SANTA MONICA TRACK CLUB

SANTA MONICA TRACK CLUB The Santa Monica Track Club (SMTC) has established itself as the finest track club in the US

The Santa Monica Track Club has long been one of the most celebrated and renowned track clubs in history. Since being founded in 1972 by Joe Douglas, its athletes have produced a staggering total of 37 World Records, 60 American records and sent 28 athletes to the Olympics, who have won a total of 26 medals. It has also enjoyed much success at other global championships, most notably the IAAF Worl

d Championships. Such champions that have been produced by the club are 9 time Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis, Johnny Gray (still the American 800m record holder), 1988 Olympic 400m Gold Medalist Steve Lewis, 1992 Olympic 200m champion Mike Marsh, and former 100m World Record Holder Leroy Burrell. The SMTC are now currently working with a number of international athletes in addition to its American athletes, such as 2 time Olympian Prince Mumba (Zambia), Tonny Okello (Uganda), Japanese Olympian Masato Yokota, Felix Kitur (Kenya), Charlotte Johanson (Sweden) and James Gurr (Australia). The SMTC continues to strive for excellence and with your support will continue to do so.

09/06/2026

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09/05/2026

On September 5, 1987, at the start of the Long Jump final at the World Championships in Rome, Italy, SMTC’s had already established himself as one of the greatest Long Jumpers of all time. He entered the event with four gold medals from major international competitions, including the title of reigning Olympic Gold medalist from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

At these 1987 Worlds, Carl jumped a massive 8.67m not once, but twice: the first of which was on his opening jump, setting the tone for the rest of the field, and then again on his 3rd jump. With that mark, Carl would go on to win his 5th consecutive Long Jump gold medal in a major championship.

As seen in this video clip, Carl also marked the competition by honoring his late father, William Lewis, Jr., who had passed away only a few months earlier. Carl’s father and mother, Evelyn Lawler Lewis, coached local youth track and were the impetus for the illustrious track careers of both Carl and his younger sister Carol Lewis - a 3x Olympian in long jump and fellow SMTC member.

After the 1987 Worlds, Carl continued his dominant streak in long jump. During his career, he remained undefeated for a decade-long stretch of 65 straight wins, earning six Olympic and World Championship golds, including four consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Happy Birthday ‘Spoon!Mark’s incredibly impressive record as a World Class sprinter includes:1994 Bronze Medal, 4x100m, ...
09/04/2026

Happy Birthday ‘Spoon!

Mark’s incredibly impressive record as a World Class sprinter includes:

1994 Bronze Medal, 4x100m, World Cup
1992 Olympian, 100m (Semi-Finalist)
1992 USA Nationals - 2nd Place, 100m
1990 Bronze Medalist, 100m, Goodwill Games
1990 USA Nationals - 2nd Place, 100m
1989 USA Nationals - 2nd Place, 200m
1987 World Championship Team
1987 USA Nationals - 1st Place, 100m
1987 Indoor World Championships, Silver Medal, 60m

Wishing you a fabulous day Mark, and an awesome start to an exciting year ahead!

09/03/2026

The 1991 World Championships in Tokyo proved to be a great showing for the Santa Monica Track Club!

SMTC members Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell set a new World Record in the 4x100m relay during those Worlds. And fellow SMTC member also earned a spot on the medals podium, earning Bronze in the 400m, and Silver in the 4x400m relay after a last second surge by Team Great Britain edged out Team USA at the finish line!

Check out Danny in the following clips!

09/01/2026

When the American 4x100m relay team arrived to the 1991 World Championships final on September 1 in Tokyo, Japan, Andre Cason, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell and Carl Lewis (add their IG handles) were on a mission.

Historically, Team USA had dominated this event. And starting with the 1972 Olympics to these World Championships, the world record had already been broken seven times, six times by Team USA. Carl had anchored four of those teams, with Leroy a member of two, and Dennis on one. That evening, the Americans had one goal in mind - to keep the streak alive.

When the race started, the U.S. led from the opening gun, blazing through each handoff. And when Carl crossed the finish line, Team USA had shattered the record again, this time in 37.50 seconds, keeping Team USA’s dominance of the 4x100m alive and well.

Johnny Gray front and center in the mural that was just unveiled outside the Footlocker at Crenshaw and Slauson.Foot Loc...
09/01/2026

Johnny Gray front and center in the mural that was just unveiled outside the Footlocker at Crenshaw and Slauson.

