Morrow, Olson headline all-time team

Pair of world-record holders on top of star-studded team

ABILENE – Barbara Olson always said her two daughters thought their brother Billy “hung the moon.”

Well, he vaulted just about high enough to reach the moon. As a senior at Abilene Christian in 1982, the blond-haired, likable Texan set the first four of his 11 world indoor records, completed his sweep of four years of conference and national collegiate indoor and outdoor titles, won both the U.S. indoor and outdoor championships, and captured the pole vault at the USA-USSR dual meet.

That year Olson became the first Abilene Christian athlete to be ranked No. 1 in the world by Track and Field News since sprinter Bobby Morrow in 1958.

This year Olson is still reaping awards and recognition for his remarkable accomplishments. He was named the Men’s Field Athlete of the Century on ACU’s all-century track and field team.

And 50 years after winning three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Morrow is the ACU Men’s Track Athlete of the Century. ACU’s all-century team, which includes Morrow, Olson and 14 other Olympians, was selected by current and former coaches, directors of sports information, and sports writers during the university’s centennial year.

There are Olympians from 11 events -- 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 400 hurdles, pole vault, triple jump, shot put, discus throw and decathlon. The other 14 are Tim Bright, James Browne, Robert Guy, Andy Kokhanovsky, Albert Lawrence, Ian Morris, Savieri Ngidhi, Billy Pemelton, Ahmed Shata, Joseph Styles, Eric Thomas, Freddie Williams, Mark Witherspoon and Earl Young.

For more on the Wildcats' star-studded men's all-Century Team, read the press release.