Stan Vinson

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Stanley Vinson

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| sport = Running

| event = 400 meters

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| birth_date ={{Birth date|mf=yes|1952|3|5}}{{cite web |title=Stan VINSON|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/stan-vinson-14357991 |publisher=World Athletics}}

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| height = 1.88 m

| weight = 68 kgProgression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p. 530.

}}

Stan Vinson (born March 5, 1952) is a retired American 400 metres runner who was a member of a team that broke the world record for the 4x440 yards relay.

Career

Vinson achieved the men's world record for the 4x440 yards relay on 18 July 1975 with a time of 3:02.4 minutes in Durham, North Carolina.

Vinson also won medals in the Soviet Union's Spartakiad:

Gold in the 400 m in 1979
Gold in the 4x400 m relay in 1979{{cite web |title=Stan Vinson|url=https://athleticspodium.com/athlete/57853/stan-vinson |publisher=athleticspodium.com |access-date=10 May 2025}}

Vinson also won medals in the 400m, 400m hurdles and 110m hurdles in the USA–USSR Track and Field Dual Meet Series:

Bronze in the 110m Hurdles 1982
Gold in the 400m 1979
Gold in the 4x400m relay 1979
Gold in the 400m 1978
Gold in the 4x400m relay 1978
Gold in the 400m 1977
Gold in the 4x400m relay 1977
Gold in the 400m 1975
Silver in the 4x400m relay 1975

In 1976, Vinson attempted to make the United States Olympics team in the 400 m but was eliminated in the semi-finals.{{cite web |last1=Hymans |first1=Richard |title=US Olympics Trials History, 1976 |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1976.pdf |publisher=Track and Field News |access-date=11 May 2025}}

== Personal ==

Vinson attended Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1975.{{cite web |title=Stan Vinson |url=https://emueagles.com/honors/e-club-athletic-hall-of-fame/stan-vinson/39 |publisher=Eastern Athletics |access-date=10 May 2025}}

As a member of the athletics team, he won the following national collegiate titles:{{cite web |title=EMU TRACK & FIELD HISTORY |url=https://emueagles.com/custompages/mtrack/2008/mtfguide-pt4-history-and-records-31-49.pdf |publisher=Eastern Michigan University Men's Track & Field 2008 Media Guide |access-date=11 May 2025}}

NCAA D II Outdoor 4x400 yards Relay in 1972
NCAA D I Indoor 600 yards in 1974
NCAA D I Indoor 600 yards in 1975

Accolades and Awards

In 2007, Vinson was inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Rankings

Vinson was ranked among the top ten best in the USA and the world in the 400 m sprint from 1975 to 1979, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.{{cite web |title=Men’s World 400 Rankings By Athlete: 1947-2024 |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/mens-world-rankings-by-athlete-2/mens-world-400-rankings-by-athlete/ |publisher=Track and Field News}}{{cite web |title=MEN’S U.S. RANKINGS INDEXED BY ATHLETE, 1963-2024 |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/mens-u-s-rankings-by-athlete/ |publisher=Track and Field News |access-date=11 May 2025}}

class=wikitable \|+ 400 meters
Year !World rank !US rank
1975 \|align="center" \| 7th \|align="center" \| 3rd
1976 \|align="center" \| - \|align="center" \| -
1977 \|align="center" \| 8th \|align="center" \| 4th
1978 \|align="center" \| 7th \|align="center" \| 6th
1979 \|align="center" \| - \|align="center" \| 7th

class=wikitable

|+ 400 meters

Year

!World rank

!US rank

1975

|align="center" | 7th

|align="center" | 3rd

1976

|align="center" | -

1977

|align="center" | 8th