Robert Howard (triple jumper)

American triple and long jumper

Robert Howard

Born| November 26, 1975

Brooklyn, New York

Died| August 14, 2004(2004-08-14) (aged 28)

Little Rock, Arkansas

Occupation| Athlete

Robert Howard was an American triple and long jumper, a nine-time NCAA collegiate champion, and murderer.

## Collegiate career

[edit]

In choosing a college, Howard elected to follow in the lengthy horizontal jumping tradition at the University of Arkansas, where he would follow in the footsteps of such luminary jumpers as Mike Conley, Sr., Edrick Floreal, Jérôme Romain, Brian Wellman and Erick Walder.

Putting his own stamp on the track program, Howard won nine individual collegiate championships while jumping for Arkansas:[1]

Event  | Years won

|

NCAA Indoor Triple Jump  | 1996, 1997, 1999
NCAA Indoor Long Jump  | 1997
NCAA Outdoor Triple Jump  | 1996, 1997, 1998
NCAA Outdoor Long Jump  | 1997, 1998

During this time, the Razorback team, under the guidance of legendary coach John McDonnell, itself won seven of the eight available NCAA team titles, indoors and out.

Howard competed at the 1997 World University Games, finishing third in the triple jump. In 1997, he was named Collegiate Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News magazine for winning all four jumps in the two NCAA championship competitions.

All of Howard's personal records were set while he was a collegian:[2]

Event  | Outdoors best  | Year  | Indoors best  | Year

|
|
|
|

Triple Jump  | 17.11m  | 1998  | 17.04m  | 1997
Long Jump  | 8.40m  | 1997  | 8.16m  | 1997

## Professional career

[edit]

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|

In 1999, Howard missed the majority of the season with an injury.

Howard qualified for the US Olympic team in the triple jump twice, making the finals in both Atlanta and Sydney. He finished seventh in 1996 and eighth in 2000. He won the triple jump competition at the 2000 Olympic Trials with a leap of 55-9 (16.99). His best finish in USATF competitions was a second in the triple jump in 2001.

Admitted to medical school in 1999, Howard worked in his jumping around his schooling, studying at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to be a neurosurgeon. He had deferred his medical studies for one year to train for the 2000 Olympics and again for the 2004 Olympics. He finished fifth in the 2004 Olympic Trials, falling short in his attempt to make the Olympic team for the third time.

## Rankings

[edit]

During his career, Howard was ranked among the top jumpers in the US by Track and Field News.[3]

Year  | Event  | World rank  | US rank

|
|
|

1996  | Triple Jump  | 10th  | 3rd
1997  | Triple Jump  | \-  | 2nd
| Long Jump  | \-  | 7th
1998  | Triple Jump  | \-  | 2nd
| Long Jump  | \-  | 9th
1998  | Triple Jump  | \-  | 2nd
| Long Jump  | \-  | 9th
2000  | Triple Jump  | \-  | 1st
| Long Jump  | \-  | 5th
2001  | Triple Jump  | \-  | 3rd
| Long Jump  | \-  | 9th
2002  | Triple Jump  | \-  | 9th

## Death

[edit]

On August 14, 2004, shortly after his failure to make the Olympic team and in the opening hours of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Howard violently murdered his wife, Robin Mitchell, the chief neurosurgery resident at UAMS who was named a "soaring medical star" by the Times Herald Record,[4] and later leapt to his death from the 10th story of a medical school dormitory. Police found Mitchell dead in the couple's bed with dozens of stab wounds to the head and torso.[5][6][7][8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Razorback Track & Field Media Guide" (PDF). HogWired.com.
2. ^ Robert Howard at World Athletics
3. ^ "Track and Field News: Archive". Archived from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
4. ^ Ben Montgomery (August 17, 2004). "Soaring medical star found slain in Ark". Times Herald-Record.
5. ^ Associated Press: Ex-Olympian believed to have killed wife, jumped to death. August 16, 2004
6. ^ "Olympian haunted by failures, suicide note says – Olympics – NBCSports.com". Archived from the original on 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
7. ^ "McDonnell 'saddened' on news of Howard tragedy". WholeHogSports.com.
8. ^ "Triple jumper competed in '96, '00 Games". EPSN. Associated Press. Aug 16, 2004.

