Mike Marsh
Encyclopedia
Michael Lawrence Marsh is a former American
sprinter, the 1992 Olympic
champion in the 200 m.
, and attended high school at Hawthorne High School
in Hawthorne, California
where he was overshadowed by Henry Thomas
who he joined on numerous championship relays. When Thomas was sidelined with an appendix attack
, requiring surgery just before the qualification cycle, Marsh won the 1985 CIF California State Meet
in the 200 metres. He continued running with Thomas at UCLA, his best achievement was a 3rd place at the NCAA
championships.
Although Marsh could compete in the national sprint top, he did not manage to qualify for an international event until 1991, when he qualified for the American relay team for the 1991 World Championships
. Marsh ran in the heats, but not in the final, which was won by the Americans. The next year, at the US Olympic Trials for the Barcelona Olympics
, Marsh, who had posted a time of 9.93s into a wind of 0.6 m/s at the Mt. SAC Relays
in Walnut earlier that season, which using a widely accepted wind/altitude correction calculator adjusted to the fastest ever intrinsic 100m time recorded at that time in history, disappointingly finished fourth in the 100 meters. Not enough for individual qualification, but sufficient to make the relay team. In the 200 m, he placed second to Michael Johnson
, and qualified for the Olympics.
In Barcelona, Marsh surprised all observers in his semi-final. He cruised through the race, simply securing qualification for the final. His final time, however, was 19.73, just one hundredth of a second slower than the standing world record
(and it was the American Record
. This run was remarkable for the fact that he eased off 10m from the line, stating in later interviews that he hadn't realised how fast he was running & wanted to save some energy for the final, which was to be held only a few hours later. See the race. Unofficial split analysis from video of that run indicates he would have run a time of about 19.65s if he hadn't eased off, significantly faster than the world record at the time, Pietro Mennea
's altitude-assisted 19.72s. An improvement of this record was anticipated for the final, but Marsh could not live up to those expectations. He did win the race however, beating early leader Frankie Fredericks
of Namibia
. He did set a world record in the final of the 4 x 100 m, as the American team completed the race in 37.40.
As the reigning Olympic champion, he surprisingly did not medal in the 200 m at the 1993 World Championships, placing fourth. His 1994 season went without a win, but he did lead off the Santa Monica Track Club
's 4x200 relay at the Mt. SAC Relays
when the team of Marsh, Leroy Burrell
, Floyd Heard
and Carl Lewis
set the still standing world record
in the event. He returned strongly in 1995. He won the national championships in the 100 m, and represented his country in that event at the World Championships. There, he disappointed, finishing only 5th in the final. The disappointment was complete when the relay team failed to finish the heats after a bad exchange.
In 1996, Marsh managed to qualify for all three sprint events at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta
, and he reached the final of all three. In the 100 m, he placed 5th and finished last while attempt to defend his 200 m title (which was taken by Johnson in a new world record time). The American relay team, with Marsh as the third runner, was heavily favoured to take the 4 x 100 m title, but they were surprised by the Canadian
team in the final, and had to settle for silver.
Marsh retired from international athletics after the 1997 season, in which he again qualified for the 100 m final at the World Championships, where he placed last.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sprinter, the 1992 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion in the 200 m.
Biography
Marsh was born in Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and attended high school at Hawthorne High School
Hawthorne High School (Hawthorne, California)
Hawthorne High School is a public high school located in Hawthorne, California, within the Centinela Valley Union High School District. It opened in the mid 1950s and is most notable for its association with The Beach Boys, whose original members Brian, Carl, Dennis Wilson, and Al Jardine attended...
in Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
where he was overshadowed by Henry Thomas
Henry Thomas (athlete)
Henry Thomas is a former American sprinter known for running at the high school and collegiate levels. He demonstrated extremely rare versatility, successful at 100 metres through 400 metres, holding the World Youth best for 100 metres , set in a race 7 days after he set the world Youth best in...
who he joined on numerous championship relays. When Thomas was sidelined with an appendix attack
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
, requiring surgery just before the qualification cycle, Marsh won the 1985 CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
in the 200 metres. He continued running with Thomas at UCLA, his best achievement was a 3rd place at the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championships.
