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THE
SHORE ATHLETIC CLUB OF NEW HOME OF THE 2007 MEN’S AND WOMEN’S USATF NATIONAL TEAM
CHAMPIONS
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USATF announces 2008 Hall of Fame
Inductees legends Johnny Gray, Don Bowden,
Bill Carr and Bernie Wefers,
are joined by contributor Jimmy
Carnes as the 2008 inductees into the National Track & Field Hall
of Fame. The Class of 2008 was announced Tuesday by USA Track & Field. The Class of 2008 will be inducted Saturday evening, December 6,
at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held in
conjunction with USATF's 2008 Annual Meeting in "All of us involved with the National Track & Field
Hall of Fame are looking forward to the addition of these highly accomplished individuals to the
Hall of Fame," said USATF President Bill Roe. "All five of these
individuals are deserving of the highest honor in our sport. We look forward
to welcoming and saluting the legacies of our three living inductees in
person, and sharing cherished memories of our deceased inductees with family,
friends, and colleagues." Having set five American records, including the current AR, Gray
is considered one of the greatest 800m runners in A 1956 Olympic Team member, Veteran inductee Don Bowden was the
first American ever to break the four-minute barrier in the mile.
He was an NCAA champion in the 880 yards as well. A double gold medalist at the 1932 Olympic Games and a world
record holder in the 400 meters, Bill Carr was one of Veteran inductee Bernie Wefers was one
of the world's fastest men during the late 1800s. He was a multiple world record holder for 100 and
220 yards and was three times ranked #1 in the world for the 100. Contributor inductee Jimmy Carnes was the initial President of
TAC/USA, which is now USA Track & Field. The founder of the Florida Track Club, Carnes also
served as executive director of the Florida Governor's Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports. About the National Track & Field
Hall of Fame There are four categories in which individuals may be voted into
the Hall of Fame. Those categories are: Modern athletes, retired less than 25 years;
Veteran athletes, retired more than 25 years or more; Coaches; and Contributors. Each category has
its own selection committee that chooses the finalists from the list of
nominations. Members of the selection committees examine the nominations and evaluate their merit based
on objective criteria. Elections for Modern and Veteran athletes are held
each year. Beginning in 2005, elections for Coaches are held in odd numbered
years, with Contributors elections in even numbered years. Hall of Fame
inductees, members of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame Board and
Committees and members of the media comprise the electorate for the National
Track & Field Hall of Fame. Class of 2008 Biographies Biographies for the "Class of 2008" for the National
Track & Field Hall of Fame follow: MODERN ATHLETES JOHNNY GRAY: A four-time
Olympian considered to be one of the finest 800m runners in he won the 800m bronze medal. A three-time U.S.
World Outdoor Championships team member, Gray's best finish in that event was
sixth in 1991. A seven-time VETERAN ATHLETES DON BOWDEN: A 1956 Olympian at
1,500 meters, Don Bowden is best known for being the first American ever to
break the 4-minute barrier in the mile. Bowden became the BILL CARR: The 1932 Olympic
400m gold medalist, Bill Carr also captured gold at the '32 Los Angeles
Olympics as anchor of the 4x400m relay of 3:08.2. Also in 1932, Carr set the 400m
world record of 46.28, along with winning the Olympic Trials and AAU Outdoor
400m titles. The 1931 AAU Indoor national 300-yards champion, Carr won the
IC4A 440y title in 1932. He ended the 1932 season ranked #1 in the world at
400 meters, and was named the men's #1 400m runner for1925-49 by Track &
Field News World Athletes of the Century. Shortly after the 1932 Olympic
Games, Carr was injured in an automobile accident that ended his competitive
career. He died on BERNIE WEFERS: A three-time world ranked in 200m/200y on four occasions
(three times #1), and was world ranked at 400m/440y on two occasions. He won
the 100y (=WR) and 220y (WR) at the 1895 New York A.C. vs. London A.C. dual
meet, and he is the only sprinter other than Hall of Fame inductee Ralph
Metcalfe to win three consecutive national championships 100/200 doubles. He
died on CONTRIBUTOR JIMMY CARNES: One of the leading
figures in the formation of The Athletics Congress/USA, as USATF was known
when it began operations, Jimmy Carnes was TAC's first president (1980-1984) and worked closely with
executive director Ollan Cassell
as the sport moved from amateur to open rules. He presided over TAC's constitutional convention in TACTRUST on a global basis. Also during Carnes' presidency, the
NCAA, which hadn't participated in track's governance for years due to a feud
with the AAU, became a TAC member. The founder of the Florida Track Club,
whose members included Hall of Fame inductees Frank Shorter and Marty Liquori, Carnes later served as the Executive Director of
the United States Track Coaches Association and as a member of the Board of
Trustees of the |
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