## External links

[edit]

* Robert Howard at USATF
* Robert Howard at World Athletics
* Robert Howard at Olympics.com
* Robert Howard at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
* 2004 Olympic Trial results
* Razorback Track & Field Media Guide

* v
* t
* e

1996 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

1996 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's
track and road
athletes|

* Derrick Adkins
* Brad Barquist
* Keith Brantly
* Bryan Bronson
* Andrzej Chylinski
* Curt Clausen
* Mark Coogan
* Mark Crear
* Mark Croghan
* Calvin Davis
* Marc Davis
* Jon Drummond
* Robert Gary
* Johnny Gray
* Matt Giusto
* Tim Harden
* Alvin Harrison
* Brian Hyde
* Allen James
* Allen Johnson
* Michael Johnson
* Bob Kempainen
* Bob Kennedy
* Michael Marsh
* Anthuan Maybank
* Dan Middleman
* Derek Mills
* Dennis Mitchell
* Tim Montgomery
* Herm Nelson
* José Parrilla
* Jason Pyrah
* Butch Reynolds
* Brandon Rock
* Jason Rouser
* Lamont Smith
* Jim Spivey
* Eugene Swift
* Jeff Williams
* Todd Williams

Men's
field athletes|

* Charles Austin
* Randy Barnes
* Ed Broxterman
* Mike Conley Sr.
* Lance Deal
* Steve Fritz
* John Godina
* Joe Greene
* Kenny Harrison
* Jeff Hartwig
* Robert Howard
* Chris Huffins
* Scott Huffman
* C. J. Hunter
* Lawrence Johnson
* Carl Lewis
* Kevin McMahon
* Dan O'Brien
* Ken Popejoy
* Mike Powell
* Tom Pukstys
* Todd Riech
* Adam Setliff
* Dave Stephens
* Anthony Washington
* Cameron Wright

Women's
track and road
athletes|

* Olga Appell
* Kim Batten
* Tonja Buford-Bailey
* Joetta Clark
* Gail Devers
* Sandra Farmer-Patrick
* Suzy Favor Hamilton
* Kate Fonshell
* Chryste Gaines
* Kim Graham
* Carlette Guidry
* Julie Henner
* Victoria Herazo
* D'Andre Hill
* Vicki Huber
* Regina Jacobs
* Lynn Jennings
* Anne Marie Lauck
* Debbi Lawrence
* Maicel Malone
* Jearl Miles
* Inger Miller
* Joan Nesbit
* Meredith Rainey
* Michelle Rohl
* Amy Rudolph
* Mary Slaney
* Linda Somers
* Jenny Spangler
* Rochelle Stevens
* Lynda Tolbert-Goode
* Gwen Torrence
* Linetta Wilson
* Dannette Young

Women's
field athletes|

* Amy Acuff
* Valeyta Althouse
* Lacy Barnes-Mileham
* Kelly Blair
* Nicole Carroll
* Sharon Hanson
* Aretha Hill
* Sheila Hudson
* Jackie Joyner-Kersee
* Diana Orrange
* Ramona Pagel
* Suzy Powell
* Connie Price-Smith
* Cynthea Rhodes
* Connie Teaberry
* Marieke Veltman
* Tisha Waller
* Erica Wheeler
* Shana Williams

Coaches|

* v
* t
* e

2000 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

* 2000 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's track
and road athletes|

* Abdihakem Abdirahman
* Kenny Brokenburr (r)
* John Capel
* James Carter
* Curt Clausen
* Tony Cosey
* Mark Crear
* Mark Croghan
* Alan Culpepper
* Rod DeHaven
* Pascal Dobert
* Jon Drummond
* Philip Dunn
* Mark Everett
* Adam Goucher
* Maurice Greene
* Alvin Harrison
* Calvin Harrison (r)
* Bradley Hauser
* Floyd Heard
* Andrew Hermann
* Gabe Jennings
* Allen Johnson
* Curtis Johnson
* Michael Johnson
* Meb Keflezighi
* Rich Kenah
* Brian Lewis (r)
* Coby Miller
* Tim Montgomery (r)
* Antonio Pettigrew
* Jason Pyrah
* Nick Rogers
* Tim Seaman
* Michael Stember
* Angelo Taylor
* Eric Thomas
* Terrence Trammell
* Bernard Williams (r)
* Bryan Woodward
* Jerome Young (r)

Men's
field athletes|

* Charles Austin
* Andy Bloom
* LaMark Carter
* Walter Davis
* Lance Deal
* Kenny Evans
* John Godina
* Breaux Greer
* Chad Harting
* Robert Howard
* Chris Huffins
* Nick Hysong
* Kip Janvrin
* Lawrence Johnson
* Nathan Leeper
* Melvin Lister
* Jud Logan
* Kevin McMahon
* Adam Nelson
* Tom Pappas
* Dwight Phillips
* Adam Setliff
* Savanté Stringfellow
* Anthony Washington

