The American physician and former track and field athlete Delano Meriwether once won the 100-yard dash wearing a hospital shirt, in what became the wildest race of 1971.
In June 1971, the world of track and field witnessed an extraordinary event at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Dr. Delano Meriwether, a 27-year-old hematologist from Baltimore, Maryland, won the 100-yard dash title in a remarkable 9.0 seconds.
At that time, it was an achievement matched by only one other man in history, John Carlos.
Baltimore-Based Delano Meriwether Won the 100-Yard Dash Wearing a Hospital Shirt, the Wildest Race of 1971!
Delano Meriwether’s journey into the 100-yard dash was unconventional, just like his attire at the AAU Championship.
While he did wear a hospital shirt during the race, it was not a complete hospital gown, contrary to what some people at the time believed.
According to media reports, he wore gold swimming trunks, a white hospital shirt, and gold-and-white-striped suspenders.
The renowned hematologist at the Baltimore Cancer Research Center, competing in a sprint championship, was in itself unbelievable for many, but what truly caught public attention was his hospital shirt.
What is even more interesting is that he took up running in 1970 as a form of exercise while working at the Baltimore Cancer Research Center.
His training regimen was equally unorthodox; he often scaled a fence to access the nearby Johns Hopkins University track and trained alone at night.
Despite the lack of formal coaching, Meriwether’s natural talent and determination propelled him to success.
The excitement did not end there. After winning the race, Meriwether was interviewed by numerous outlets, including si Vault, where he explained why he decided to participate in the race.
According to Meriwether, he was watching television as usual when he saw sprinters competing. While watching, he thought, “Hey, I can beat those guys.”
This was the real reason he decided to enter the race, and by winning, he created a legendary moment in sports history.
In Case You Don’t Know
- Delano‘s 9.0-second 100-yard dash was wind-assisted and didn’t officially count as a record, but it matched the fastest times in history at that moment.
- He was a full-time hematologist at the Baltimore Cancer Research Center before gaining fame on the track.
- Delano has a sister, Sue Frances Meriwether Steed, who was the first African-American student to earn a degree at Winthrop University.
