fbpx
Wikipedia

Johnny Gray

January 01, 1970

For other people named Johnny Gray, see Johnny Gray (disambiguation).

John Lee Gray Jr. (born June 19, 1960) is a retired American world class 800 meter runner from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s and the holder of the 600m world best. A four-time-Olympian (1984-1996) in 1985 he set the US record of 1:42.60 at a meet in Koblenz. That time puts Gray as the nineteenth fastest performer of all time. He came seventh in the 1984 Summer Olympics, fifth in 1988, and won the bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics of 1992. In 1993 Gray was one of the favourites to win a gold medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart as he had won the A-race at the prestigious meeting in Zurich. However, he failed to qualify for the final in Stuttgart. He also set the world 600 meter record in 1986 at 1:12.81. In 1992 and 1993 Gray came close to breaking the world indoor record over 800 m several times. He held the US indoor record at 1:45.00 (Sindelfingen 1992) till February 2019.

Johnny Gray
Gray finishing 5th in the 800m at the 1988 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameJohn Lee Gray Jr.
NationalityAmerican
Born (1960-06-19) June 19, 1960 (age 63)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
SportTrack
Event800 meters
College teamSanta Monica College
Arizona State University
Achievements and titles
Personal bests600 metres: 1:12.81 WB
800 metres: 1:42.60[1]
1000 metres: 2:17.27
Medal record

Running career edit

Gray went to Crenshaw High School, Santa Monica College, Arizona State University and received his graduate degree from California State University, Los Angeles.[2] He ran his "professional" career for the Santa Monica Track Club, coached by Merle McGee.[3] When he qualified for the 1996 Olympics by winning the 1996 Olympic Trials on his 36th birthday, he became the oldest male American track athlete to qualify for the Olympics. Other older athletes who qualified were throwers, race walkers, marathoners and pole vaulter Jeff Hartwig. Joetta Clark holds the same honor for women.[4]

Having led the Olympic 800 m race at the 1992 Summer Olympics with a blazing first lap at better than world record pace, Gray was passed twice during the final lap to claim the bronze medal. A reporter later asked him what he would have done differently if he could run the race a second time, and it is rumored that he responded, "I would have taken it out harder." Runners refer to such an attitude as "taking it to the Gray zone" in his honor. This tactic also resulted in some devastating failures as in the 1987 and 1993 World Championships when he jogged to the finish of quarterfinal races, depleted and defeated. He walked to the finish of the 1980 Olympic Trials.[5]

He was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame Dec. 2008.[6] Also member of Santa Monica College Hall of Fame, Millrose Games in NYC Hall of Fame, Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame,[7] and obtained the key to the city for Santa Monica, Inglewood, Walnut, Agoura Hills and New York.

Masters career edit

Gray attempted to extend his career into masters athletics. He had stated he intended to set new world records at all distances from 200 metres to the mile.[8] At age 40, he ran the 800 in 1:48.81 at the 2001 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, which is the World Masters Athletics record indoors. The time was superior to the outdoor world record, most recently held by Jim Sorensen, until that record was surpassed by Anthony Whiteman, May 20, 2012.[9] Based on IAAF rule 260.18a, that should have been the world record, but it was never formally recognized.

Coaching edit

After competing in six Olympic Trials (1980-2000) he turned to coaching. His foremost protege' was SMTC teammate Khadevis Robinson, who Gray coached to 5 National Championships. Robinson might best be remembered as the odd man out in the famous "Oregon sweep" at the 2008 Olympic Trials. That might be the second closest Olympic Trials race, to Gray's own 1984 trials, when Gray finished second, but was given the same (American record) time as Earl Jones, and James Robinson was the odd man out with the same time as 3rd place John Marshall.

Gray also coached at Harvard-Westlake School for six years. He then worked as an assistant coach at the University of California, Los Angeles with Jeanette Bolden.[10] In 2013, when Boldon moved to head the University of Central Florida program, Gray followed suit.[11] Gray is now coaching top American Duane Solomon.

