Olympians

We proudly honor the following California community college athletes, coaches who competed or served in the Olympics

Research/editing by Larry Knuth

1928 Olympics…

Jim Corson…Discus-bronze medal

Modesto / College of Pacific / SF Olympic Club

’28 Olympic bronze; ’27 NCAA Champion

Frank Wykoff…400 relay-gold medal

Glendale HS / Glendale JC / USC

3 Olympics, 3 relays, 3 gold medals, 3 world records

Glendale CC-1929: Tied world record 4 times; National JC title

Second California prep to win an Olympic gold medal

1932 Los Angeles Olympics…

Frank Wykoff…400 relay gold

Glendale HS / Glendale JC / USC

1st 9.4 sprinter; 3 Olympic 4x1 relay gold

Cornelius Johnson…High Jump

Los Angeles HS / Compton CC

 ’32 Olympics while in high school

1936 Olympic champion, 8-USA titles, *world, USA records

1936 Berlin Games…

Ken Carpenter…Discus-gold medal

Porterville HS / Compton CC / USC

Two-time NCAA Champ, ’36 Olympic gold

Cornelius Johnson…High Jump-gold medal

Los Angeles HS / Compton CC

 4^th in ’32 Olympics while in high school

 8-USA titles, *world, USA records

Jack Parker…Decathlon-bronze medal

Sacramento CC

1936 * National JC javelin record 203-4;

’36 Olympic decathlon-3^rd

Mack Robinson…200-silver medal

John Muir HS / Pasadena JC / Oregon U.

’36 Olympic silver-200; NCAA 200 title, NJC record 

Archie Williams…400-gold medal

University HS / San Mateo JC / UC Berkeley

 ’36 Olympic, AAU, NCAA Champion; world record

Frank Wykoff…400 relay-gold medal

Glendale HS / Glendale JC / USC

1st 9.4 sprinter; 3 Olympic 4x1 relay gold

Bob Young…1600 relay-silver medal

Bakersfield CC / UCLA

USA Olympic 1600 relay-Silver, USA record

USA world record 2-mile relay

Young held BC LJ record-20yrs.

1940, 1944…no Olympics-WWII

1948 London Olympics…

Bob McMillen…Steeplechase

LA Cathedral HS / Glendale CC / Occidental College

National JC, NCAA titles; ’52 Olympic 1500 runner-up

Two-time Olympian: Steeple-’48, 1500-’52

Wilbur“Moose”Thompson…ShotPut-gold medal

Modesto HS / Modesto JC / USC

1948 Olympic Champion; NCAA-2^nd

1952 Helsinki Olympics…

George Brown…Long Jump

LA Jordan HS / Compton JC / UCLA / U.S. Army / LA State

’50 national JC Champ, two NCAA titles; 26-3¼ PR

Twelve years in the spotlight; first prep to break 25-0 barrier

Sim Iness…Discus-gold medal

Tulare HS / Compton CC / USC

*World record, two NCAA titles

First thrower to break the 190 barrier

Ollie Matson...400-bronze medal, 1600 relay-silver

Washington HS / San Francisco CC / U. of San Francisco

’56 Olympics:  *USA record 1600 relay-silver medal

Legendary NFL player-14 year career 

Bob McMillen…1500-silver medal

LA Cathedral HS / Glendale CC / Occidental College

National JC, NCAA titles;  

