The men's 1956 United States Olympic trials for track and field for men were held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, on June 28 and 29. The 20 kilometer walk trials were held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 26, and the 50 kilometer walk trials were held on September 16 in Baltimore, Maryland. Two marathon trials were held between two races, the AAU National Championships in Yonkers, New York, on September 30 and the Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 19. As it turned out, the three selectees were the top 3 Americans at both events. The 10,000 meters was held in Bakersfield, California, on June 23.
The decathlon was held two weeks after the trials on July 13-4 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, allowing athletes to make attempts in individual events. Rafer Johnson qualified in the long jump but didn't jump in Melbourne. Bob Richards qualified in the Decathlon after winning the pole vault in his attempt to repeat as Olympic pole vault champion. He did compete in both events in Melbourne, successfully winning the pole vault, but after scoring in 11th place through nine events, he chose not to suffer through a 1500 and did not finish. The process was organized by the AAU.
The women's Olympic trials were held separately at American University (Reeves Field) in Washington, D.C., on August 25.
Men's results Key: .
Men track events 100 meters Bobby Morrow 10.3 (10.28)Ira Murchison 10.4 (10.32)Thane Baker 10.4 (10.36) 200 meters Bobby Morrow 20.6 =Thane Baker 20.7Andy Stanfield 20.9 400 metersLou Jones 45.2 Jim Lea 45.7Charlie Jenkins 46.1 800 metersTom Courtney 1:46.4 Arnie Sowell 1:46.9Lon Spurrier 1:47.6 1500 metersJerome Walters 3:47.6Ted Wheeler 3:48.0Don Bowden 3:48.6 5000 metersBill Dellinger 14:26.0 Curtis Stone 14:29.0Max Truex 14:30.8 10,000 metersMax Truex 30:52.0Dick Hart 31:06.3Gordon McKenzie 31:06.8 110 m hurdles Jack Davis 13.8Lee Calhoun 13.9Joel Shankle 14.1 400 m hurdlesGlenn Davis 49.5 Eddie Southern 49.7Josh Culbreath 49.9 3000 m s'chasePhil Coleman 9:00.3Charles Jones 9:00.6Horace Ashenfelter 9:02.4 20K racewalk Alex Oakley James Hewson 1:39:061:39:16Henry Laskau 1:39:45Bruce MacDonald 1:39:56 50K racewalkAdolf Weinacker 4:38:58Leo Sjogren 4:44:18James Hewson 4:51:03 Boston Marathon Antti Viskari John J. Kelley 2:14:142:14:33 Eino Oskanen Nick Costes 2:17:562:18:01Dean Thackwray 2:20:24 Yonkers Marathon John J. Kelley 2:24:52.2 Dean Thackwray2:31:14 Nick Costes 2:31:52
Men field events High jumpCharles Dumas Vern Wilson Phil Reavis Pole vaultBob Richards George Mattos Jim Graham Long jumpJohn Bennett Greg Bell Rafer Johnson Triple jumpIra Davis George Shaw Bill Sharpe Shot putParry O'Brien Ken Bantum Bill Nieder Discus throwFortune Gordien Al Oerter Ron Drummond Hammer throwAl Hall Hal Connolly Cliff Blair Javelin throwCy Young Phil Conley Ben Garcia DecathlonRafer Johnson 7755 Milt Campbell 7559Bob Richards 7054
Women's results
Women track events 100 meters Isabelle Daniels 11.5 =Mae Faggs 11.6Lucinda Williams 11.7 200 meters Mae Faggs 24.2Wilma Rudolph 24.2Meredith Ellis 25.2 80 m hurdles Barbara Mueller 11.9 Constance Darnowski 12.0Irene Robertson 12.1
Women field events High jumpMildred McDaniel Anne Flynn Verneda Thomas Long jumpMargaret Matthews Willye White Joan Wolski Shot putEarlene Brown Lois Testa Paula Deubel Discus throwEarlene Brown Pamela Kurrell Marjorie Larney Javelin throwKaren Anderson Marjorie Larney Amelia Wershoven
References