Competition record edit

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing the   United States
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 7th 800 m 1:47.89
1986 Goodwill Games Moscow, Soviet Union 1st 800 m 1:46.52
1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis, United States 1st 800 m 1:46.79
World Championships Rome, Italy 30th (qf) 800 m 1:49.50
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 5th 800 m 1:44.80
1990 Goodwill Games Seattle, United States 7th 800 m 1:48.08
1991 World Championships Tokyo, Japan 6th 800 m 1:45.67
1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain 3rd 800 m 1:43.97
1993 World Championships Stuttgart, Germany 23rd (sf) 800 m 1:50.89
1994 Goodwill Games St. Petersburg, Russia 10th 800 m 1:51.21
1996 Olympic Games Atlanta, United States 7th 800 m 1:44.21
1998 Goodwill Games Uniondale, United States 5th 800 m 1:47.20
1999 Pan American Games Winnipeg, Canada 1st 800 m 1:45.38

References edit

  1. ^ All-Athletics. . Archived from the original on 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  2. ^ http://team-magic.com/events/kaisercoastal/johnny_deena_bios.pdf[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Preaching Wisdom off the Blocks". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  4. ^ . trackandfieldnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
  5. ^ Hymans, Richard (2008). "The history of the United States Olympic Trails - Track & Field" (PDF). USA Track & Field.
  6. ^ "USATF - Hall of Fame". www.usatf.org.
  7. ^ "News Archives". www.hw.com. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  8. ^ . masterstrack.com. 2008-11-05. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  9. ^ . masterstrack.com. 2012-05-24. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  10. ^ "Player Bio: Johnny Gray - UCLA Official Athletic Site". archive.ph. 2013-02-08. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  11. ^ . UCF Athletics. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-02.