Two-time Olympian: Steeple-’48, ’52-1500 Silver

Henk Visser…Long Jump

Netherlands / Bakersfield / UC Santa Barbara

’59: 1^st USA frosh/JC ranking; ’60 NCAA-2^nd, AAU title

Two-time Olympian; 7^th in ’60 Olympics

First European over 26-0; 26-2¼ PR 

Cy Young…Javelin-gold medal

Modesto / UCLA

2^nd American over 240; world record 256-4

’52 Olympic Champion; ’56 USA Champion

1956 Melbourne Olympics…

Charles Dumas…High Jump-gold medal

Centennial HS, Compton, Ca. / Compton College / USC

First jumper over 7-ft., ’56 Olympic Champion; five AAU titles

Jerome Walters…1500

Compton HS / Compton JC / Pepperdine / U.S. Marines

*National JC record- 1:53.7; became USA’s top 1500 man

Anchored (4:00.8) USA record DM Relay, *world record 2-mile relay

Cy Young…Javelin

Modesto / UCLA

2^nd American over 240

’52 Olympic Champion;’56 AAU Champion

1960 Rome Olympics…

Rink Babka…Discus-silver medal

Palo Alto HS / Menlo JC / USC

NCAA, AAU titles

17-years in the limelight

Charles Dumas…High Jump

Centennial HS, Compton, Ca. / Compton College / USC

First jumper over 7-ft., ’56 Olympic Champion; five AAU titles

Joe Faust…High Jump

Culver City HS / Occidental College / Mt. SAC / UCLA

’60 Olympic team, 7-0 at age 17! 

First jumper under 18 to clear 7-0*world jr. record 

Dennis Johnson…Sprints, relay

Jamaica / Bakersfield JC / San Jose State

Two-time Olympian; world, collegiate 100 yd. record

Les Mills…Shot Put, Discus

New Zealand / Foothill CC / USC

State meet, *national records; ’67 world SP ranking-5^th

’60, ’64, ’68, ’72 New Zealand Olympian

Ray Norton…Sprints, 400 relay

Oakland HS / Oakland JC / San Jose State

Tied three world records; T&F News USA AOY ’59

1964 Tokyo Olympics…

Ed Caruthers…High Jump

Santa Ana Valley HS / Santa Ana College / Arizona

’68 Olympic silver medal, *national JC record, two So Cal titles

Long-time Santa Ana CC assistant

Frank Covelli…Javelin

Long Beach Wilson HS / Cerritos / Arizona State

NCAA, AAU National titles; ’64,’68 Olympian; USA record

Jeff Fishback…Steeplechase

College of San Mateo / San Jose State

’64 Olympian, AAU Champion, 3-time All-American

Led San Jose to consecutive NCAA XC titles

Dennis Johnson…Sprints, relay

Jamaica / Bakersfield JC / San Jose State

Two-time Olympian; world, collegiate 100 yd. record

Payton Jordan-Asst. Coach

Head USA Olympic Coach-‘68

Pasadena HS / Santa Monica CC / USC

Oxy, Stanford coaching legend;

Multi-world record master’s sprinter

Les Mills…Shot put, Discus

New Zealand / Foothill CC / USC

State meet, *national records; ’67 world SP ranking-5^th

’60, ’64, ’68, ’72 New Zealand Olympian

John Rambo…High Jump-bronze medal

Long Beach Poly HS / Utah St. / Long Beach CC / Long Beach State

’64 Olympic bronze, NCAA title, led LBCC to ’63 state title 6-9¾

1968 Mexico City Olympics…

Ed Caruthers…High Jump-silver medal

Santa Ana Valley HS / Santa Ana College / Arizona

National JC record, two So Cal titles 

Les Mills…Shot Put, Discus

New Zealand / Foothill CC / USC

State meet, *national records; ’67 world SP ranking-5^th

’60, ’64, ’68, ’72 New Zealand Olympian

Lee Evans…400, 1600 relay-gold medals

Overfelt HS / San Jose CC / San Jose State

International legend in track and field

First to break 44 seconds over one lap

Multi-world records

Dave Maggard…Shot Put

Modesto / UC Berkeley

’68 Olympics-5^th; 67-4¼ PR

UC Berkeley Head T&F Coach, AD 

Les Mills…Shot put, Discus

New Zealand / Foothill CC / USC

State meet, *national records; ’67 world SP ranking-5^th

’60, ’64, ’68, ’72 New Zealand Olympian

Bob Seagren…Pole Vault-gold medal

Pomona HS / Mt. SAC / USC

From 15 to 17 ft. in less than two years!

