Ronald Whitney
Encyclopedia
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. He had entered the race as one of the favorites, having been ranked #1 in the world in 1967 and winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
in the event for the second time earlier that year. In the Olympics, his first heat victory established a new Olympic record, only to be surpassed by Hemery 2 days later.
Previously he had been the Pan American Games
champion in the same event. 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 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
a week after finishing 4th in the CIF California State Meet
in the same event.
Whitney continued to compete into Masters age groups as a pioneer of Masters athletics.
Whitney continues to be involved in the sport as head Track and Field Coach at Santa Rosa Junior College
. He is a member of the Mt. SAC Relays
Hall of Fame and the Occidental College Hall of Fame.
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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
Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics
At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, 36 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 12 for women. There were a total number of 1031 participating athletes from 93 countries....
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...
as David Hemery
David Hemery
David Peter Hemery, CBE, is a British former athlete, winner of the 400m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics.He was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, but his father's work took the family to the United States, where he attended school and graduated from Boston University.Hemery's first...
demolished the world record. He had entered the race as one of the favorites, having been ranked #1 in the world in 1967 and winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
in the event for the second time earlier that year. In the Olympics, his first heat victory established a new Olympic record, only to be surpassed by Hemery 2 days later.
Previously he had been the Pan American Games
Athletics at the 1967 Pan American Games
The Athletics Competition at the 1967 Pan American Games was held in Winnipeg, Canada.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
champion in the same event. While working on his Masters Degree at Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, he was the 1967 Gold Medalist at the World University Games
Universiade
The Universiade is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation . The name is a combination of the words "University" and "olympiad"...
. He also had won Bronze two years earlier and while competing for Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
, where he was coached by Jim Bush
Jim Bush
Jim Bush is a National Track and Field Hall of Fame track and field coach. He is known primarily for his coaching tenure at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1965 to 1984...
, was runner up at the NCAA Championships in 1963.
At Thomas Downey High School
Thomas Downey High School
Thomas Downey High School is a High School in Modesto, California. It is one of the seven high schools in Modesto. George Lucas, Tony Graziani, Laci Peterson and Olympian and American Discus Record Holder Suzy Powell, are some of its notable graduates....
in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, Whitney was the champion at the 1960 Golden West Invitational
Golden West Invitational
The Golden West Invitational high school track & field all-star meet brings together top high school athletes from throughout the country and provides them with the very highest levels of competition...
, the equivalent of a national champion, at 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...
a week after finishing 4th in the CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
in the same event.
Whitney continued to compete into Masters age groups as a pioneer of Masters athletics.
Whitney continues to be involved in the sport as head Track and Field Coach at Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College is a community college located in the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California. Founded in 1918, it is the tenth oldest community college in the state. Santa Rosa Junior College was modeled as a "junior" version of nearby University of California at Berkeley...
. He is a member of the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
Hall of Fame and the Occidental College Hall of Fame.