American Discus Legend and Missouri Alum Ben Plucknett Passes Away
11/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Nov. 19, 2002
Former University of Missouri and world-class track and field standout Ben Plucknett died Sunday at the age of 48.
While at Mizzou, Plucknett was an All-American in 1976 in the discus. Plucknett's throw of 201 feet 10 inches at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in May of 1976 still stands as the longest throw in school history. Plucknett is the only Tiger to throw over 200 feet in the discus; current All-American Christian Cantwell is second on the list with a throw of 194-7.
Plucknett's success continued when he left Mizzou. He made the 1980 U.S. Olympic team boycotted the Games that year. In 1981 Plucknett set a world record with a throw of 233-7, less than two months later he broke his own world record with a throw of 237-4. That throw still stands as the American record.
In 2000 Plucknett was inducted into the MU Intercollegiate Hall of Fame. Missouri head track and field coach Rick McGuire said, "Ben was one of the greatest track athletes ever. We have been happy that he has reattached himself to Missouri track and field in the past few years. He took a personal interest in the team and did a number of things for us. He was an inspiration to our throwers. Whenever you have a personal relationship with somebody, their death is hard on you. And Ben's passing is going to be very hard on us."
1960 Olympian and former Missouri Tiger track star Dick Cochran said of Plucknett, "Ben was a unique individual and a great guy. In addition to being a great athlete he was wonderful with kids even though he didn't have any of his own. If you could tell a kid to pattern their life after somebody I would tell them to pattern after Ben Plucknett. He was a great guy and I'm going to miss him." Cochran won the bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in the discus.
Missouri assistant track and field coach Brett Halter echoed the sentiments of Coach McGuire and Cochran. "This is a big loss to the Tiger family. Ben was a big part of this program, and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to know him. Ben was a contributor to our recent success just by his presence. He went on to do what everyone of these kids (track and field athletes) dreams about doing. He will be deeply missed."
