| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sathletics | ||
Representingthe United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 1952 Helsinki | 200 metres |
| 1952 Helsinki | 4 × 100 m relay |
 | 1956 Melbourne | 200 metres |
Andrew William Stanfield (December 29, 1927 – June 15, 1985) was an Americansprinter andOlympicgold andsilver medallist.
Andy Stanfield born inWashington, D.C., but moved toJersey City as a child. He graduated fromLincoln High School in 1946, where he was already a talented athlete, excelling in the sprints andlong jump. After his army service, Stanfield enteredSeton Hall University in 1948. The following year, he won his first of a long list of national titles. His list includes sixAAU titles (1949:100 and200 m; 1950: 60 y; 1951: long jump; 1952: 200 m; 1953: 220 y) and nineIC4A titles (both indoor and outdoor). He was coached byJohnny Gibson, a former world record holder in400 m hurdles.[1]
Internationally, the 200 m was Stanfield's strongest distance. In 1951, at the ICAAAA Championships, Stanfield—in the outside lane—won the Turn 220-Yard Dash in 20.6. The Turn-220 had never been commonly contested in the US. 220s were normally raced on "NoTurn" or "Straight" courses. In 1951 theIAAF commenced to establish world records for the Turn-200-Meters: the initial listing accepted was by Willie Applegarth of Great Britain in 21 1/5, set in London in 1914. That spring of 1951, Stanfield's Intercollegiate 220-Yard Dash in 20.6 was established by the IAAF as a new World-Record for the 200 m with 20.6 (220 yards is more than one meter longer than 200 meters).
Then, there was no "official" world record for the Turn-220. But in the United States,Ralph Metcalfe was generally agreed to have the American record at 21-flat set in Berlin 1933 (no wind). Then Jack Wierhauser ofStanford University clocked 20.9 (no wind) in 1936 at a US Olympics Trials atRandalls Island.Jesse Owens clocked 20.7 at theBerlin '36 Games with wind.Barney Ewell, at the US Nationals in 1939 atLincoln,Nebraska, on the partial bend course on that track, clocked what was likely an AAU record of 21.1, but that course was never well-delineated.[2] At the 1948 US Olympic Trials,Mel Patton beat Barney Ewell, both clocked in 20.7 (no wind). None of these were ratified for the simple reason that the IAAF did not distinguish between records made on a turn from those on a straight.
Stanfield would equal this performance twice, running 20.6 in 1952 and 1956. The '56 performance occurred at the AAU Championships, where Stanfield finished 2nd behindThane Baker, the champion. As the world record holder, Stanfield in 1952 was not a surprise winner of the gold medal at the1952 Summer Olympics, equalling the Olympic Record in the final. As a member of the American4 × 100 m relay team, Stanfield won a second Olympic gold medal. He attempted to defend his 200 m title in the1956 Games, but lost it, finishing second toBobby Morrow.
Stanfield was a member ofAlpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[3]
|
| Men's track and road athletes |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Men's field athletes | ||
| Women's track athletes | ||
| Women's field athletes | ||
| Coaches |
| |