Women's track
and road athletes|

* Andrea Anderson (r)
* Kim Batten
* Tonja Buford-Bailey
* Chen Yueling
* Christine Clark
* Hazel Clark
* Joetta Clark Diggs
* LaTasha Colander
* Michelle Collins
* Sharon Couch
* Shayne Culpepper
* Gail Devers
* Deena Kastor
* Elva Dryer
* Torri Edwards
* Chryste Gaines
* Sandra Glover
* Suzy Favor Hamilton
* Monique Hennagan
* Libbie Hickman
* Marion Jones
* Anne Marie Letko
* Debbi Lawrence
* Jearl Miles Clark
* Melissa Morrison-Howard
* Nanceen Perry
* Jennifer Rhines
* Passion Richardson (r)
* Michelle Rohl
* Amy Rudolph
* Marla Runyan

Women's
field athletes|

* Amy Acuff
* Erin Aldrich
* Lynda Blutreich
* Dawn Burrell
* Shelia Burrell
* Jesseca Cross
* Karol Rovelto
* Stacy Dragila
* Dawn Ellerbe
* Nicole Gamble
* Marion Jones
* Kris Kuehl
* Melissa Mueller
* DeDee Nathan
* Amy Palmer
* Suzy Powell-Roos
* Connie Price-Smith
* Seilala Sua
* Kellie Suttle
* Teri Steer
* Shana Williams

Coaches|

* John Chaplin (men's head coach)
* Dick Booth (men's assistant coach)
* Dixon Farmer (men's assistant coach)
* Rob Johnson (men's assistant coach)
* John Moon (men's assistant coach)
* Jerry Quiller (men's assistant coach)
* Jay Silvester (men's assistant coach)
* Bubba Thornton (men's assistant coach)
* Karen Dennis (women's head coach)
* Sandy Fowler (women's assistant coach)
* Ernest Gregoire (women's assistant coach)
* Judy Harrison (women's assistant coach)
* Rita Somerlot (women's assistant coach)
* LaVerne Sweat (women's assistant coach)
* Mark Young (women's assistant coach)

* v
* t
* e

US National Champions in men's triple jump

1888-1979
Amateur Athletic Union|

* 1893: Edward Bloss
* 1894-1908: Not held
* 1909: Frank Irons
* 1910–11: Dan Ahearn
* 1912: Platt Adams
* 1913–18: Dan Ahearn
* 1919-20: Sherman Landers
* 1921: Kaufman Geist
* 1922-23: DeHart Hubbard
* 1924-25: Homer Martin
* 1926-28: Levi Casey
* 1929: Robert Kelley
* 1930: Levi Casey
* 1931: Robert Kelley
* 1932: Sidney Bowman
* 1933: Nathan Blair
* 1934: Dudley Wilkins
* 1935: Rolland Romero
* 1936–37: Billy Brown
* 1938–39: Herschel Neil
* 1940–43: Billy Brown
* 1944: Don Barksdale
* 1945: Burton Cox
* 1946: Ralph Tate
* 1947: Bob Beckus
* 1948–51: Gay Bryan
* 1952: Walter Ashbaugh
* 1953: George Shaw
* 1954: Claudio Cabreja (CUB) * Pat Lochiatto
* 1955: Victor Hernandez (CUB) *Bill Sharpe
* 1956: Willie Hollie
* 1957: Bill Sharpe
* 1958–60: Ira Davis
* 1961–62: Bill Sharpe
* 1963: Kent Floerke
* 1964: Christos Mousiadis (GRE) * Ira Davis
* 1965–66: Art Walker
* 1967: Charles Craig
* 1968: Art Walker
* 1969: John Craft
* 1970: Milan Tiff
* 1971–74: John Craft
* 1975: Anthony Terry
* 1976: Tommy Haynes
* 1977: Milan Tiff
* 1978: James Butts
* 1979: Ron Livers

1980-1992
The Athletics Congress|

* 1980–81: Willie Banks
* 1982: Robert Cannon
* 1983: Willie Banks
* 1984: Al Joyner
* 1985: Willie Banks
* 1986: Charlie Simpkins
* 1987–89: Mike Conley
* 1990–91: Kenny Harrison
* 1992: Charlie Simpkins

1993-onwards
USA Track & Field|

* 1993–95: Mike Conley
* 1996–97: Kenny Harrison
* 1998–99: LaMark Carter
* 2000: Robert Howard
* 2001: LaMark Carter
* 2002: Walter Davis
* 2003: Kenta Bell
* 2004: Melvin Lister
* 2005–06: Walter Davis
* 2007–08: Aarik Wilson
* 2009: Brandon Roulhac
* 2010: Kenta Bell
* 2011–12: Christian Taylor
* 2013: Omar Craddock
* 2014: Will Claye
* 2015: Omar Craddock
* 2016-7: Will Claye
* 2018–19: Donald Scott
* 20212020 OT: Will Claye

Notes|

* 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authority control databases: People |

* World Athletics

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