The old timers love to talk about the heydays of track & field while the new kids think they are better.
Turns out it’s a tie.
Looking at each season and seeing how many outstanding marks* each year produced shows that 1978 and (2019) both produced an incredible 45 marks those seasons, with 1973 just one behind.
* Qualifying marks are roughly what it takes to make the All-Time Top 50, actual marks listed near the bottom of the page.
Greater explanation of these rankings
Girls Season Rankings by Marks
Correction 1978 Rules
After I posted this I found in 1978 that I had missed two marks.
Discus 162-3 Steve Jones, Calistoga, NCS 1A Champion, 3rd NCS
High Jump 6-6 Darryl Wienke, Upper Lake
Sorry 2019 That gives 1978 47 marks now.
As of 4/7/2020
The 70’s was also the strongest decade of the last five.
Decade Average, low-high 2010-2019 30.2, 15-45 2000-2009 19.7, 12-34 1990-1999 20.4, 13-29 1980-1989 26.7, 16-36 1970-1979 36.5, 26-47
Complete stats
As of 4/5/2020, going back to 1969.
Bolded marks are best for that decade.
Year Marks Best events for those years 1978 47 HJ 8, 330LH 6 2019 45 100 6, 1600 & 400 5 1973 44 180LH 6, TJ 120HH & 100 4 1979 40 3200 & HJ 5 1977 39 SP HJ & 330LH 6 2013 39 100 6, 800 & 400 4 2010 37 1974 36 1975 36 1981 36 1976 35 2012 35 2009 34 1980 33 2014 33 1972 32 1984 32 1986 31 1970 30, no TJ to contest 2018 30 1982 29 1997 29 1971 26 1989 25 1995 25 2002 25 1988 24 2011 24 2015 24 1983 23 1992 23 2003 23 1991 21 1996 21 2008 21 1999 20 2017 20 1985 18 1990 18 2004 18 2005 18 1993 17 1994 17 2007 17 2022 17 1987 16 2006 15 2016 15 2021 15, COVID shorten season 2001 14 1998 13 1969 12, no TJ to contest 2000 12 2020 7, COVID ended season in March Event standard These marks are roughly what it takes to make the All-Time top 50 FAT Hand Yards 100 11.14 10.9 9.9y 200 22.34 22.1 22.2y 400 50.14 49.9 50.2y 800 1:57.24 1:57.0 1:57.8y 1600 4:22.00 4:21.7 4:23.3y 3200 9:35.00 9:34.9 9:38.1y 110HH 15.19 14.9 14.9y 300IH 40.59 40.3, 40.0-330LH, 39.8-300LH, 20.5 180LH 400R 43.84 43.6 43.8y 1600R 3:26.34 3:26.1 3:27.3y HJ 6' 4" PV 13' 6" LJ 22' TJ 44' 3" SP 52' DT 159' Events changed from yards to metrics in 1981. Long hurdles changed from 180yd Low Hurdles to 330yd Low Hurdles in 1975. 330yd Low Hurdles to 300m Low Hurdles in 1981. 300m Low Hurdles to 300m Intermediates in 1984. Triple Jump was not an event until 1971.
1978 not only had a lot of good athletes but also produced a number of coaches.
Jim Flores, Went to Piner and now coaches there
330y Low Hurdles 38.0 = roughly 38.54 300IH
LJ 22-11½
200 22.91 22.8y
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Greg Fogg, Went to Piner and Rancho Cotate, now coaches at Maria Carrillo
Mile 4:26.5
2 Mile 10:02.8
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Matt Malvino, Went to Montgomery and later coached there
880 2:03.5
Mile Relay 3:28.4
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Jim Crowhurst, Went to Montgomery and later coached there
PV 13-6
TJ 40-0 3/4
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