Ron Whitney

Ronald Howard "Ron" Whitney (born October 5, 1942) is a retired American hurdler and sprinter. Known for his fast finish, he was sixth in the 400 m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics.^[1] He had entered the race as one of the favorites,^[2] having been ranked #1 in the world in 1967 ^[3] and winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event for the second time earlier that year.^[4] At the Olympics, his first heat victory established a new Olympic record, only to be surpassed by David Hemery two days later.^[5]

Ron Whitney

Personal information
Born	(1942-10-05) October 5, 1942 (age 82) Modesto, California, United States
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	78 kg (172 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	400 m, 400 m hurdles
Club	Southern California Striders, Anaheim
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	400 m – 46.6 (1967) 880 yd – 1:48.6 (1963) 400 mH – 49.06 (1968)
Medal record Representing the  United States Pan American Games 1967 Winnipeg 400 m hurdles Summer Universiade 1967 Tokyo 400 m hurdles 1965 Budapest 400 m hurdles

Previously he had been the Pan American Games champion in the same event.^[6] While working on his master's degree at Colorado State University, he was the 1967 Gold Medalist at the World University Games. He also had won bronze two years earlier^[5] and while competing for Occidental College, where he was coached by Jim Bush, was runner up at the NCAA Championships in 1963.

At Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, California,^[7] Whitney was the champion at the 1960 Golden West Invitational, the equivalent of a national champion, at 800 m,^[8] a week after finishing fourth in the CIF California State Meet in the same event.^[9]

Whitney continued to compete into masters age groups as a pioneer of masters athletics.^[10]

Whitney continues to be involved in the sport as head track and field coach at Santa Rosa Junior College.^[11] He is a member of the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame and the Occidental College Hall of Fame.^[12]