Charles Greene
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Greene (born March 21, 1945) is a former American
athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
, Charles Greene was considered a sure bet to make the 1964 Olympic team
, but he suffered a muscle pull that held him to a sixth place at the Olympic Trials.
Greene won the AAU
championships in 100 yd
in 1966 and in 100 m in 1968. At the 1968 AAU Championships, Greene broke the 100 m world record
twice. First in the heats he equalled the world record of 10.0, then in the second semifinal he ran 9.9, the same time which had been run by Jim Hines
and Ronnie Ray Smith
in the previous race. The evening when three men equalled the world record (and several others were very close), June 20, 1968 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California
has been dubbed by track and field historians as the "Night of Speed." As a University of Nebraska student, Greene won the NCAA
championships in 100 yd from 1965 to 1967 and tied the world record at 9.1.
At the Mexico
Olympics
, Greene felt pain in his hamstring late in the race and was third in the 100 m. Despite the injury, he led off the American 4x100 m relay team that won the gold medal and set a new world record of 38.19.
Following his athletic career, Greene became an Army officer, serving as sprint coach at West Point
and head coach of the All-Army team. After retiring from the Army, he became a director for Special Olympics
International.
In 2007, Charles Greene became the sprints coach at Lincoln Northeast High School
in Lincoln, Nebraska. He coached multiple state qualifiers in his first year along with the states 3rd place 4x400 relay team of Logan Reising, Brian May, Tory Berks, and AJ Robinson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
, Charles Greene was considered a sure bet to make the 1964 Olympic team
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, but he suffered a muscle pull that held him to a sixth place at the Olympic Trials.
Greene won the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships in 100 yd
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
in 1966 and in 100 m in 1968. At the 1968 AAU Championships, Greene broke the 100 m world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
twice. First in the heats he equalled the world record of 10.0, then in the second semifinal he ran 9.9, the same time which had been run by Jim Hines
Jim Hines
James "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
and Ronnie Ray Smith
Ronnie Ray Smith
Ronald "Ronnie" Ray Smith is a former American athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4×100 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics...
in the previous race. The evening when three men equalled the world record (and several others were very close), June 20, 1968 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
has been dubbed by track and field historians as the "Night of Speed." As a University of Nebraska student, Greene won the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championships in 100 yd from 1965 to 1967 and tied the world record at 9.1.
At the Mexico
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, Greene felt pain in his hamstring late in the race and was third in the 100 m. Despite the injury, he led off the American 4x100 m relay team that won the gold medal and set a new world record of 38.19.
Following his athletic career, Greene became an Army officer, serving as sprint coach at West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and head coach of the All-Army team. After retiring from the Army, he became a director for Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
International.
In 2007, Charles Greene became the sprints coach at Lincoln Northeast High School
Lincoln Northeast High School
Lincoln Northeast High School is a public secondary school located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. It is part of the Lincoln Public Schools school district. Lincoln Northeast was founded on September 9, 1941 when three rival schools were combined into one...
in Lincoln, Nebraska. He coached multiple state qualifiers in his first year along with the states 3rd place 4x400 relay team of Logan Reising, Brian May, Tory Berks, and AJ Robinson.