San Jose State Spartans track and field

For information on all San Jose State University sports, see San Jose State Spartans.

San Jose State Spartans track and field
UniversitySan Jose State University
Head coachCharles Ryan
ConferenceMW
LocationSan Jose, California
Outdoor trackPAL Stadium
NicknameSpartans
ColorsGold, white, and blue[1]
     
NCAA Outdoor National Championships
Men: 1969[2]

The San Jose State Spartans track and field team, also known as "Speed City"[3], is the track and field program that represents San Jose State University. The Spartans compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is based in San Jose, California, at the PAL Stadium.[4]

The program is currently coached by Charles Ryan.[5] The track and field program officially encompasses four teams because the NCAA considers men's and women's indoor track and field and outdoor track and field as separate sports.[6]

The team was known as "Speed City" in the 1960s under coach Bud Winter. Spartans Tommie Smith and John Carlos were both part of the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute. The San Jose State track team also led the 1968 Black American Olympic boycott movement to advocate for civil rights.[7] A statue, Victory Salute, was erected to honor the moment in 2005, and a History Park exhibit was created about the team in 2007.[8] The men's team was cut in 1988 but revived in 2018.[9]

Notable athletes

AIAW

The Spartans have had one AIAW All-American finishing in the top six at the AIAW indoor or outdoor championships.[10]

AIAW All-Americans
Championships Name Event Place
1973 Outdoor Linda Langford Discus throw 2nd
1973 Outdoor Linda Langford Javelin throw 2nd

NCAA

As of August 2025, a total of 85 men and 3 women have achieved individual first-team All-American status for the team at the Division I men's outdoor, women's outdoor, men's indoor, or women's indoor national championships (using the modern criteria of top-8 placing regardless of athlete nationality).[11][12]

