USA–USSR Track and Field Dual Meet Series

USA-USSR Dual Track Meet Series was a track and field meeting between United States and Soviet Union. It was held 19 times during the Cold War era from 1958 to 1985. The meeting was arranged alternatively in both countries, exception being the last event in 1985 which was held in Tokyo, Japan. Seven indoor meetings were also competed in the 1970s. Although the meetings were foremost athletic competitions, they served as propaganda and foreign diplomacy tools as well.[1]

Action from the 1975 USA–USSR meet

The most classic meeting is considered the 1962 competition in Stanford, California, with an attendance of more than 150,000 on a two-day event, the largest ever on a non-Olympic track and field competition. Even the Soviet workouts attracted crowds of 5,000.[2] Two world records were set in Stanford, Valeriy Brumel on high jump and Hal Connolly on hammer throw. Though the Stanford meeting was held just two months before the Cuban Missile Crisis, the athletes exhibited mutual friendship, with both Soviet and American athletes congratulating Brumel on his feat and both nations' athletes completing a lap of honour at the end of competition.[3]

Editions
Year Date Location Venue Winner Total Men Women
1958 27–28 JulyMoscowLenin Stadium Soviet Union172 – 170 126 – 109 63 – 44
1959 18–19 JulyPhiladelphiaFranklin Field Soviet Union175 – 167 127 – 108 67 – 40
1961 15–16 JulyMoscowLenin Stadium Soviet Union179 – 160 124 – 111 68 – 36
1962 21–22 JulyStanfordStanford Stadium Soviet Union173 – 169 128 – 107 66 – 41
1963 20–21 JulyMoscowLenin Stadium Soviet Union189 – 147 119 – 114 75 – 28
1964 25–26 JulyLos AngelesLos Angeles Coliseum United States187 – 156 139 – 97 59 – 48
1965 31 July–1 AugustKievCentral Stadium Soviet Union181.5 – 155.5 118 – 112 63.5 – 43.5
1969 18–19 JulyLos AngelesLos Angeles Coliseum United States195 – 178 125 – 111 70 – 67
1970 23–24 JulyLeningradLenin Stadium Soviet Union200 – 173 122 – 114 78 – 59
1971 2–3 JulyBerkeleyEdwards Stadium Soviet Union
United States		186 – 186 126 – 110 76 – 60
1973 23–24 JulyMinskRepublic Stadium Soviet Union216 – 163 121 – 112 95 – 51
1974 5–6 JulyDurhamWallace Wade Stadium Soviet Union192 – 184 117 – 102 90 – 67
1975 4–5 JulyKievCentral Stadium Soviet Union225 – 138 129 – 89 96 – 49
1976 6–7 AugustCollege ParkByrd Stadium Soviet Union211 – 157 115 – 107 104 – 42
1977 1–2 JulySochiCentral Stadium Soviet Union207 – 171 118 – 105 89 – 66
1978 7–8 JulyBerkeleyEdwards Stadium United States190 – 177 119 – 102 75 – 71
1981 11–12 JulyLeningradLenin Stadium Soviet Union204 – 178 118 – 105 99 – 60
1982 2–3 JulyIndianapolisIndiana University Soviet Union207 – 167 118 – 100 89 – 67
1985 21–22 SeptemberTokyoNational Olympic Stadium Soviet Union221 – 164 114 – 104 117 – 50

Indoor meetings
Year Date Location Venue Winner Total Men Women
197217 MarchRichmondRichmond Coliseum United States131 – 112 79 – 69 54 – 43
197316 MarchRichmondRichmond Coliseum Soviet Union146 – 141 84 – 76 65 – 62
19742 MarchMoscowBrothers Znamensky Olympic Centre Soviet Union163 – 126 89 – 72 74 – 65
19753 MarchRichmondRichmond Coliseum United States171 – 106 98 – 62 73 – 44
19766 MarchLeningradZimniy Stadion Soviet Union171 – 117 96 – 64 75 – 53
19773–4 MarchTorontoMaple Leaf Gardens United States159 – 120 90 – 69 69 – 51
19793 MarchFort WorthTarrant County Convention Center United States121 – 118 75 – 66 52 – 46

World records
Year Athlete Nation Sex Event Record
1958Oleg Ryakhovskiy Soviet UnionMenTriple jump16.59 m
1958Rafer Johnson United StatesMenDecathlon8302 pts
1961Valeriy Brumel Soviet UnionMenHigh jump2.24 m
1961Ralph Boston United StatesMenLong jump8.28 m
1961Willye White
Ernestine Pollards
Vivian Brown
Wilma Rudolph		 United StatesWomen4 × 100 m relay44.3
1961Tatyana Shchelkanova Soviet UnionWomenLong jump6.48 m
1961Tamara Press Soviet UnionWomenDiscus throw57.43 m
1962Valeriy Brumel Soviet UnionMenHigh jump2.26 m
1962Hal Connolly United StatesMenHammer throw70.67 m
1963Valeriy Brumel Soviet UnionMenHigh jump2.28 m
1964Fred Hansen United StatesMenPole vault5.28 m
1964Dallas Long United StatesMenShot put20.67 m
1965Wyomia Tyus United StatesWomen100 m11.1
1974Lyudmila Bragina Soviet UnionWomen3000 m8:52.74
1976Lyudmila Bragina Soviet UnionWomen3000 m8:27.12

Multiple winners
Athlete Nation Wins Years Event Sex
Volodymyr Holubnychy Soviet Union61959, 1962, 1964, 1969–1970, 197620 km race walkMen
Viktor Saneyev Soviet Union61969, 1971, 1973-1976Triple jumpMen
Taisia Chenchik Soviet Union61958-1959, 1962-1963, 1965High jumpWomen
Tamara Press Soviet Union61959, 1961-1965Shot put and discus throwWomen
Nadezhda Chizhova Soviet Union61969-1971, 1973-1974, 1976Shot putWomen
Faina Melnik Soviet Union61971, 1973-1974, 1976-1978Discus throwWomen
Lyudmila Bragina Soviet Union51969–1970, 1973, 1974, 19761500 m and 3000 mWomen
Valeriy Brumel Soviet Union51961-1965High jumpMen
Jānis Lūsis Soviet Union51962-1965, 1969Javelin throwMen
Ralph Boston United States41961-1963, 1965Long jumpMen
Tatyana Shchelkanova Soviet Union41961-1963, 1965Long jumpWomen
Irina Press Soviet Union41961-1963, 196580 m hurdlesWomen
Elvīra Ozoliņa Soviet Union41961-1963, 1973Javelin throwWomen

References
  1. Turrini, p. 1–2
  2. "Track and field's greatest dual meet is turning 50". Palo Alto Online. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  3. "USA vs. USSR, 1962: The Greatest Track Meet of All Time". Bleacher's Report. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
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