Although Marsh could compete in the national sprint top, he did not manage to qualify for an international event until 1991, when he qualified for the American relay team for the 1991 World Championships
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
. Marsh ran in the heats, but not in the final, which was won by the Americans. The next year, at the US Olympic Trials for the Barcelona Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, Marsh, who had posted a time of 9.93s into a wind of 0.6 m/s at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
in Walnut earlier that season, which using a widely accepted wind/altitude correction calculator adjusted to the fastest ever intrinsic 100m time recorded at that time in history, disappointingly finished fourth in the 100 meters. Not enough for individual qualification, but sufficient to make the relay team. In the 200 m, he placed second to Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson (athlete)
Michael Duane Johnson is a retired American sprinter. He won four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship gold medals. Johnson currently holds the world and Olympic records in the 400 m and 4 x 400 meters relay. He formerly held the world and Olympic record in the 200 m, and the world...
, and qualified for the Olympics.
In Barcelona, Marsh surprised all observers in his semi-final. He cruised through the race, simply securing qualification for the final. His final time, however, was 19.73, just one hundredth of a second slower than the standing world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
(and it was the American Record
United States records in track and field
The following are the national records in track & field in the United States maintained by USA Track & Field .Key:-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified by IAAF...
. This run was remarkable for the fact that he eased off 10m from the line, stating in later interviews that he hadn't realised how fast he was running & wanted to save some energy for the final, which was to be held only a few hours later. See the race. Unofficial split analysis from video of that run indicates he would have run a time of about 19.65s if he hadn't eased off, significantly faster than the world record at the time, Pietro Mennea
Pietro Mennea
Pietro Paolo Mennea is an Italian former sprinter and politician, who was the 1980 Moscow Olympic 200 meter Champion, and also held the 200 m world record for 17 years.-Biography:...
's altitude-assisted 19.72s. An improvement of this record was anticipated for the final, but Marsh could not live up to those expectations. He did win the race however, beating early leader Frankie Fredericks
Frankie Fredericks
Frank Fredericks is a former athlete from Namibia. Running in the 100 metres and 200 metres, he won four silver medals at the Olympic Games , making him Namibia's first and so far only Olympic medalist...
of Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. He did set a world record in the final of the 4 x 100 m, as the American team completed the race in 37.40.
As the reigning Olympic champion, he surprisingly did not medal in the 200 m at the 1993 World Championships, placing fourth. His 1994 season went without a win, but he did lead off the Santa Monica Track Club
Santa Monica Track Club
The Santa Monica Track Club was formed in 1972 by Joe Douglas as a post-collegiate track club. By the 1980s, the team came to be a major player in worldwide Track and Field competition, with team members setting numerous World and National records...
's 4x200 relay at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
when the team of Marsh, Leroy Burrell
Leroy Burrell
Leroy Russel Burrell is a former American athlete who twice set the world record for the 100 meters sprint, setting a time of 9.90 seconds in June 1991. This was broken by Carl Lewis in September at the World Track and Field Championships. In that race, Burrell came in second, yet he...
, Floyd Heard
Floyd Heard
Floyd Wayne Heard is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States, best known for setting the 1986 world's best year performance in the men's 200 metres. He did so on 1986-07-07 at a meet in Moscow, Soviet Union, clocking 20.12...
and Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis
Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and...
set the still standing world record
World records in athletics
World records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking....
in the event. He returned strongly in 1995. He won the national championships in the 100 m, and represented his country in that event at the World Championships. There, he disappointed, finishing only 5th in the final. The disappointment was complete when the relay team failed to finish the heats after a bad exchange.
In 1996, Marsh managed to qualify for all three sprint events at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, and he reached the final of all three. In the 100 m, he placed 5th and finished last while attempt to defend his 200 m title (which was taken by Johnson in a new world record time). The American relay team, with Marsh as the third runner, was heavily favoured to take the 4 x 100 m title, but they were surprised by the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
team in the final, and had to settle for silver.
Marsh retired from international athletics after the 1997 season, in which he again qualified for the 100 m final at the World Championships, where he placed last.