External links edit


January 01, 1970
johnny, gray, other, people, named, disambiguation, john, gray, born, june, 1960, retired, american, world, class, meter, runner, from, 1980s, late, 1990s, holder, 600m, world, best, four, time, olympian, 1984, 1996, 1985, record, meet, koblenz, that, time, pu. For other people named Johnny Gray see Johnny Gray disambiguation John Lee Gray Jr born June 19 1960 is a retired American world class 800 meter runner from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s and the holder of the 600m world best A four time Olympian 1984 1996 in 1985 he set the US record of 1 42 60 at a meet in Koblenz That time puts Gray as the nineteenth fastest performer of all time He came seventh in the 1984 Summer Olympics fifth in 1988 and won the bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics of 1992 In 1993 Gray was one of the favourites to win a gold medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart as he had won the A race at the prestigious meeting in Zurich However he failed to qualify for the final in Stuttgart He also set the world 600 meter record in 1986 at 1 12 81 In 1992 and 1993 Gray came close to breaking the world indoor record over 800 m several times He held the US indoor record at 1 45 00 Sindelfingen 1992 till February 2019 Johnny GrayGray finishing 5th in the 800m at the 1988 OlympicsPersonal informationFull nameJohn Lee Gray Jr NationalityAmericanBorn 1960 06 19 June 19 1960 age 63 Los Angeles California United StatesHeight1 91 m 6 ft 3 in Weight75 kg 165 lb SportSportTrackEvent800 metersCollege teamSanta Monica College Arizona State UniversityAchievements and titlesPersonal bests600 metres 1 12 81 WB800 metres 1 42 60 1 1000 metres 2 17 27Medal record Men s athletics Representing the United States Olympic Games 1992 Barcelona 800 metres Pan American Games 1987 Indianapolis 800 metres 1999 Winnipeg 800 metres Contents 1 Running career 1 1 Masters career 2 Coaching 3 Competition record 4 References 5 External linksRunning career editGray went to Crenshaw High School Santa Monica College Arizona State University and received his graduate degree from California State University Los Angeles 2 He ran his professional career for the Santa Monica Track Club coached by Merle McGee 3 When he qualified for the 1996 Olympics by winning the 1996 Olympic Trials on his 36th birthday he became the oldest male American track athlete to qualify for the Olympics Other older athletes who qualified were throwers race walkers marathoners and pole vaulter Jeff Hartwig Joetta Clark holds the same honor for women 4 Having led the Olympic 800 m race at the 1992 Summer Olympics with a blazing first lap at better than world record pace Gray was passed twice during the final lap to claim the bronze medal A reporter later asked him what he would have done differently if he could run the race a second time and it is rumored that he responded I would have taken it out harder Runners refer to such an attitude as taking it to the Gray zone in his honor This tactic also resulted in some devastating failures as in the 1987 and 1993 World Championships when he jogged to the finish of quarterfinal races depleted and defeated He walked to the finish of the 1980 Olympic Trials 5 He was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame Dec 2008 6 Also member of Santa Monica College Hall of Fame Millrose Games in NYC Hall of Fame Mt SAC Relays Hall of Fame 7 and obtained the key to the city for Santa Monica Inglewood Walnut Agoura Hills and New York Masters career edit Gray attempted to extend his career into masters athletics He had stated he intended to set new world records at all distances from 200 metres to the mile 8 At age 40 he ran the 800 in 1 48 81 at the 2001 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships which is the World Masters Athletics record indoors The time was superior to the outdoor world record most recently held by Jim Sorensen until that record was surpassed by Anthony Whiteman May 20 2012 9 Based on IAAF rule 260 18a that should have been the world record but it was never formally recognized Coaching editAfter competing in six Olympic Trials 1980 2000 he turned to coaching His foremost protege was SMTC teammate Khadevis Robinson who Gray coached to 5 National Championships Robinson might best be remembered as the odd man out in the famous Oregon sweep at the 2008 Olympic Trials That might be the second closest Olympic Trials race to Gray s own 1984 trials when Gray finished second but was given the same American record time as Earl Jones and James Robinson was the odd man out with the same time as 3rd place John Marshall Gray also coached at Harvard Westlake School for six years He then worked as an assistant coach at the University of California Los Angeles with Jeanette Bolden 10 In 2013 when Boldon moved to head the University of Central Florida program Gray followed suit 11 Gray is now coaching top American Duane Solomon Competition record editYear Competition Venue Position Event Notes Representing the nbsp United States 1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles United States 7th 800 m 1 47 89 1986 Goodwill Games Moscow Soviet Union 1st 800 m 1 46 52 1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis United States 1st 800 m 1 46 79 World Championships Rome Italy 30th qf 800 m 1 49 50 1988 Olympic Games Seoul South Korea 5th 800 m 1 44 80 1990 Goodwill Games Seattle United States 7th 800 m 1 48 08 1991 World Championships Tokyo Japan 6th 800 m 1 45 67 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona Spain 3rd 800 m 1 43 97 1993 World Championships Stuttgart Germany 23rd sf 800 m 1 50 89 1994 Goodwill Games St Petersburg Russia 10th 800 m 1 51 21 1996 Olympic Games Atlanta United States 7th 800 m 1 44 21 1998 Goodwill Games Uniondale United States 5th 800 m 1 47 20 1999 Pan American Games Winnipeg Canada 1st 800 m 1 45 38References edit All Athletics Profile of Johnny Gray Archived from the original on 2017 09 13 Retrieved 2015 12 07 http team magic com events kaisercoastal johnny deena bios pdf permanent dead link Preaching Wisdom off the Blocks Daily Bruin Retrieved 2024 02 26 Youngest amp Oldest U S Olympians at date of Olympic qualification trackandfieldnews com Archived from the original on 2016 01 19 Retrieved 2015 10 24 Hymans Richard 2008 The history of the United States Olympic Trails Track amp Field PDF USA Track amp Field USATF Hall of Fame www usatf org News Archives www hw com Retrieved 2021 05 29 800 s Johnny Gray elected to National T amp F Hall of Fame masterstrack com 2008 11 05 Archived from the original on 2010 12 29 Retrieved 2012 06 17 Incredible M40 WR Tony Whiteman breaks 1 50 barrier in 800 masterstrack com 2012 05 24 Archived from the original on 2012 05 29 Retrieved 2012 06 17 Player Bio Johnny Gray UCLA Official Athletic Site archive ph 2013 02 08 Archived from the original on 2013 02 08 Retrieved 2021 05 29 Johnny Gray Signs On as UCF Track amp Field Assistant Coach UCF UCF Athletics Archived from the original on 2014 06 06 Retrieved 2014 06 02 External links editJohnny Gray at World Athletics nbsp Johnny Gray at www USATF org nbsp Johnny Gray at legacy USATF org Johnny Gray at Olympics com nbsp Johnny Gray at Olympedia nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnny Gray amp oldid 1220124107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.