Life ban for Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett 1972 Munich

[NotDutra5]

Off topic for this thread, maybe a split called for, but under modern rules could the US have pulled together a team to threaten for a medal? Thinking Evans, Mann, Black, ??

Under modern rules, Maurice Peoples and Tommie Turner would have been part of the relay pool. Peoples obviously would have been a big factor. I don't recall Turner and Fred Newhouse would have been the next choice. Evans, Black, Peoples and Turner/Newhouse is probably a winner without further injuries.

[Davidokun]

Official entry was Evans, Turner, Peoples, and Smith. Just needed a replacement for Smith. Newhouse the most likely candidate.

[Peter Michaelson]

I remember something from Track and Field news about maybe putting decathlete Jeff Bennett (46.25 in Munich) on to the relay squad. Also in T&FN was a comment from the officials who disallowed adding an athlete late to the relay pool, something along the lines of "Next time, bring runners who are healthy."

[bambam1729]

Official entry was Evans, Turner, Peoples, and Smith. Just needed a replacement for Smith. Newhouse the most likely candidate.

Here is the USA entry list for the 4x4 per the 1972 Official Entries:

1972 ATH USA 4x4.jpg

[Davidokun]

Here is the USA entry list for the 4x4 per the 1972 Official Entries:

Thanks. My post was based on the report in T&FN:

Thus, the US, which had been expected to run all the medalists from the 400 plus the 400-meter world recordman, had only three runners who were both eligible to run and healthy: Lee Evans, Tommie Turner and Maurice Peoples. And, although a line-up of that trio plus Smith was entered, nobody showed up to run. Symbolically, the pylon for Lane 8 (the US's lane), was tipped over on its side on the grass next to the track.

Source: Jim Dunaway, "1600-meter Relay: Kenya Clinches Pulsating Triumph", T&FN, Volume 25, Number 14, September 1972, Pages 65-66.

[bambam1729]

If healthy - Evans, Collett, Matthews, J Smith - might be the greatest ever 4-some to run the 4x4. Not sure if they could have gotten the WR which was set at altitude but they had a chance certainly.

[BusterZanga]

QM world list top five/six 1972:
44.1 Wayne Collett (44.80)
44.2 Fred Newhouse
44.3 John Smith (45.46)
44.6 Lee Evans
44.7 Vince Matthews (44.66)
44.7 Karl Honz (44.70)

[NotDutra5]

If healthy - Evans, Collett, Matthews, J Smith - might be the greatest ever 4-some to run the 4x4. Not sure if they could have gotten the WR which was set at altitude but they had a chance certainly.

'92?

[bambam1729]

'92?

Yeah, I thought about 92 with Reynolds and Michael Johnson when I made that post, but I think that potential 72 4x4 team might have been stronger thru all 4 runners

[cigar95]

Yeah, I thought about 92 with Reynolds and Michael Johnson when I made that post, but I think that potential 72 4x4 team might have been stronger thru all 4 runners

Wow, no love for Quincy? Actually Butch wasn't on the team that year, but there was an okay guy named Steve Lewis. That makes a pretty good three-deep. Then the next year Reynolds replaces Lewis and they set the still-recognized record. Nothing against Andrew Valmon, but the four-deep in '72 probably gets the nod.

[gh]

If healthy - Evans, Collett, Matthews, J Smith - might be the greatest ever 4-some to run the 4x4. Not sure if they could have gotten the WR which was set at altitude but they had a chance certainly.

you're giving far too much credit to (A) effect of the '68ers

[NotDutra5]

Yeah, I thought about 92 with Reynolds and Michael Johnson when I made that post, but I think that potential 72 4x4 team might have been stronger thru all 4 runners

'92 was Valmon, Watts, M. Johnson and Steve Lewis.

Reynolds was '88 for the relay.

[Trickstat]

The '93 team had Reynolds, Watts and Johnson who, at that time were 1, 2 and 3 on the world all-time list.

[NotDutra5]

The '93 team had Reynolds, Watts and Johnson who, at that time were 1, 2 and 3 on the world all-time list.

Yeah. For some reason I was thinking Olympics only.

[Peter Michaelson]

you're giving far too much credit to (A) effect of the '68ers

Well, nobody broke Lee Evans's 400 record (set at Mexico City) for almost 20 years. It took almost 20 years to tie the 4x400 record set at the same Olympics and almost 24 years to break that relay record. How much do you think the altitude effect is for the 400?