Lee Edward EVANS

In 1966, his first year out of Overfelt High School, Lee Evans was undefeated and won his first AAU title. In 1967 he won the 400 m and the 4×400 m relay (with Vince Matthews and the non-Olympians Emmett Taylor and Albert Stinson) at the Pan American Games and in 1968, while a junior at San Jose State, he was NCAA champion. Evans then went on to win the Final Trials with a world record of 44.0 (44.06), which he reduced to 43.86 in the Olympic final. He won a second gold and another world record plaque in the 4×400 m relay. Evans won the last of his five AAU titles in 1972 and, after placing fifth at the Final Trials, went to München as a member of the 4×400 m relay team. However, because of the ouster of Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett, and the injury to John Smith, the U.S. could not field a team in this event. At the end of the 1972 season, Evans joined the professional ranks. His 400 m mark of 43.86 stood as a world record until broken by Butch Reynolds in 1988.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.9 (1966); 200 – 20.4 (1969); 400 – 43.86 (1968); 880y – 1:52.0 (1966); 440yH – 50.5 (1970).