George Young (athlete)

George L. Young ( born July 24, 1937 in Roswell, New Mexico) is a former American track and field athlete, who in 1968 won the bronze medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Young was a student in their final year at the University of Arizona when he behind Phil Coleman second in the AAU Championship was in the steeplechase in 1959. In 1960 he took part in the Olympic Games in Rome. In the second heat he finished fourth, the first three runners reached the final. In 1961, Young was able to place 8:38,0 minutes for the first time among the top ten runners of the year in the world. 1962 Young won the first of his three U.S. titles in the steeplechase, the other two should follow in 1965 and 1968. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 succeeded Young as the third party of the second forward travel in 3:34,2 minutes of the final. In the final he finished fifth in 3:38,2 minutes.

Young won in 1966 at the AAU Championship in a three- mile run. In 1968 he competed at the Olympic Games in Mexico City in both the steeplechase, as well as in the marathon after he was on both routes reigning U.S. champion. About the obstacles he qualified as a third of its forward travel for the finals. There he won the bronze medal in 8:51,8 minutes behind the two Kenyans Amos Biwott and Benjamin Kogo, after he had sprinted down the stretch against Kogo and the Australian Kerry O'Brien for the medals, while outside Biwott overtook the entire field. In the marathon Young finished 16th place four days after the final obstacle. Young also on 1969 indoor world records in the two- mile run and three-mile run. In his fourth Olympics start in Munich in 1972 Young was eliminated in the run over 5000 meters.

At a height of 1.75 meters his competition weight was 67 kilograms. Young worked after his sporting career as a physical education teacher and college coaches. Since 1981 he is a member of the Hall of Fame of the USA Track & Field.

Bests

  • 3000 meter steeplechase: 8:30,5 minutes ( 1968)
  • Mile: 3:59,6 (1972 )
  • 5000 meters: 13:29,4 minutes ( 1972)
  • Marathon: 2:30:48 Hour (1968 )
Roswell (New Mexico) Amateur Athletic Union
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