At the starter's gun for the 800-meter race, the field took off, jockeying for position. One lanky runner, starting on the outside lane, cannily let the field pass him, then moved over and settled down to the well-worn groove by the rail—the shortest course. Running with gracefully flowing strides, U.S. Air Force Sergeant Mai Whitfield, 27, moved through the field, passing them one by one. In the homestretch, opening up, the 1948 Olympic champion whizzed to an 8-yd. victory in meet record time of 1:48.6, a full 1.3 seconds faster than the 1936 record of Pittsburgh's famed John Woodruff.
Next day, at...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