First team NCAA All-Americans
Team Championships Name Event Place Ref.
Men's 1934 Outdoor Douglas Taylor Long jump 6th [13]
Men's 1937 Outdoor Lowell Todd Javelin throw 1st [14]
Men's 1938 Outdoor Lowell Todd Javelin throw 5th [14]
Men's 1946 Outdoor Bob Likens Javelin throw 1st [14]
Men's 1947 Outdoor Don Smalley 100 meters 6th [15]
Men's 1947 Outdoor Thelmo Knowles 800 meters 4th [16]
Men's 1947 Outdoor Grant Denmark Discus throw 5th [17]
Men's 1947 Outdoor Bob Likens Javelin throw 1st [14]
Men's 1948 Outdoor Woody Linn Discus throw 5th [17]
Men's 1949 Outdoor Bob Crowe 100 meters 5th [15]
Men's 1949 Outdoor Mel Martin High jump 4th [18]
Men's 1949 Outdoor George Mattos Pole vault 4th [19]
Men's 1949 Outdoor Woody Linn Discus throw 6th [17]
Men's 1950 Outdoor George Mattos Pole vault 2nd [19]
Men's 1951 Outdoor George Mattos Pole vault 2nd [19]
Men's 1952 Outdoor Bob McMullen 3000 meters steeplechase 1st [20]
Men's 1952 Outdoor Paul Jennings 3000 meters steeplechase 3rd [20]
Men's 1952 Outdoor Herm Wyatt High jump 4th [18]
Men's 1952 Outdoor Bill Priddy Pole vault 1st [19]
Men's 1953 Outdoor Lang Stanley 800 meters 1st [16]
Men's 1954 Outdoor Lang Stanley 800 meters 4th [16]
Men's 1955 Outdoor Owen Rhodes Pole vault 8th [19]
Men's 1956 Outdoor Lang Stanley 800 meters 2nd [16]
Men's 1956 Outdoor Don Hubbard 3000 meters steeplechase 4th [20]
Men's 1956 Outdoor Owen Rhodes Pole vault 5th [19]
Men's 1957 Outdoor Chuck Hightower Pole vault 3rd [19]
Men's 1958 Outdoor Ray Norton 100 meters 2nd [15]
Men's 1958 Outdoor Ray Norton 200 meters 2nd [21]
Men's 1958 Outdoor Kent Herkenrath 220 yards hurdles 4th [22]
Men's 1958 Outdoor Don Smith High jump 8th [18]
Men's 1958 Outdoor Errol Williams High jump 8th [18]
Men's 1958 Outdoor Chuck Hightower Pole vault 5th [19]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Bob Poynter 100 meters 2nd [15]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Ray Norton 200 meters 1st [21]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Bob Poynter 200 meters 2nd [21]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Sam Holt 3000 meters steeplechase 2nd [20]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Errol Williams High jump 1st [18]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Stan Hopkins Pole vault 6th [19]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Al Jongewaard Hammer throw 4th [23]
Men's 1959 Outdoor Tom Daniels Hammer throw 6th [23]
Men's 1960 Outdoor Willie Williams 200 meters 7th [21]
Men's 1960 Outdoor Charley Clark 3000 meters steeplechase 1st [20]
Men's 1960 Outdoor Errol Williams High jump 3rd [18]
Men's 1960 Outdoor Vance Barnes High jump 5th [18]
Men's 1960 Outdoor Dick Kimmel Pole vault 2nd [19]
Men's 1960 Outdoor Ed Burke Hammer throw 7th [23]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Bob Poynter 100 meters 7th [15]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Bob Poynter 200 meters 7th [21]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Ron Davis 3000 meters steeplechase 6th [20]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Charley Clark 5000 meters 2nd [24]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Dick Gear Pole vault 1st [19]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Dick Kimmel Pole vault 4th [19]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Jeff Chase Pole vault 4th [19]
Men's 1961 Outdoor Dan Studney Javelin throw 6th [14]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Dennis Johnson 100 meters 3rd [15]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Bruce McCullough 400 meters hurdles 6th [25]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Ben Tucker 800 meters 6th [16]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Jeff Fishback 3000 meters steeplechase 2nd [20]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Ron Davis 3000 meters steeplechase 5th [20]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Walt Roberts Triple jump 8th [26]
Men's 1962 Outdoor Ed Burke Hammer throw 3rd [23]
Men's 1963 Outdoor Ben Tucker Mile run 3rd [27]
Men's 1963 Outdoor Jeff Fishback 3000 meters steeplechase 3rd [20]
Men's 1963 Outdoor Jeff Fishback 10,000 meters 2nd [28]
Men's 1963 Outdoor Danny Murphy 10,000 meters 6th [28]
Men's 1963 Outdoor Les Bond Long jump 7th [13]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Wayne Herman 100 meters 8th [15]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Wayne Hermen 200 meters 5th [21]
Men's 1964 Outdoor John Garrison 800 meters 4th [16]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Ben Tucker 1500 meters 4th [29]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Gene Gurule 5000 meters 7th [24]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Danny Murphy 10,000 meters 1st [28]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Gene Gurule 10,000 meters 3rd [28]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Les Bond Long jump 8th [13]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Les Bond Triple jump 2nd [26]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Craig Fergus Triple jump 8th [26]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Bob Akers Discus throw 4th [17]
