Dwayne Evans Ran 20.22 Seconds in '76, And That State Record Still Stands. WHAT?!
Alright, listen up, Emerald City! We all love a good debate, right? Who's the GOAT? Who put up the craziest numbers? Well, buckle up, because USA TODAY Sports just dropped a bombshell, and it's got nothing to do with Julio snagging a fly ball or Sam Darnold throwing a dime. We're talking pure, raw, high school athletic dominance, way back in the day, from Arizona of all places! They're celebrating the 250 greatest American sports figures, and part of that means digging deep into the roots: the high school legends. And let me tell you, some of these tales from the past are absolutely mind-blowing.Before They Were Legends: Arizona's Track Icons
Seriously, the talent Arizona produced in high school track and field is wild. We're talking about trailblazers who didn't just win state titles, they set records that stood for decades and went on to dominate on the biggest stages. Take Dallas Long from Phoenix North. In 1958, this dude was dropping bombs in the shot put like it was nothing, setting the United States high school national record at 69 feet, 3 inches. Get this, at just 17 years old, he finished his senior year ranked No. 2 in the *world*. Can you even imagine that kind of raw power coming out of a local high school today? Long then goes to USC, bags three consecutive NCAA titles in the shot put, sets a staggering seven world records between 1959 and 1964, and then tops it all off with a bronze medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. That's a career for the ages!Olympic Glory, Stra
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ight Outta High School But wait, there's more! Let's talk about Dwayne Evans from Phoenix South Mountain. This guy's summer from 1976 still resonates with the community. He clocked an insane 20.22 seconds at the Olympic Trials, setting a national record, and then went on to earn a bronze medal at the Montreal Olympics. Yes, you read that right, an Olympic medal *as a prep athlete*! He's the only Arizona athlete to pull that off in track and field. His high school national 200-meter record has since fallen, but his state record? It's the oldest in the Arizona Interscholastic Association archives. That's older than some of our parents, for real! Then you have Nick Hysong from Tolleson, who took the pole vault to new heights. He set the state record at 17-4 in 1990, becoming the first from Arizona to clear 17 feet, and that record stood until 2017. Hysong continued his dominance at Arizona State, becoming a Pac-10 champion and winning the NCAA national title in 1994, before ultimately grabbing a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. These guys weren't just good, they were generational talents. So, who's the GOAT among these Arizona legends? Long? Evans? Hysong? The debate is fierce, and these dudes certainly defined their sports. USA TODAY and The Arizona Republic are doing this all year, shining a light on the top high school athletes who shaped their communities. They'll be dropping their overall Arizona top athletes in July, so keep your eyes peeled. It just shows you the insane, historic talent that can come out of the high school ranks. It makes you wonder who's out there today, getting ready to blow our minds!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.