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Ralph Mann

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American sprinter and hurdler (1949–2025)
Ralph Mann
Mann in 1972
Personal information
Birth nameRalph Vernon Mann
Born(1949-06-16)June 16, 1949
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 2025(2025-01-02) (aged 75)
EducationCarson
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
Sport
SportTrack and field / Athletics
Event(s)Sprint, hurdles
University teamBrigham 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  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich 400 m hurdles
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1971 Cali 400 m hurdles
Silver medal – second place 1975 Mexico City 400 m hurdles

Ralph Vernon Mann (June 16, 1949 – January 2, 2025) was an American sprinter and hurdler. He was an undergraduate at Brigham Young University, and later earned a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from Washington State University.

Career

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. He competed in the 400m hurdles at the 1972 Olympics and won the silver medal. 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). In 1975, Mann won silver at the Pan-American Games. Ralph was also a four-time AAU champion - 1969–71 and 1975. In 1976, Mann attempted to qualify for the Olympics again but came sixth and therefore outside the top 3 qualifiers.

Later life and death

Mann taught and researched at the University of Kentucky. He also consulted for USA Track & Field. 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. He also co-authored with Amber Murphy the book The mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling. Mann's son Randall is a poet and literary critic. Mann died on January 2, 2025, at the age of 75.

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. In 2019, Mann was inducted into the inaugural Carson High School Hall of fame.

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.

400 meters hurdles
Year World rank US rank
1969 4th 2nd
1970 2nd 1st
1971 1st 1st
1972 2nd 1st
1973 4th 2nd
1974 3rd 2nd
1975 4th 2nd
1976 9th 6th

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. ^ "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. Ralph Mann, Fred Griffin, Guy Yocom (1998) Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing. Broadway Books. ISBN 076790236X
  7. 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.
  8. "USATF Mourns Passing Of Hall Of Famer Ralph Mann". USATF. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  9. "National Track & Field Hall of Fame". USA Track & Field. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  10. Calhoun, Damian (12 November 2019). "Carson High to hold inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday". Daily Breeze.
  11. "Men's World Rankings By Athlete". Track and Field News.
  12. "Men's U.S. Rankings By Athlete". Track and Field News.


Sporting positions
Preceded byUnknown Men's 400m Hurdles Best Year Performance
1971 		Succeeded byUganda John Akii-Bua


External Links

Pan American Champions in men's 400 metres hurdles
US National Championship winners in men's 400 m/440 yd hurdles
1914–1979
Amateur Athletic Union
1980–1992
The Athletics Congress
1993–present
USA Track & Field
Notes
  • 440 yd hurdles 1914–27, 1929–31, 1953–55, 1957–58, 1961–63, 1965–67, 1969–71 and 1973; 400 m hurdles otherwise.
  • The 1920, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
  • 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1972 USA Olympic track and field team
Qualification
Men's
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Men's
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Women's
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Women's
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