Men's 1964 Outdoor Bob Brown Javelin throw 5th [14]
Men's 1965 Outdoor Wayne Hermen 4 × 100 meters relay 1st [30]
Lloyd Murad
Maurice Compton
Tommie Smith
Men's 1965 Outdoor Craig Fergus Triple jump 2nd [26]
Men's 1965 Outdoor Dick Smith Hammer throw 5th [23]
Men's 1966 Outdoor Tommie Smith 100 meters 2nd [15]
Men's 1966 Outdoor Wayne Hermen 200 meters 5th [21]
Men's 1966 Outdoor Wayne Hermen 4 × 100 meters relay 3rd [30]
Tim Knowles
John Bambury
Tommie Smith
Men's 1966 Outdoor Tommie Smith Long jump 3rd [13]
Men's 1966 Outdoor Craig Fergus Triple jump 1st [26]
Men's 1967 Outdoor Tommie Smith 200 meters 1st [21]
Men's 1968 Outdoor Sam Davis 100 meters 3rd [15]
Men's 1968 Outdoor Lee Evans 400 meters 1st [31]
Men's 1968 Outdoor Larry Walls 400 meters hurdles 8th [25]
Men's 1968 Outdoor Sam Davis 4 × 100 meters relay 2nd [30]
Frank Slaton
Bob Griffin
Lee Evans
Men's 1969 Indoor John Carlos 55 meters 1st [32]
Men's 1969 Indoor Kirk Clayton 55 meters 6th [32]
Men's 1969 Indoor George Carty 55 meters hurdles 2nd [33]
Men's 1969 Indoor Lee Evans 400 meters 2nd [34]
Men's 1969 Indoor Sam Caruthers Pole vault 4th [35]
Men's 1969 Indoor Marion Anderson Long jump 3rd [36]
Men's 1969 Outdoor John Carlos 100 meters 1st [15]
Men's 1969 Outdoor Ronnie Ray Smith 100 meters 3rd [15]
Men's 1969 Outdoor George Carty 110 meters hurdles 7th [37]
Men's 1969 Outdoor John Carlos 200 meters 1st [21]
Men's 1969 Outdoor Lee Evans 400 meters 2nd [31]
Men's 1969 Outdoor Darold Dent 3000 meters steeplechase 7th [20]
Men's 1969 Outdoor Sam Davis 4 × 100 meters relay 1st [30]
Kirk Clayton
Ronnie Ray Smith
John Carlos
Men's 1969 Outdoor Marion Anderson Long jump 7th [13]
Men's 1969 Outdoor John Powell Discus throw 4th [17]
Men's 1971 Outdoor George Carty 110 meters hurdles 3rd [37]
Men's 1971 Outdoor Bob Richards Pole vault 4th [19]
Men's 1971 Outdoor Vic Dias Pole vault 5th [19]
Men's 1972 Outdoor Greg Born Discus throw 8th [17]
Men's 1973 Outdoor Vince Breddell 200 meters 4th [21]
Men's 1973 Outdoor Mark Schilling Mile run 6th [27]
Men's 1973 Outdoor Frank Rock Pole vault 5th [19]
Men's 1974 Outdoor Ron Livers Triple jump 7th [26]
Men's 1975 Outdoor Ron Whitaker 200 meters 4th [21]
Men's 1975 Outdoor Mark Schilling Mile run 2nd [27]
Men's 1975 Outdoor Ron Livers High jump 5th [18]
Men's 1975 Outdoor Dan Ripley Pole vault 2nd [19]
Men's 1975 Outdoor Ron Livers Triple jump 1st [26]
Men's 1976 Outdoor Dedy Cooper 110 meters hurdles 1st [37]
Men's 1976 Outdoor Ron Semkiw Shot put 2nd [38]
Men's 1976 Outdoor Mike Weeks Shot put 5th [38]
Men's 1976 Outdoor Mike Weeks Discus throw 8th [17]
Men's 1977 Indoor Dedy Cooper 55 meters hurdles 2nd [33]
Men's 1977 Outdoor Ron Livers Triple jump 1st [26]
Men's 1977 Outdoor Ron Semkiw Shot put 4th [38]
Men's 1977 Outdoor Bob Feuerbach Shot put 7th [38]
Men's 1978 Outdoor Dedy Cooper 110 meters hurdles 8th [37]
Men's 1978 Outdoor Ron Livers Triple jump 1st [26]
Men's 1978 Outdoor Bob Feuerbach Shot put 4th [38]
Men's 1979 Outdoor Greg Woepse Pole vault 5th [19]
Men's 1979 Outdoor Curt Ransford Javelin throw 6th [14]
Men's 1980 Outdoor Thurlis Gibbs High jump 8th [18]
Men's 1980 Outdoor Curt Ransford Javelin throw 1st [14]
Men's 1981 Outdoor Cleve Prince 4 × 100 meters relay 5th [30]
Ken Thomas
Dwayne Green
Virgil Torrence
Men's 1982 Outdoor Bernie Holloway 400 meters hurdles 4th [25]
Men's 1983 Indoor Felix Bohni Pole vault 1st [35]
Men's 1983 Outdoor Felix Bohni Pole vault 1st [19]
Men's 1984 Indoor Felix Bohni Pole vault 3rd [35]
Men's 1984 Indoor Jim Doehring Shot put 6th [39]
Men's 1984 Indoor Kjell Bystedt Weight throw 5th [40]
Men's 1984 Outdoor Jim Doehring Shot put 6th [38]
Men's 1984 Outdoor Kjell Bystedt Hammer throw 2nd [23]
Men's 1984 Outdoor Fred Schumacher Hammer throw 6th [23]
Men's 1985 Indoor Jim Doehring Shot put 2nd [39]
Men's 1985 Indoor Kjell Bystedt Weight throw 3rd [40]
Men's 1985 Outdoor Jim Doehring Shot put 3rd [38]
Men's 1985 Outdoor Kjell Bystedt Hammer throw 2nd [23]
Men's 1985 Outdoor Fred Schumacher Hammer throw 8th [23]
Men's 1986 Outdoor Fred Schumacher Hammer throw 3rd [23]
Men's 1987 Indoor Fred Schumacher Weight throw 1st [40]
Women's 2023 Indoor Emilia Sjöstrand Triple jump 7th [41]
Women's 2023 Outdoor Emilia Sjöstrand Long jump 7th [42]
Women's 2024 Indoor Emilia Sjöstrand Triple jump 2nd [41]
Men's 2024 Outdoor Malachi Snow 110 meters hurdles 4th [37]
Women's 2024 Outdoor Emilia Sjöstrand Triple jump 3rd [43]
Women's 2025 Indoor Simone Johnson Triple jump 8th [41]
Women's 2025 Outdoor Sky Hagan 100 meters 5th [44]
Women's 2025 Outdoor Emilia Sjöstrand Triple jump 2nd [43]

