Ben Plucknett (2000) - Hall of Fame - University of Missouri Athletics

Ben Plucknett

Induction:
2000
Class:
1976

Plucknett was a three-time Big Eight Conference champion in the discus (1973, 1974 and 1976). The Beatrice, Nebraska native placed fourth in the discus at the 1976 NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn all-America honors. Following his days at Missouri, Plucknett competed on the international scene, and qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics as part of the U.S. team. He did not get to compete, however, due to the U.S. boycott of the Games. Plucknett later went on to set the American record in the discus at a meet at Stockholm, Sweden in 1981 with a heave of 72.34 meters (237 feet, 3 inches). That mark still stands some 40 years later as the U.S. record.