Ralph Mann

Last updated
Ralph Mann
Ralph Mann.jpg
Personal information
Birth nameRalph Vernon Mann
Born (1949-06-16) June 16, 1949 (age 75)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Education Carson
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
Sport
Sport Track and field / Athletics
Event(s)Sprint, hurdles
University team Brigham Young University Cougars
ClubSouthern California Striders
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)440 y – 46.6 (1970)
120 yH – 13.9 (1968)
400 mH – 48.51 (1972)
Medal record
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1972 Munich 400 m hurdles
Pan American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1971 Cali 400 m hurdles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1975 Mexico City 400 m hurdles

Ralph Vernon Mann (born June 16, 1949) is a retired American sprinter and hurdler. He was an undergraduate at Brigham Young University, and later earned a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from Washington State University. [1]

Contents

In 1969, Mann won his first NCAA 440 yard hurdles championship with a time of 49.6 seconds. Tying the NCAA and American records, the time was three-tenths of a second off the world record. A year later in Des Moines, Iowa, Mann captured his second NCAA championship and set a new world-record time of 48.8 seconds for the 440 yards hurdles. During his collegiate career Ralph was NCAA champion three times. He was a three-time All-American, and in 1970 was second in the voting for the Sullivan Award.

In 1971, Mann won gold in the 400m hurdles at the Pan-American Games. [2]

He competed in the 400 m hurdles at the 1972 Olympics and won the silver medal. [3] His winning time of 48.4 seconds at the United States Olympic Trials that year was credited as a best mark for the event at sea level (the then world record was 48.1 s set at altitude). [4]

In 1975, Mann won silver at the Pan-American Games. Ralph was also a four-time AAU champion - 1969-71 and 1975. [2]

In 1976, Mann attempted to qualify for the Olympics again but came sixth and therefore outside the top 3 qualifiers. [5]

Awards and Accolades

Mann received the AAU’s DiBenedetto Award for the single most outstanding career, most notably for his Olympic silver medal.

In 2015, he was inducted into the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame. [6]

In 2019, Mann was inducted into the inaugural Carson High School (Carson, California) Hall of fame. [7]

Later Life

Mann taught and researched at the University of Kentucky. He also consulted for USA Track & Field. [2]

Mann co-wrote the book Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing with Fred Griffin. This book was the culmination of Mann's expertise in the field of biomechanics and Griffin's experience of teaching golf as a PGA Professional. [8]

He also co-authored with Amber Murphy the book The mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling. [9]

Mann has two children, Amber and Randall, a poet and literary critic.

Rankings

Mann was ranked among the best in the US and the world in the 400 m hurdles from 1969 to 1976, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News . [10] [11]

400 meters hurdles
YearWorld rankUS rank
19694th2nd
19702nd1st
19711st1st
19722nd1st
19734th2nd
19743rd2nd
19754th2nd
19769th6th

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References

  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ralph Mann". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ralph Mann". USA Track and Field.
  3. "Ralph Mann". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08.
  4. Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p. 128.
  5. "Richard Hymans, US Olympic Trials History". Track and Field News.
  6. "National Track & Field Hall of Fame". USA Track & Field. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  7. Calhoun, Damian (12 November 2019). "Carson High to hold inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday". Daily Breeze.
  8. Ralph Mann, Fred Griffin, Guy Yocom (1998) Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing. Broadway Books. ISBN   076790236X
  9. R Mann and A Murphy (20 September 2018). The Mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling (2018 ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 338. ISBN   978-1727514766.
  10. "Men's World Rankings By Athlete". Track and Field News.
  11. "Men's U.S. Rankings By Athlete". Track and Field News.


Sporting positions
Preceded by
Unknown
Men's 400m Hurdles Best Year Performance
1971
Succeeded by