Ronnie Ray Smith
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ronnie" Ray Smith (born March 28, 1949) is a former American
athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4×100 m relay
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
. He attended San Jose State College
during the "Speed City" era, coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter
.
At the 1968 AAU
Championships, Ronnie Ray Smith equaled the 100 m world record in the semifinal, repeating the same time of 9.9 which was run by Jim Hines
in the same race and Charles Greene in the other semifinal of the same competition. That evening of June 20, 1968 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California
has been dubbed by track and field historians as the "Night of Speed." Since Green was still 19 years old at the time, that mark also became the World Junior Record, which lasted for exactly 8 years.
At the Mexico
Olympics
, Smith ran the third leg in the American 4x100 m relay team that won the gold medal and set a new world record of 38.24 seconds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4×100 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
. He attended San Jose State College
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
during the "Speed City" era, coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter
Lloyd (Bud) Winter
Lloyd C. Winter, better known as "Bud" was the USATF Hall of Fame Track Coach. He was regarded as one of the greatest sprint coaches in the world. Over a 39-year coaching career at the then San Jose State College, he produced 102 All-Americans, 27 who went on to become Olympians...
.
At the 1968 AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Championships, Ronnie Ray Smith equaled the 100 m world record in the semifinal, repeating the same time of 9.9 which was run by Jim Hines
Jim Hines
James "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
in the same race and Charles Greene in the other semifinal of the same competition. That evening of June 20, 1968 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
has been dubbed by track and field historians as the "Night of Speed." Since Green was still 19 years old at the time, that mark also became the World Junior Record, which lasted for exactly 8 years.
At the Mexico
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
Olympics
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...
, Smith ran the third leg in the American 4x100 m relay team that won the gold medal and set a new world record of 38.24 seconds.