T&F5/31/2016 7:30 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Track Trio Named Pac-12 All-Century
BERKELEY --- Three legends from California track & field's storied history have been selected as members of the Pac-12 Men's Track & Field All-Century Team, the conference announced this weekend.
Hal Davis, James Robinson and Archie Williams were named to the 52-member team by a panel of 35 consisting of coaches, former athletes, administrators and members of the media. The top two vote getters in 19 events automatically qualified for the squad while the remaining 12 spots, in addition to ties, were selected from a wildcard ballot consisting of the third, fourth and fifth place vote getters in each event. Athletes with two or more events next to their name finished in the top two in each of those events.
Overall, Cal has produced five members of the All-Century teams, with Sheila Hudson and Alysia Montano being chosen to the Women's team last week.
Below are bios on each of our Golden Bear honorees - who are all members of the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame:
Hal Davis (1942-43; 200m)
Earned two AAU/TAC national championships in the 100 and 200 meters (1942 and '43)…set a world record in the 100 meters in 1941 (10.2) and in the 100 yards in 1942 (9.4)…his 100-yard time stood as the school record for 14 years…the PCC champion in 1942 in the 100 and 220 yards…two-time NCAA champion in the 100 and 220 and established Cal records for most points scored in one NCAA meet (20), most points in a career (40), most first-place finishes in one meet (2), most first place finishes in a career (4) and most double winners in one meet (2).
James Robinson (1975-76; 800m)
Member of 800 meter U.S. Olympic teams in 1976 (Montreal) and 1980 (Moscow, U.S. boycott)...ranked as high as No. 2 in the world (in 1981) and No. 1 in the United States in the 800 (4 times)…won the AAU/TAC national 800 title seven different times...won the Pan-Am 800 title in 1979…anchored the Cal mile relay that took fifth at NCAAs in 1975 and the Cal mile relay that placed third at NCAAs in 1976…won the Pac-8 championship in the 880-yard run in 1975 and in the 800-meter run in 1976.
Archie Williams (1936-38; 400m)
1936 Berlin Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400 meters (46.5)...won the Pacific Coast Conference and NCAA championships in the 440-yard dash in his first season at Cal in 1936, setting a world record (46.1) in the NCAA heats…retired the next season after a serious leg injury…served as a U.S. Air Force pilot in World War II.