Willie Deckard
Personal information
Born(1951-01-03)January 3, 1951
DiedMay 6, 2023(2023-05-06) (aged 72)
Sport
SportRunning
Event(s)100 yards, 100 metres, 200 metres
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 1971 Cali 4×100 m relay

Willie Deckard was a track and field athlete that competed as a sprinter at Dorsey High School, LA City College, and USC. Deckard was born January 3, 1951. Passed May 6, 2023.[1]

High school

June 1968, Deckard (Dorsey High School) won the 220-yard dash at the California State Track and Field Championship.[2][3] Earlier in the season Deckard was the leading L.A. City high school sprinter 9.6 (100) and 21.2 (220), and won the Helms Athletic Foundation L.A. City Athlete of the Year.[4][5]

College

May 1969, Deckard (LA City College) was second in the 100-yard dash in the Junior College division at the West Coast Relays[6]

May 1971, Willie Deckard (of USC) assisted USC in defeating UCLA with his 9.2 (100-yard), 20.2 (220-yard), and 4x110 relay performance. The 9.2 and 20.2 were Meet Records.[7][8] The 9.2 was tied for the top World mark in 1971, and the 20.2 was the top American mark in 1971.[9]

May 1971, Deckard set a UW stadium record of 9.4 in the 100-yard dash at the Pacific-8 Track and Field Championship. Deckard won the 100-yard and 220-yard finals.[10]

June 1971, at the NCAA Track and Field Championship, Deckard (USC) set a stadium record (20.5) in a 220-yard heat and was part of the winning 4x110 Relay. Relay team included Lance Babb.[11]

July 1971, Deckard placed 2nd in the 200 meter in the USA vs USSR vs The World Track Meet.[12][13] The meet was part of the USA–USSR Track and Field Dual Meet Series.

Deckard was the leading 1st round qualifier in the 200-meter dash at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, however he did not finish the final. Later he ran on the bronze medal-winning 4x100 relay that was nipped in a photo finish for the silver by Cuba.

June 1, 1972, Deckard (USC) ran 10.0 (100-meter) and a 20.2 wind aided (200-meter) during the qualification rounds at the NCAA Track and Field Championship in Eugene.[14] USC's 4 × 100 metres relay team (Williams, Brown, Garrison, and Deckard) won at the Championship.[15]

Post college

July 1972, Deckard joined the California International Track Club.[16]

July 1, 1972, Deckard ran a 9.9 wind aided 100-meter dash at the 1972 Olympic Trials.[17] Deckard placed 5th in the 200-meter final.

Feb 1973, Deckard won the 60-yard dash at the Seattle Indoor T&F Meet in 6.0 (a new meet record).[18]

May 1973, Deckard won the 220-yard dash in the Invitational Division at the Mt. SAC Relays.[19][20]

May 1976, Deckard ran a 20.6 for the 200-meter dash at an All-Comers Meet at UC Irvine.[21]

Coached track and field at several high schools.

Honors

April 2009, Deckard was inducted into the USC Dual Meet Hall of Fame.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Trojan Force, May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023
  2. ↑ "Madera Tribune 3 June 1968 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ Calif High School State Championship History, 1968. Retrieved May 7, 2023
  4. ↑ Helms Annual 1968. Retrieved May 7, 2023
  5. ↑ "The Los Angeles Times 16 Jun 1968, page 51". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Oakland Tribune 11 May 1969, page Page 29". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ "U.S.C. DOWNS U.C.L.A., SETS 5 MEET MARKS". The New York Times. May 9, 1971. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1976, page 51". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ International Athletics Annual, 1972, ATFS, World Sports Publication, England, pages 33 and 39. Retrieved May 9, 2023
  10. ↑ Pacific-12 Meet Results. Retrieved May 7, 2023
  11. ↑ Nole Fan, Meet Results. Retrieved May 7, 2023
  12. ↑ "The Manhattan Mercury 04 Jul 1971, page 7". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Albuquerque Journal 04 Jul 1971, page Page 30". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Tucson Citizen 02 Jun 1972, page 66". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ NCAA Championship Meet History. Retrieved May 7, 2023
  16. ↑ "The Times Standard 09 Jul 1972, page Page 17". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "The Times Standard 02 Jul 1972, page Page 14". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Courier-Journal 05 Feb 1973, page Page 32". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  19. ↑ Meet History. Retrieved May 7, 2023
  20. ↑ "La Verne Leader 03 May 1973, page Page 13". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Press-Telegram 16 May 1976, page 66". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  22. ↑ USC Trojan website, April 28, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2023
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