| His time of 43.86 for 400 meters at the 1968 Olympic Games stood as the world record for 20 years and is an outstanding tribute to Lee Evans over the one-lap route. He also ran on the winning 1968 Olympic 4 x 400-meter relay team that clocked 2:56.1, once again a time that stood as a world record for 20 years.
A graduate of Overfelt High School in San Jose, Calif, Evans ran at San Jose State, where he was coached by Bud Winter, also a Hall of Fame member. For several years starting in 1966, he was the world's top 400 runner and during that period was the American 400 champion in 1966, 1969 and 1972. He also was the 1967 Pan American Games 400 champion and was a relay alternate on the 1972 Olympic team after placing fourth in the Trials. Evans, who also represented the Santa Clara Valley Youth Village, became a professional in 1973 but was reinstated in 1980. Elected to U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1989. |
USA