’68 Olympic gold, ’72 silver; 6-USA, 3-NCAA titles

World, American, NCAA records; 3^rd man over 17, 18 ft.

Rick Sloan…Decathlon-7th

Anaheim HS / Fullerton / UCLA

Fourth American decathlete to score 8000 

Long-time Washington St. Head T&F Coach

Ronnie Ray Smith…400 relay-gold medal

LA Manual Arts HS / Los Angeles CC / San Jose State

Two world records: 100, 400-relay

’68 Olympics gold medal, world record 400 relay

Geoff Vanderstock…Intermediates

Mt. SAC / USC

’68 Olympian, world IH record, NCAA All-American

  11 of top JC all-time 400 / 440 IH times; ’68 Games-4^th

Payton Jordan-Men’s Head T&F Coach

Pasadena HS / Santa Monica CC / USC

American coaching legend

1960 Olympic Asst. coach

1972 Munich Olympics…

Lee Evans…400, 1600 relay

Overfelt HS / San Jose CC / San Jose State

International legend in track and field

First to break 44 seconds over one lap

’68 Olympic gold: 400, 1600 relay

Eddie Hart…400 relay-gold medal

Contra Costa JC / UC Berkeley

’69 state 100, 220 champ; 100m 9.9 *world record

Anchored ’72 Olympic gold medal, *world record relay

Les Mills…Shot Put, Discus

New Zealand / Foothill CC / USC

State meet, *national records; ’67 world SP ranking-5^th

’60, ’64, ’68, ’72 New Zealand Olympian

John Powell…Discus

American River CC / San Jose State

Four-time Olympian, former world record-holder

From sixth in state JC meet to international discus icon  

Arnie Robinson…Long Jump-bronze medal

Morse HS / SanDiego Mesa / San Diego State

An American icon in the LJ

 ’72 Olympic Bronze; ’76 Olympic Champion

Long-time San Diego Mesa coach   

Bob Seagren…Pole Vault-silver medal

Pomona HS / Mt. SAC / USC

From 15 to 17 ft. in less than two years!

’68 Olympic gold, ’72 silver; 6-USA, 3-NCAA titles

World, USA, NCAA records; 3^rd man over 17, 18 ft.

*Special recognition…

Kate “the Great” Schmidt…javelin-bronze medal

Long Beach CC*/ Long Beach State

American icon in the javelin

Two Olympic bronze medals

Seven national titles, 16-year reign

*Full-time LBCC student before women’s T&F initiated

Jim Seymour…Intermediates 

Golden West CC / Washington

’72 Olympics-4^th 48.64; PAC-8 IH Champion 

1976 Montreal Olympics…

Gil Bishop…USA Asst. Mgr.

Bakersfield College Athletic Director

National Chps. Meet Director/Announcer

James Butts…Triple Jump-silver medal

East Los Angeles CC / UCLA

State *meet record, NCAA, AAU titles, ’76 Olympic silver 

5¼ inches short of making ’72, ’80 Olympic teams

Millard Hampton…400 relay-gold,silver-200

Silver Creek HS / San Jose CC / UCLA

1976 Olympics: 400 relay gold, 200-meters silver   

Maxie Parks…1600 relay-gold medal

Fresno CC / UCLA

’76 Olympic relay gold, two USA titles

 John Powell…Discus-bronze medal

American River CC / San Jose State

Four-time Olympian, former world record-holder

Silver, bronze Olympic medals

From sixth in state JC meet to an international icon in the event

Arnie Robinson…Long Jump-gold medal

Morse HS / SanDiego Mesa / San Diego State

An American icon in the LJ

’72 Olympic Bronze; ’76 Olympic Champion

Long-time San Diego Mesa coach 

James Robinson…800 meters

Laney CC / UC Berkeley

Two state titles, two *national records, seven USA titles;

Two-time Olympian; ’84 Trials-1:43.92

*Kate “the Great” Schmidt…Javelin-bronze medal

Long Beach CC*/ Long Beach State

American icon in the javelin

Two Olympic bronze medals,

Seven national titles, 16-year reign

*Full-time LBCC student before women’s T&F initiated

1980 Moscow Olympics…

    American president Jimmy Carter declined to send the 1980 USA Olympic team to Russia because that country had invaded Afghanistan and the Olympics were part of Carter’s boycott plan. At the ’80 USA Trials the following California community college athletes qualified for the 1980 team: Gwen Gardner, John Powell, Dan Ripley, James Robinson, Kate Schmidt

Gwen Gardner…Sprints

LA Crenshaw HS / LA Mercurettes / West LA / Hawaii U.

