Bill Green (sprinter)

{{short description|American sprinter}}

{{For|the hammer thrower who grew up in nearby Sunnyvale during the same period |Bill Green (hammer thrower)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Bill Green

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name = William Ernest Green

| nationality = {{flag|USA|name=American}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|1961|5|10|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|3|4|1961|5|10|mf=y}}

| death_place = Spokane, Washington

| height = {{convert|6|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|175|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

| sport = Running

| event = Sprints

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport | Men's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Athletics World Cup}}

{{MedalGold|1979 Montreal|4x400m relay}}

}}

William Ernest Green (May 10, 1961 – March 4, 2012) was an American sprinter.{{cite web|title=Profile|url=http://www.all-athletics.com/node/283499|publisher=all-athletics.com|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221313/http://www.all-athletics.com/node/283499|url-status=dead}}

Green came on the scene at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California.{{Cite news|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2012/03/29/bill-green-was-more-than-just-a-remarkable-sprinter|title=Bill Green was more than just a remarkable sprinter|access-date=2017-06-29|language=en}} As a junior, he won the 1978 CIF California State Meet in the 440 yard dash. The following year he won the 100 yard dash{{cite web |url=http://www.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm |title=California State Meet Results - 1915 to present |publisher=Hank Lawson |date= |access-date=December 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092406/http://www.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }} while leading Cubberley team to its only CCS title, just days before the high school was to close forever.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/MercuryNews/obituary.aspx?n=Bill-Green&pid=156725589#fbLoggedOut |title=Bill Green Obituary: View Bill Green's Obituary by San Jose Mercury News |publisher=Legacy.com |date=May 1, 1961 |access-date=October 5, 2012}} While technically still a high schooler, a few weeks later he took third overall at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 45.51, setting the National High School record in the 400 metres.{{cite web|url=http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=24827 |title=Bill Green was more than just a remarkable sprinter |publisher=Palo Alto Online |date= |access-date=October 5, 2012}} The record lasted two years until it was surpassed in the same meet by Darrell Robinson.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19820621&id=Eo0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-ucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5619,3830883 Lawrence Journal-World - June 21, 1982 P7] Three days later he found himself running in Europe with the big boys. That season culminated in him winning a gold medal with the United States 4x400 metres relay team at the World Cup.

Green then went to the University of Southern California. He still ranks #5 all time in the 400 metres and is tied for 10th in the 200 meters. He joined with James Sanford to be the core of the top relay teams of the 1980s.{{Cite web |url=http://www.usctrackandfield.com/USCMensTopTen.pdf |title=USC Men's Track and Field Top 10 List 4/30/05 |website=usctrackandfield.com |access-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200848/http://www.usctrackandfield.com/USCMensTopTen.pdf |url-status=dead }} In 1980 Green won the United States Olympic Trials (while not winning a single preliminary race), to qualify for the Olympic team that never participated, due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.{{cite web |last1=Hymans |first1=Richard |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |publisher=USA Track & Field |date=2008 |url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220063039/http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf}} He did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.{{cite book|last1=Caroccioli|first1=Tom|last2=Caroccioli|first2=Jerry|title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games|year=2008|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=Highland Park, IL|isbn=978-0942257403|pages=243–253}}