Ivory Crockett (born August 24, 1948) is a retired American sprinter who, for a time, was "the world's fastest man" when he broke the world record for the 100-yard dash in 1974.
Career
Crockett was born in Halls, Tennessee, where his father was a sharecropper. His family moved to Missouri when Crockett was a young boy.
Crockett was a track star from his time at high school in Webster Groves in St. Louis County, Missouri. In 1968 as a senior he ran the second fastest time that year by a high-school student. He was recruited to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, where he competed successfully on their track team, including becoming twice USA champion in the 100 yards sprint, in 1969 and 1970.
In 1974, he ran the fastest 100-yard dash with manual timing of 9.0 seconds, a record he still holds.All-time best performances at 100 yards with manual timing. alltime-athletics.com This was deemed at the time by the Los Angeles Times as "Immortality in 9 Seconds Flat",Bob Oates (1974) Immortality in 9 seconds flat, LA Times. and he was quickly tagged with the title the world's fastest man by Track and Field NewsJon Hendershott (June 1974) Track and Field News Interview . who put him on their June 1974 cover.Past Covers 1967 . trackandfieldnews.com
Crockett never ran in the Olympics for the USA having been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the 1972 USA Olympics trials and the quarter-finals of the 1976 trials.Richard Hymans (2008) The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field . USA Track & Field, 2008
After college, he moved back to Webster Groves where he had attended Brentwood and Webster Groves High School. His local community recognised his achievements by naming a park in his honour, 'Ivory Crockett Park'.Ivory Crockett Park, Webster Groves. Retrieved September 16, 2012. As a gift to his local community, Crockett started in 2004 'The Ivory Crockett Run "4" Webster', a fun walk/run.The Ivory Crockett Run "4" Webster, Sports Medicine Training Center. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
Some people questioned his winning of his national titles because rivals were missing, and demeaned the legitimacy of his world record. This rankled because he was married and had had to battle financial tough times to keep on running.Pat Putnam (June 3, 1974) "Gold To Ivory... For sprinter Ivory Crockett, the unappreciated world-record holder...". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
Crockett became an administrator and director of business development for the College of Nursing at Forest Park Hospital in St Louis, Missouri.
World rankings
Crockett was voted to be ranked among the best in the US and the world in the 100 m sprint event in the period from 1969 to 1974, according to Track and Field News. He was also voted to be ranked 10th in the US and 4th in the world in the 200 m sprint in 1973.
+100 metersYearWorld rankUS rank1969 4th 2nd1970 9th 5th1971 – 9th19721972 Year Rankings at 100m. libero.it – 7th19731973 Year Rankings at 100m. libero.it 10th 3rd19741974 Year Rankings at 100m. libero.it 6th 3rd
References
External links
https://web.archive.org/web/20120130022720/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/131, Track and Field News Cover, I June 1974. http://www.webster.k12.mo.us/education/projects/projects.php?sectiondetailid=20141&&PHPSESSID=6b3fbb1ebf97cad58562222c088e20a9 Ivory Crockett Run "4" Webster