April 8, 2008
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The following press release was distributed by the Drake University Sports Information Office.
DES MOINES IOWA – Former University of Iowa track and field standout Anthuan Maybank, who ran the anchor leg on the U.S. gold medal winning 4×400 relay at the 1996 Olympics, will be inducted into the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame during an April 24 reception at the Drake Knapp Center.
The induction of Maybank will increase membership in the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame to 200. The Athletes Hall of Fame was established in 1959 during the Golden Anniversary of the Drake Relays with 72 charter members, including Jesse Owens, who was named the outstanding performer during the first half century of the Drake Relays.
It is only fitting that Maybank will be inducted on his 15-year anniversary of recording one of the greatest feats in track and field history.
Consider the breadth of his talent: to this day, Maybank remains the only man to break through the 27-foot barrier in the long jump in addition to the 45-second barrier in the 400-meter dash.
It all happened one weekend in April at the 1993 Drake Relays, despite not beginning training prior to March.
Named the meet’s outstanding performer, Maybank ran in three preliminary races Friday and then won the long jump at 27-1, breaking the oldest existing record in Drake Relays history of 26-9 1/4 by Clarence Robinson of New Mexico in 1965. Maybank’s winning jump of 27-6 3/4 was above the allowable wind limit for record purpose. On Saturday, Maybank completed a rare double with his :44.99-second victory in the special invitational 400, which marked his season debut in that event.
Maybank was ranked number two in the world in 1996 in the 400, setting a then personal best of 44.77 in the first round of the U.S. Olympic Trials. Maybank amply proved his fitness prior to the 1996 Olympics, hammering a lifetime best of 44.15 to win the Lausanne Grand Prix. He added another Grand Prix win at Stockholm in 44.67.
In the Olympic finals, with an inexperienced 4×400 relay unit that was minus big guns Butch Reynolds and Michael Johnson, many thought the U.S. would be hard pressed to hold off Britain and Jamaica for the gold medal.
But the U.S. ran a banner relay, posting the third-fastest time in world history at 2:55.99. Maybank anchored in 43.87, easily holding off 400 silver medalist Roger Black.
A native of Georgetown, S.C., Maybank was named the Big Ten Conference Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 1993 after winning the long jump at both the indoor and outdoor meets. He also won the 400 at the Big Ten outdoor meet, while placing third in the 200. Maybank won the 400 at the 1991 Big Ten indoor meet, while capturing the long jump at the 1992 Big Ten indoor meet.
Maybank had his best NCAA Outdoor finishes in 1993, placing second in the 400 and sixth in the long jump. He also was third in the long jump at the 1992 NCAA indoor meet, while placing fourth in the long jump at the 1993 NCAA Indoor meet. Maybank was third in the long jump (25-0) at the 1991 Drake Relays, while anchoring the Hawkeyes to a third-place finish in the 4×100 relay.
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