SANTA MONICA TRACK CLUB

SANTA MONICA TRACK CLUB The Santa Monica Track Club (SMTC) has established itself as the finest track club in the US

The Santa Monica Track Club has long been one of the most celebrated and renowned track clubs in history. Since being founded in 1972 by Joe Douglas, its athletes have produced a staggering total of 37 World Records, 60 American records and sent 28 athletes to the Olympics, who have won a total of 26 medals. It has also enjoyed much success at other global championships, most notably the IAAF World Championships. Such champions that have been produced by the club are 9 time Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis, Johnny Gray (still the American 800m record holder), 1988 Olympic 400m Gold Medalist Steve Lewis, 1992 Olympic 200m champion Mike Marsh, and former 100m World Record Holder Leroy Burrell. The SMTC are now currently working with a number of international athletes in addition to its American athletes, such as 2 time Olympian Prince Mumba (Zambia), Tonny Okello (Uganda), Japanese Olympian Masato Yokota, Felix Kitur (Kenya), Charlotte Johanson (Sweden) and James Gurr (Australia). The SMTC continues to strive for excellence and with your support will continue to do so.

09/07/2026

SMTC’s concluded his second showing at the World Athletics Championships in 1987, as he had done at the last Worlds in 1983 - the undisputed champion of Track & Field.

Carl came to the 1987 competition in Rome, Italy, as both the reigning 3x gold medalist in the 100m, Long Jump, and 4x100m relay from the 1983 Worlds in Helsinki, Finland, as well as the reigning 4x gold medalist in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump, and 4x100m relay from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

At these 1987 Worlds, Carl had already won gold in the long jump, and was initially awarded the silver medal in the 100m (later ratified to gold). The 4x100m relay final on September 6 was Carl’s last event, and once again Team USA did not disappoint.

Throughout the race, Americans Lee McRae, Lee McNeill and Harvey Glance battled hard and kept the U.S. in contention to finish in the top. When Harvey passed the baton to Carl for the final leg, the Americans were trailing Team Russia. With Carl at anchor, he ran an electrifying 8.86 split to edge out the win in 37.90, recording what was then the third-fastest relay time in history. It was an American win for the ages.

Carl was now a 6x World Championship gold medalist and 4x Olympic gold medalist. And at that point in his career, there were still many more golds to come.

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09/06/2026

At the 1983 inaugural World Athletic Championships in Helsinki, the U.S. did not make the medal podium in the Men’s 4x400m relay final, finishing 6th. That all changed at the next World Championships four years later in Rome, Italy, thanks to SMTC’s , Roddie Haley, Antonio McKay and .

In the final on September 6, 1987, Danny ran the opening leg for Team USA and did exactly what he needed to do, positioning the team among the top contenders in the field. After Danny’s handoff, Roddie Haley extended the lead. Then with Antonio McKay pulling away, Butch Reynolds brought home the gold for the U.S. Team in an exciting finish and decisive win over the remaining field, including the favored Team Great Britain, who won bronze in the previous Worlds four years earlier.

The U.S. time of 2:57.29 was a course record and a world record at sea level. The race also marked the start of Team USA’s dominance in the 4x400m relay. This win was the first of 14 out of 19 World Championship gold medals won by the U.S., spanning from 1987 to the most recent World Championships in 2023.

This race also marked the start of Danny’s dominance in running the opening leg in 4x400m international competitions. Just a year later, at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Danny set the world record for the fastest lead-off leg in a 4x400m relay in a time of 43.79, which still stands nearly 40 years later.

09/06/2026

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09/05/2026

On September 5, 1987, at the start of the Long Jump final at the World Championships in Rome, Italy, SMTC’s had already established himself as one of the greatest Long Jumpers of all time. He entered the event with four gold medals from major international competitions, including the title of reigning Olympic Gold medalist from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

At these 1987 Worlds, Carl jumped a massive 8.67m not once, but twice: the first of which was on his opening jump, setting the tone for the rest of the field, and then again on his 3rd jump. With that mark, Carl would go on to win his 5th consecutive Long Jump gold medal in a major championship.

As seen in this video clip, Carl also marked the competition by honoring his late father, William Lewis, Jr., who had passed away only a few months earlier. Carl’s father and mother, Evelyn Lawler Lewis, coached local youth track and were the impetus for the illustrious track careers of both Carl and his younger sister Carol Lewis - a 3x Olympian in long jump and fellow SMTC member.

