Ron Whitney

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

|name=Ron Whitney

|image=Ron Whitney 1968.jpg

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1942|10|5}}

|birth_place=Modesto, California, United States

|death_date=

|death_place=

| height = {{convert|1.87|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|78|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

|sport=Athletics

|event=400 m, 400 m hurdles

|club= Southern California Striders, Anaheim

|pb=400 m – 46.6 (1967)
880 yd – 1:48.6 (1963)
400 mH – 49.06 (1968)

|alma_mater=

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

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

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{MedalGold| 1967 Winnipeg | 400 m hurdles}}

{{MedalCompetition|Summer Universiade}}

{{MedalGold|1967 Tokyo| 400 m hurdles}}

{{MedalBronze|1965 Budapest| 400 m hurdles}}

}}

Ronald Howard "Ron" Whitney (born October 5, 1942) is a retired American hurdler and sprinter. Known for his fast finish, he was sixth in the 400 m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.ukathletics.org/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/david-hemery/ |title=UKA David Hemery |publisher=Ukathletics.org |access-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110728141539/http://www.ukathletics.org/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/david-hemery/ |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |df=mdy-all }} He had entered the race as one of the favorites,{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutolympics.co.uk/greatest-british-olympic-hurdlers.html |title=Greatest British Olympic Hurdlers |publisher=About Olympics |date=July 11, 2010 |access-date=September 21, 2012}} having been ranked #1 in the world in 1967 {{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/400hworldranking.pdf |title=All-Time World Rankings – Men's 400 Hurdles |publisher=Trackandfieldnews.com |access-date=September 21, 2012}} and winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event for the second time earlier that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/m400mH.asp |title=Statistics – USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions |publisher=USATF |access-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613121103/http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/m400mH.asp |archive-date=June 13, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} At the Olympics, his first heat victory established a new Olympic record, only to be surpassed by David Hemery two days later.

Previously he had been the Pan American Games champion in the same event.{{cite web |author=Ralph Hickok |url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/panammtandf.shtml |title=History – Pan American Games Track and Field Medalists – Men |publisher=HickokSports.com |date=November 26, 2011 |access-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730065538/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/panammtandf.shtml |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} While working on his master's degree at Colorado State University, he was the 1967 Gold Medalist at the World University Games. He also had won bronze two years earlier{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/ron-whitney-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418103817/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wh/ron-whitney-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-18 |title=Ron Whitney Biography and Olympic Results | Olympics at |publisher=Sports-reference.com }} and while competing for Occidental College, where he was coached by Jim Bush, was runner up at the NCAA Championships in 1963.

At Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, California,{{Cite web |date=2019-12-09 |title=Clutch Performers |url=https://www.oxy.edu/magazine/issues/fall-2019/clutch-performers |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.oxy.edu |language=en}} Whitney was the champion at the 1960 Golden West Invitational, the equivalent of a national champion, at 800 m,{{cite web|url=http://archive.dyestatcal.com/?pg=dyestatcal-2009-Track--Results-June-13-Golden-West-Past-Champions |title=Past Champions : 13 Golden West : June : Results : Track : 2009 : DyeStatCal : The Internet Home of California High School Track, Field and Cross Country | DyeStatCal |publisher=Archive.dyestatcal.com |access-date=September 21, 2012}} a week after finishing fourth in the CIF California State Meet in the same event.{{cite web|url=http://www.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm |title=California State Meet Results – 1915 to present |publisher=Hank Lawson |access-date=December 25, 2012}}

Whitney continued to compete into masters age groups as a pioneer of masters athletics.{{cite web|url=http://www.mastershistory.org/USMITT/1978-09-USMITT.pdf |title=U.S. Masters International Track Team – September 1978 |publisher=Mastershistory.org |access-date=September 21, 2012}}

Whitney continues to be involved in the sport as head track and field coach at Santa Rosa Junior College.{{cite web |url=http://www.santarosa.edu/for_students/athletics/mens-track/ |title=Santa Rosa Junior College |publisher=Santarosa.edu |date=August 13, 2004 |access-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006061615/http://www.santarosa.edu/for_students/athletics/mens-track/ |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} He is a member of the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame and the Occidental College Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxyathletics.com/halloffame/trackandfield/HOF |title=Occidental : Occidental College Track and Field Hall of Fame |work=Occidental |publisher=Oxyathletics.com |access-date=September 21, 2012}}