1986

1986

The swim-bike-run sport of triathlon was just beginning around the world but a track and field version was contested at Swangard Stadium for the 1986 Jerome meet. World decathlon record holder and 1984 Olympic champion Daley Thompson was the headliner in a three-event competition also featuring American Gary Kinder and Canadian decathlon record holder Dave Steen. The “triathlon” consisted of javelin, hurdles and pole vault but Kinder took the title when both Thompson and Steen couldn’t make height in the pole vault. Meantime, world record holder Calvin Smith (9.3 seconds) was a mysterious no-show for his much-anticipated showdown against Canada’s Ben Johnson, who took the men’s 100 metres. A year later Johnson would win the 100-metre world championship in Rome and two years later, in 1988, he would register a dramatic and controversial victory at the Seoul Olympics, a victory which would end in his testing positive for steroids. Former world triple jump record holder Willie Banks took his specialty, buoyed by the rhythmic clapping and support of the knowledgeable fans while Steve Scott outsprinted Dave Campbell to win the mile.