Walnut, Calif. – On a sun-kissed morning at the iconic Hilmer Lodge Stadium, nestled on the sweeping campus of Mt. San Antonio College, track and field legends were honored with a commemorative plaque celebrating their role in what has been called “the greatest day in track and field.”
Nearly 65 years ago, on August 12, 1960, this very stadium hosted the third and final West Coast pre-Olympic meet before U.S. athletes traveled to New York City for processing en route to the Rome Olympic Games. It was a night that would go down in history, marked by stunning performances and record-shattering achievements.
At that unforgettable meet, five world records were broken, two were tied, two American records were set, and another was tied. In an intimate ceremony to commemorate the event, Mt. SAC had the privilege of welcoming 91-year-old Bob Soth—one of the stars of that legendary night—alongside his children, as well as Eric and Ray Lodge, sons of stadium namesake Hilmer Lodge.
The ceremony began with a welcome from current Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Gio Lanaro. Eric and Ray Lodge then shared their memories from that historic era. Eric recalled driving Olympians from LAX to Cal Poly Pomona, where athletes were housed before the meet. Their stories painted a vivid picture of a golden age in American track and field.
Much of the effort to memorialize this historic evening was put together by former Mt. SAC coach Doug Todd and read aloud by Larry Knuth, a longtime Southern California coach and unofficial historian of the sport. Knuth noted that several of the performances that night would have won gold at the Rome Games.
They recalled the dramatic moment when the announcer's voice rang out over the loudspeaker to more than 8,000 spectators: Ralph Boston had just broken the world record in the long jump. The previous mark—set 25 years earlier by track and field legend Jesse Owens—had stood unchallenged at 26 feet, 8.25 inches. Boston soared to 26 feet, 11.25 inches, eclipsing what had been the longest-standing world record in the sport. The stadium erupted. The crowd knew they had witnessed something truly historic. And with this only the second event of the evening, it was clear the night was just getting started.
Knuth continued, recounting more of the awe-inspiring performances that made that evening unforgettable. Bill Nieder shattered the world record in the shot put with a throw of 65 feet, 10 inches, becoming the first man to exceed 20 meters. Although he had not initially qualified for the Olympic team and was listed as an alternate, this performance earned him a place in Rome, where he went on to win gold.
Harold Connolly broke the world record in the hammer throw at 230 feet, 9 inches. John Thomas cleared 7 feet, 2 inches in the high jump to set another world record. The U.S. mile relay team—Eddie Southern, Earl Young, Otis Davis, and Jack Yerman—set a world record with a time of 3:05.6.
World records were also tied that evening, including Rink Babka in the discus at 196 feet, 6.5 inches, and Dave Sime in the 100 meters with a time of 10.10 seconds. Dyrol Burleson set a new American record in the 1500 meters at 3:41.3, while Lee Calhoun and Willie May tied the American record in the 110-meter hurdles, each clocking 13.4 seconds.
And last but not least, Bob Soth, fresh off a third-place finish in the 5000 meters at the Olympic Trials just weeks prior, took to the track to pace a fellow Olympian in the six-mile run. When his teammate faltered, Soth pressed on alone, ultimately crossing the finish line with a new American record of 28:56—becoming the first American to break the 29-minute barrier in the event. He later competed in the 5000 meters at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
The celebration concluded with heartfelt remarks from Bob Soth himself, the only athlete from that legendary night able to attend. He reflected on the moment with visible emotion, pausing as he said, “These stories need to be shared, but the athletes aren’t all here.” His voice trailed off, heavy with the weight of memory. A voice from the audience called out, “But you’re here!”—prompting cheers and applause from the gathered crowd. With tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, Soth unveiled the commemorative plaque, raising his fists in triumph, helping to ensure that the memory of that magical evening would never be forgotten.
Hilmer Lodge Stadium continues to host world-renowned track and field competitions, including the annual Mt. SAC Relays, where records are still being made and broken on this historic ground.
It was a morning of joy, memory, and legacy—honoring a night the Los Angeles Times once called “the greatest ever mass assault on the track and field record book.”
For more information on this legendary event, please click here.