Olympics

The Spartans have collectively won nine Olympic track and field medals, from seven athletes.[45]

Olympic medalists
Name Country Olympiad Event Medal
Willie Steele  United States 1948 London Long Jump Gold
Lee Evans  United States 1968 Mexico City 400 meters Gold
Lee Evans  United States 1968 Mexico City 4x400 meters Gold
Ronnie Ray Smith  United States 1968 Mexico City 4x100 meters Gold
Tommie Smith  United States 1968 Mexico City 200 meters Gold
John Carlos  United States 1968 Mexico City 200 meters Bronze
John Powell  United States 1976 Montreal Discus throw Bronze
John Powell  United States 1984 Los Angeles Discus throw Bronze
Jim Doehring  United States 1992 Barcelona Shot put Silver

See also

  • Category:San Jose State Spartans men's track and field athletes (28)
  • Category:San Jose State Spartans women's track and field athletes (3)

References

  1. ^ "San Jose State Athletics Branding Style Guide" (PDF). 14 December 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  2. ^ "NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships ::: USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meet History ::: USTFCCCA". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  3. ^ Bembry, Jerry (2 August 2016). "San Jose State to revive its fabled 'Speed City' track program". Andscape. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  4. ^ "San Jose State Spartans Media Guide" (PDF). San Jose State University Athletics. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  5. ^ "San Jose State Spartans Track and Field Coach". San Jose State University Athletics. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Here are the differences between the indoor and outdoor track seasons". ncaa.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Hell No, Don't Go" (PDF). Life Magazine.
  8. ^ "Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power". History San José. July 28, 2005. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  9. ^ "Reflecting on the Legacy of Speed City". tracksmith.com.
  10. ^ Hubbard, Mike; Pfeifer, Jack. "The early years of Women's collegiate track" (PDF). Track and Field News. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  11. ^ "USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meet History by Event: NCAA Division I Indoor Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  12. ^ "USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meet History by Event: NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "Javelin throw at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "100 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "800 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "Discus throw at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "High jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Pole vault at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "3000 meters steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "200 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  22. ^ "220 yards hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships" (PDF). trackandfieldnews.com.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Hammer throw at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  24. ^ a b "5000 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  25. ^ a b c "400 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  27. ^ a b c "Mile run at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d "10,000 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  29. ^ "1500 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d e "4 × 100 meters relay at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024. "Track and Field News NCAA Outdoor m4x1" (PDF). Track and Field News. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  31. ^ a b "400 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  32. ^ a b "55 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  33. ^ a b "55 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  34. ^ "400 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  35. ^ a b c "Pole vault at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  37. ^ a b c d e "110 meters hurdles at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g "Shot put at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  39. ^ a b "Shot put at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  40. ^ a b c "Weight throw at the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  41. ^ a b c "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  42. ^ "Long jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  43. ^ a b "Triple jump at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  44. ^ "100 meters at the NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  45. ^ "Olympians". SJSU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - San Jose State Spartans. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
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