USA Champion, ’80 Olympic Trials Runner-up

’82 SoCal, State 400-200 double wins; West LA takes SoCal

 John Powell…Discus

American River CC / San Jose State

Four-time Olympian, former world record-holder

From sixth in state JC meet to an international icon in the event

Dan Ripley…Pole Vault

Cypress CC / San Jose State

From state champion to world records, Olympic team;

Cleared 18ft. 10 consecutive years  

James Robinson…800

Laney CC / UC Berkeley

Two state titles, two *national records, seven USA titles;

Two-time Olympian; ’84 Trials-1:43.92

Kate “the Great” Schmidt…Javelin

Long Beach CC*/ Long Beach State

American icon in the javelin-two Olympic bronze medals,

  Seven national titles, 16-year reign

*Full-time LBCC student before women’s T&F initiated

Tom Tellez…USA Men’s Asst. Coach

Coaching positions: Fullerton CC / UCLA  / Houston Univ.

Carl Lewis’ collegiate, post-collegiate coach

1984 Los Angeles Olympics…

Valerie Briscoe…400-gold medal

LA Locke HS / CS Northridge / Long Beach CC

Three Olympic gold medals, still holds American 400 record

First sprinter, male or female, to win Olympic 400-200 double

First woman to break 50 seconds; fastest ever relay leg-48.7

Doug Fernandez…Decathlon

Venezuela / Long Beach CC / CS Long Beach

Four State Titles: Javelin, Decathlon

*State meet decathlon record-7478

Milton Goode…High Jump

Alameda CC

*State meet, national record; 3^rd ’84 Trials 7-5¾

Johnny Gray…800

LA Crenshaw HS / Santa Monica CC

Four Olympic teams, four Olympic 800 finals, ’92-Silver medal

World, USA records; two decades an international runner 

Dave Laut … Shot Put-bronze medal

Santa Clara HS / Moorpark CC /San Jose CC / UCLA

State champion, two NCAA, four AAU titles

*American record: 72-3 

Peter Van Miltenburg…Sprints, 1600 relay

Australia / Saddleback

Aussie 200 title;’84 Olympic 1600 relay

John Powell…Discus-bronze medal

American River CC / San Jose State

Four-time Olympian, former world record-holder

From 6th in state JC meet to international discus icon  

Doug Nordquist...High Jump

Sonora HS, La Habra, Ca. / Fullerton CC / Washington State

’84 Olympian, two-time USA Champ; 7-8¾ PR   

Doug Padilla…5000 

Marina HS/Chabot / Brigham Young

A decade of international level 5000s; USA Titles-12!

Tom Petranoff…Javelin

Palomar CC

A GIANT in the event

327-2 world-record, 20 years-international force

Tom Tellez…USA Men’s Asst. Coach

Coaching positions: Fullerton CC / UCLA / Houston Univ.

Carl Lewis’ collegiate, post-collegiate coach 

Ruth Kleinsasser Caldwell Wysocki…1500

Citrus College

Still holds American CC 800-meter record-2:03.9

First female to win two state meet events in consecutive years;

Wysocki upset Mary Decker Slaney to win ’84 Trials

1988 Seoul Olympics…

Valerie Brisco…1600 relay-gold medal

 LA Locke HS / CS Northridge / Long Beach CC

Three Olympic gold medals, still holds American 400 record

First sprinter, male or female, to win Olympic 400-200 double

First woman to break 50 seconds; fastest ever relay leg-48.7

Bonnie Dasse...Shot put

Costa Mesa HS / Orange Coast / San Diego St.

