was dominating the event with Moses, Phillips, Harris and Young being the best in the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hurdler. He ran the 400 metres hurdles
400 metres hurdles
The 400 metres hurdles is an Olympic athletics event in track and field. On a standard outdoor track 400 metres is the length of the inside lane once around the stadium. Runners stay in their lane the entire way after starting out of the blocks and must clear ten hurdles that are evenly...
in the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and was the second American in the final, which was won by Kevin Young
Kevin Young (athlete)
Kevin Curtis Young is a former American athlete. He was the winner of the 400 meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics...
while setting the still standing current world record
World records in athletics
World records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking....
in the event.
Patrick is the husband of Sandra Farmer-Patrick
Sandra Farmer-Patrick
Sandra Farmer-Patrick is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres hurdles....
, who was also an elite 400 metres hurdler. The two had a history of success at the same meets, including the 1989 IAAF World Cup
1989 IAAF World Cup
The 5th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on September 8–10, 1989, at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain.-Men:...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where both took the gold medal. It was the first time a husband and wife won a gold medal in the same event in international championship. Earlier in the year, they had become the first husband and wife to both win national championships at the same time since Hal Connolly and Olga Connolly did the same thing 29 years earlier. The couple were exorcising frustration at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
when both failed to qualify. David set his personal record in the 400 hurdles at 47.75 while finishing fourth behind eventual Olympic Champion Andre Phillips
Andre Phillips
André Lamar Phillips is a retired American Track and Field athlete who is best known for winning the 400 metres hurdles gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games....
, the legend of the event Edwin Moses
Edwin Moses
Edwin Corley Moses is an American track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals and set the world record in his event four times...
and future world record holder Kevin Young (with 1984 Silver Medalist Danny Harris, one one-hundredth of a second behind Patrick). Running in the difficult lane one, Patrick was behind off the final turn but made an impressive surge at the end of the race to miss making the team by .03. His time makes him still the 22nd best performer in the event. That year, wife Sandra was disqualified after winning her semi-final. David had also attempted to qualify in the 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...
in 1988. He should not be confused with another David Patrick, from Villanova, who ran the 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...
in the 1968 Olympic Trials.
In 1992, both made the Olympic team with David finishing second just behind Kevin Young and Sandra winning the Olympic Trials. Sandra won a Silver medal in the event at the Olympics in 1992 and again made the team in 1996.
David Patrick was ranked in the top 10 Americans from 1981 to 1994, excepting 1982 and was in the top 5 through most of that from 1983 to 1993 when the United States was dominating the event with Moses, Phillips, Harris and Young being the best in the world.