CameronBornAndBred
05-06-2013, 10:46 AM
Duke hosted its (probable) last track meet in Wallace Wade this weekend. The stadium has been home to 80 years of track and field history, including one of (if not the) first integrated sports events when Al Buehler and Leroy Walker both used it for Duke's and NCCU's practices.
While reading I learned that football's Austin Gamble also participates in the discus, he walked away a champion on Sunday, breaking his own school record in the process. Here are some links to the meet and a bit of history.
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=207558762&DB_OEM_ID=4200
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=207500261
The stadium records alone include the names of eight Olympic champions including Michael Johnson, Shawn Crawford, Dennis Mitchell, Edwin Moses Charles Austin and Michael Conley on the men’s side and Gwen Torrence, Maria Mutola and Faina Melnik on the women’s side. The group of record holders also own over 60 collective Olympic appearances.
Aside from the spotlight of competition, Wallace Wade track also served as the backdrop for integration in the 1950’s when Duke head coach Al Buehler and North Carolina Central coach, the late Dr. LeRoy Walker, joined forces to train their athletes together, regardless of their race. This took place prior to Duke University enrolling its first African-American students in 1963.
While reading I learned that football's Austin Gamble also participates in the discus, he walked away a champion on Sunday, breaking his own school record in the process. Here are some links to the meet and a bit of history.
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=207558762&DB_OEM_ID=4200
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=207500261
The stadium records alone include the names of eight Olympic champions including Michael Johnson, Shawn Crawford, Dennis Mitchell, Edwin Moses Charles Austin and Michael Conley on the men’s side and Gwen Torrence, Maria Mutola and Faina Melnik on the women’s side. The group of record holders also own over 60 collective Olympic appearances.
Aside from the spotlight of competition, Wallace Wade track also served as the backdrop for integration in the 1950’s when Duke head coach Al Buehler and North Carolina Central coach, the late Dr. LeRoy Walker, joined forces to train their athletes together, regardless of their race. This took place prior to Duke University enrolling its first African-American students in 1963.