'88 Seoul Olympics-12th; '92 Barcelona-qualifying only

'85-'88: #2 USA SP Rankings; Career PR: 63-11.5

Jim Doehring…Shot Put-silver medal

San Clemente HS / Saddleback CC / San Jose State

’92 Olympics-Silver medal

Three state titles, USA Outdoor, Indoor (70-9) titles

Melford Homela…800-1500

Zimbabwe / Riverside

’88, ’92 Olympian; 3 state titles-RCC

Julius Kariuki…Steeplechase-gold medal

Kenya / Riverside CC

’88 Olympic title-8:05.51, *Olympic record

’88 Riverside: *national steeple mark-8:29.4 

Pam Marshall…Sprints

LA Jordan HS / Long Beach CC

*National, state meet records

USA Tours, PR: 21.93 

Donna Mayhew…Javelin

Crescenta Valley HS / Glendale / Arizona

1980 State Champion 167-6 *state meet, national records

Five USA titles; ’88,’92 Olympian

Doug Padilla…5000 

Marina HS / Chabot / Brigham Young

A decade of international level 5000s; USA Titles-12!

Tom Petranoff…Javelin

Palomar CC

A GIANT in the event

327-2 world-record; 20 years-international force

Andre Phillips…400IH-gold medal

Silver Creek HS, San Jose / San Jose CC / UCLA

State, *national records; NCAA, ’88 Olympic titles

Brian Stanton…High Jump

Inglewood HS/Long Beach CC / Houston

’81 SoCal *meet record 7-4; ’85-USA ranked #2

Gregg Tafralis…Shot put

Capuchino HS (San Bruno, Calif.)

College of San Mateo / Skyline CC

’88 Olympics-9^th 66-1¾

Brian Wellman…Triple Jump

Bermuda/Taft/Arkansas

4-Time Olympian (’88-’00)

*World Chps. ’93-8^th, ’95-2^nd 57-9¾

Two Time NCAA Champion

1992 Barcelona Olympics…

Al Baeta… USA Men’s Staff

’96 USA Olympic Head Men’s T&F Manager

Long-time American River T&F/XC Coach

AR XC teams competed in 33 of 35 state meets

Charles Craig…USA Men’s Asst. Coach

Fresno CC / Fresno State

Started, retired from the CS Bakersfield program

NCAA TJ Champion

Melford Homela…800-1500

Zimbabwe/Riverside

’88, ’92 Olympian; 3 state titles-RCC

Erv Hunt…USA Men’s Asst. Coach

’96 Head USA Men’s OlympicT&FCoach

Fresno CC / Fresno State

UC Berkeley’s long-time head track and field coach

Ed Jacoby…USA Men’s Asst. Coach

Head T&F positons: College of Canyon / Boise St.

Donna Mayhew…Javelin

Crescenta Valley HS / Glendale CC / Arizona

’80 State Champion 167-6 *state meet, national records

Five USA titles; ’88-7th,’92 Olympian

Brian Wellman…Triple Jump

Bermuda/Taft/Arkansas

4-Time Olympian (’88-’00)

*World Chps. ’93-8^th, ’95-2^nd 57-9¾

Two Time NCAA Champion

1996 Atlanta Olympics…

Al Baeta…USA Head Men’s T&F Mgr.