Foot Locker, Nike,

Happy Birthday to all of our SMTC athletes celebrating a birthday in August! We hope your birthday marks the start of a ...
08/31/2026

Happy Birthday to all of our SMTC athletes celebrating a birthday in August! We hope your birthday marks the start of a wonderful year!

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08/30/2026

For more than two decades, Bob Beamon’s 8.90m long jump world record, set at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, was untouchable. Then at the 1991 World Championships on August 30 in Tokyo, Japan, that all changed during what some have called the greatest Long Jump competition in Track & Field history.

The evening featured SMTC’s Carl Lewis and Mike Powell. Carl had already won 65 consecutive Long Jump titles, including 2 Olympic and 2 World Championship gold medals. He had been unbeaten in the event for over 10 years. Mike was Carl’s closest competitor who repeatedly finished behind him in previous competitions. Heading into these World Championships, Lewis had beaten Powell 15 times in 15 meetings.

This 1991 duel became a competition for the ages. After the 4th round, Carl led the field with an astonishing jump of 8.91m - longer than Bob Beamon’s world record mark, but it was wind-aided, so Carl’s jump did not count as a World Record, but at that point was the longest jump of all-time. Then in the 5th round, Mike Powell soared to a historic jump of 8.95m. It was wind-legal, and a new world record. But Mike had to wait for the 6th and final round in the series to see if the mark would hold. Carl followed up with jumps of 8.87m and 8.84m and would earn the silver medal.

On that electric day on August 30, 1991, Mike and Carl produced the greatest series of long jumps in history. Between them, their jumps accounted for the top five longest jumps in human history. And it would also be the first and only time Mike would beat Carl in the Long Jump.

In his remarkable career, Carl would eventually win two additional Olympic Gold medals in the Long Jump, for a total of six Olympic and World Championship gold medals, and one silver medal, solidifying his place in history as the greatest long jumper ever.

Over the course of his career, would set the American record in the 800m five times.He set his first record at the 1984...
08/29/2026

Over the course of his career, would set the American record in the 800m five times.

He set his first record at the 1984 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles which he shared with fellow SMTC teammate Earl Jones.

He set his fifth American record on August 28, 1985 in Koblenz, West Germany, where Johnny and fellow SMTC teammate David Mack made career best marks in a 800m race that also featured Britain’s Peter Elliot, Kenya’s Sammy Koskei, and Brazil’s Joaquim Cruz.

Leading up to this day, Johnny had already set the American record in the 800m four times. On this day in August, Johnny would again run the fastest 800m of his life, finishing the race in second place in 1:42.60 and setting his fifth American record in a time that would stand for more than three decades.

Fellow SMTC teammate David Mack finished just behind Johnny in third with a career best time of 1:43.35.

Johnny’s first of five records was set on June 19 at the 1984 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles and is shared with fellow SMTC teammate Earl Jones. Both Johnny and Earl ran a time of 1:43.74. It was a photo finish - with Earl Jones just edging out Johnny to win the trials, and both earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Earl would win the Bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics.

08/26/2026

When it comes to setting American records, the month of August was a great time of year for SMTC's . Over the course of his career, Johnny set the American record in the 800m five times, four of those records were set in August, and three of those times were set within a week of each other.

The first of four American records Johnny set in August was on August 24, 1984 where he ran 1:43.28, coming in second just behind Olympic Champion Joaquim Cruz in Brussels, Belgium.

Johnny then tied that 1:43.28 time two days later in Cologne, West Germany on August 26, coming in third behind Cruz and Kenya's Sammy Koskei.

He then set the American record again running 1:42.96 in Koblenz, Germany on August 29. This achievement was his first international victory of his professional career, and marked his 3rd straight American record set within a week.

Then the following year on August 28, 1985, Johnny set a new American record again, running a blazing 1:42.60 in Koblenz, West Germany. Johnny held the American outdoor record with that time for the next 34 years.

This video clip features found footage of Johnny's American record setting race in Cologne, West Germany on August 26, 1984. Johnny was in good company in this race. It included SMTC member James Robinson who was in 3rd place for most of the race. And the eventual winner, Brazil's Joaquim Cruz, ran the second fastest 800m of all-time (1:41.77)—just .04 off the world record of Britain's Sebastian Coe.

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