After the 1987 Worlds, Carl continued his dominant streak in long jump. During his career, he remained undefeated for a decade-long stretch of 65 straight wins, earning six Olympic and World Championship golds, including four consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Happy Birthday ‘Spoon!Mark’s incredibly impressive record as a World Class sprinter includes:1994 Bronze Medal, 4x100m, ...
09/04/2026

Happy Birthday ‘Spoon!

Mark’s incredibly impressive record as a World Class sprinter includes:

1994 Bronze Medal, 4x100m, World Cup
1992 Olympian, 100m (Semi-Finalist)
1992 USA Nationals - 2nd Place, 100m
1990 Bronze Medalist, 100m, Goodwill Games
1990 USA Nationals - 2nd Place, 100m
1989 USA Nationals - 2nd Place, 200m
1987 World Championship Team
1987 USA Nationals - 1st Place, 100m
1987 Indoor World Championships, Silver Medal, 60m

Wishing you a fabulous day Mark, and an awesome start to an exciting year ahead!

09/03/2026

The 1991 World Championships in Tokyo proved to be a great showing for the Santa Monica Track Club!

SMTC members Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell set a new World Record in the 4x100m relay during those Worlds. And fellow SMTC member also earned a spot on the medals podium, earning Bronze in the 400m, and Silver in the 4x400m relay after a last second surge by Team Great Britain edged out Team USA at the finish line!

Check out Danny in the following clips!

09/01/2026

When the American 4x100m relay team arrived to the 1991 World Championships final on September 1 in Tokyo, Japan, Andre Cason, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell and Carl Lewis (add their IG handles) were on a mission.

Historically, Team USA had dominated this event. And starting with the 1972 Olympics to these World Championships, the world record had already been broken seven times, six times by Team USA. Carl had anchored four of those teams, with Leroy a member of two, and Dennis on one. That evening, the Americans had one goal in mind - to keep the streak alive.

When the race started, the U.S. led from the opening gun, blazing through each handoff. And when Carl crossed the finish line, Team USA had shattered the record again, this time in 37.50 seconds, keeping Team USA’s dominance of the 4x100m alive and well.

Johnny Gray front and center in the mural that was just unveiled outside the Footlocker at Crenshaw and Slauson.Foot Loc...
09/01/2026

Johnny Gray front and center in the mural that was just unveiled outside the Footlocker at Crenshaw and Slauson.

Foot Locker, Nike,

Happy Birthday to all of our SMTC athletes celebrating a birthday in August! We hope your birthday marks the start of a ...
08/31/2026

Happy Birthday to all of our SMTC athletes celebrating a birthday in August! We hope your birthday marks the start of a wonderful year!

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08/30/2026

For more than two decades, Bob Beamon’s 8.90m long jump world record, set at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, was untouchable. Then at the 1991 World Championships on August 30 in Tokyo, Japan, that all changed during what some have called the greatest Long Jump competition in Track & Field history.

The evening featured SMTC’s Carl Lewis and Mike Powell. Carl had already won 65 consecutive Long Jump titles, including 2 Olympic and 2 World Championship gold medals. He had been unbeaten in the event for over 10 years. Mike was Carl’s closest competitor who repeatedly finished behind him in previous competitions. Heading into these World Championships, Lewis had beaten Powell 15 times in 15 meetings.

This 1991 duel became a competition for the ages. After the 4th round, Carl led the field with an astonishing jump of 8.91m - longer than Bob Beamon’s world record mark, but it was wind-aided, so Carl’s jump did not count as a World Record, but at that point was the longest jump of all-time. Then in the 5th round, Mike Powell soared to a historic jump of 8.95m. It was wind-legal, and a new world record. But Mike had to wait for the 6th and final round in the series to see if the mark would hold. Carl followed up with jumps of 8.87m and 8.84m and would earn the silver medal.

On that electric day on August 30, 1991, Mike and Carl produced the greatest series of long jumps in history. Between them, their jumps accounted for the top five longest jumps in human history. And it would also be the first and only time Mike would beat Carl in the Long Jump.

In his remarkable career, Carl would eventually win two additional Olympic Gold medals in the Long Jump, for a total of six Olympic and World Championship gold medals, and one silver medal, solidifying his place in history as the greatest long jumper ever.

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