Longtime American River CC-Head T&F/ XC

AR XC teams competed in 33 of 35 state meets

Ato Boldon…Sprints

Trinidad / San Jose City / UCLA

State, NCAA, World titles; ’96 Olympic Bronze-200

Juliet (Revoli) Jean Campbell

Three time Olympian

Jamaica / Mt. SAC

Four state gold medals, two *meet records 

John Chaplin…Head Games Referee-T&F

Wilson HS, Los Angeles / Pasadena CC / Washington State

Head men’s Olympic T&F coach-2000 Games

Long-time Washington St. Head T&F Coach

Charles Craig…Assistant coach

Fresno CC / Fresno State

Started CS Bakersfield’s program-25 years head T&F coach

NCAA TJ Champion

Mark Crear…110m Hurdles

Mt. SAC / USC

Two-time Olympian, Silver-’96; ’92 NCAA Champ

World ranked 1993-2002

Erv Hunt-Head USA Men’s OlympicT&FCoach

Fresno CC / Fresno State

UC Berkeley’s long-time head track and field coach

Noureddine Morceli…1500-gold medal

Algeria / Riverside CC

Four state cc titles in two events in consecutive years,

Still owns 1500, 5000 national cc records,

First miler under 3:45; ’96 Olympic 1500 title

Brandon Rock…800

El Dorado HS, NV. / Taft CC / Nevada U.

’95 USA 800 title

’96 Atlanta Olympics

Eugene Swift…High Hurdles

Merritt CC

’91: Four state titles, *National cc record-13.49

’96 Atlanta Olympics HH-6^th

Brian Wellman…Triple Jump

Bermuda/Taft/Arkansas

4-Time Olympian (’88-’00); ’92 Games-5^th 56-6¾

*World Chps. ’93-8^th, ’95-2^nd 57-9¾

Two Time NCAA Champion

Jeff Williams…Sprints, Relay

LA Washington HS / Los Angeles CC / Prairie View A&M

Obscurity to World Cup; 200PR-19.87; ’95-world ranked 3^rd

2000 Sydney Olympics…

John Chaplin…Head Men’s Coach

Wilson HS, Los Angeles / Pasadena CC / Washington State

Head men’s Olympic T&F coach-2000 Games

Long-time Washington St. Head T&F Coach

Ato Boldon

Trinidad/San Jose City / UCLA

2000 Sydney Olympics-100-Silver, 200-Bronze

Stacy Dragila

Placer HS / Yuba CC / Idaho State

2000 Sydney Olympics- Pole Vault, Gold medal

17 USA Indoor/Outdoor Titles / Three World Indoor / Outdoor Titles

Dr. Ernie Gregoire…Asst. Coach

Mt. SAC Asst. since 1968!

’93 USA World Chps. Head Coach

’06 USA WC Head Coach

Felix Sanchez…400IH

Dominican Republic / San Diego Mesa / USC

2000 Olympics-400IH 7^th semis 49.69

Consecutive SoCal, State titles; NCAA, World Champion

2003 T&F News Athlete of Year

Brian Wellman…Triple Jump

Bermuda/Taft/Arkansas

4-Time Olympian (’88-’00)

*World Chps. ’93-8^th, ’95-2^nd 57-9¾

Two NCAA titles

2004 Athens Olympics…

Charles Craig…USA Men’s Asst. Coach

Fresno CC / Fresno State

Started, retired from the CS Bakersfield program

Ato Boldon

Trinidad/San Jose City / UCLA

2004 Athens Olympian

Stacy Dragila

Placer HS / Yuba CC / Idaho State

2000 Sydney Olympics- Pole Vault, Gold medal

17 USA Indoor/Outdoor Titles / Three World Indoor / Outdoor Titles

Felix Sanchez…400IH-gold medal

Dominican Republic / San Diego Mesa / USC

400IH-1^st 47.63

Dominican Republic / San Diego Mesa / USC

400IH-3^rd semis 48.24

2008 Bejing Olympics

Magdalena Lewy-Boulet…Marathon

LBCC / UC Berkeley

1994 State 1500 title; 2^nd in 2008 Trials marathon

2008 NYC Marathon-7^th; USA Half-Marathon title-’09

2008 Bejing Olympics marathon: DNF- injury

Felix Sanchez…400IH

Dominican Republic / San Diego Mesa / USC

400IH-5^th heat 51.10 

Giovani Lanaro…two-time Olympian

Mexico / CS Fullerton / Mt. SAC

From state CC champion to world class

2004, 2008 Olympics-Team Mexico