Posted: July 22, 2004

Athletics: Young’s world record named 22nd top moment in USA Track & Field of last 25 years

INDIANAPOLIS – Kevin Young setting the men’s 400m hurdles world record in winning the gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games was honored by USA Track & Field on Thursday as the 22nd greatest moment in U.S track and field in the last 25 years.

To help mark the 25th anniversary of USA Track & Field, fans joined USATF in selecting the Top 25 Moments in American Track & Field during the past quarter century. Fans voted for what they consider to be the top moments in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking by voting online at USATF's website, www.usatf.org.

The final list of Top 25 Moments, to be announced each week throughout 2004, were selected by a panel of the sport’s experts in conjunction with fan voting. To be eligible for the Top 25 Moments list, the moments must have occurred between 1979-2004.

In an electrifying performance that would have won the flat 400m title as recently as the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Young became the first man in history to shatter the 47-second barrier by winning the 1992 Olympic men’s 400m hurdles gold medal in the astounding world record time of 46.78 seconds. In using his unusual technique of switching between 12 and 13-stride intervals between hurdles, Young bettered the world record of 47.02 set by Edwin Moses in 1983 despite slamming the final hurdle and raising his arms in triumph prior to reaching the finish. His record still stands.

As a collegian Young was nicknamed “Spiderman” by his teammates at UCLA, where he won the 1987 and 1988 NCAA 400m hurdles crowns. After winning the 400m hurdles at the 1993 USA Outdoor Championships, later that summer Young won the gold medal at the World Outdoor Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

Suggestions for USATF’s Top 25 Moments were taken through February 22, 2004. Fans voted for their favorite moments beginning February 28 and ending on June 20. The Top 25 Moments will be announced in reverse order, one per week, leading up to the USATF Annual Meeting in December, where the top three moments will be revealed.

For more information on USATF’ Top 25 Moments, visit www.usatf.org.

USATF Top 25 Moments

25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee breaks 7,000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
24. Khalid Khannouchi sets men’s world marathon record in 2002.
23. Alan Webb sets U.S. boys’ high school mile record.
22. Kevin Young breaks Edwin Moses’ world record.