BYU Athletics remembers three-time National Champion Ralph Mann

PROVO, Utah — Former BYU track and field three-time national champion sprinter, Olympic silver medalist and 1981 BYU Hall of Fame recipient Ralph Mann, has passed away on January 2 at the age of 75 from pancreatic cancer, his family said in a statement. 

"Ralph Mann is a true legend of BYU track and field," said director of track and field Ed Eyestone. "Winning 3 NCAA titles in the 440-yard hurdles, highlighted by a world record at the NCAA championships in 1970 and Olympic Silver in Munich in 1972, Ralph excelled as a fierce competitor. He helped establish BYU as a power in track and field and made his name synonymous with greatness for our athletes for over 50 years. Dr. Mann has continued to positively impact our sport by being one of the world’s leading researchers and clinicians in sprint and hurdle mechanics and has generously shared his knowledge with generations of coaches and athletes. Our sport is better because of his contributions as an athlete and scientist. BYU track and field will be forever grateful for Ralph Mann." 

In his first year on the roster in 1969, Mann sprinted his way to his first outdoor national title in the 440-yard hurdles. Crossing the line in 49.6 seconds, Mann tied the NCAA and American records, finishing three-tenths of a second off the world mark.

Mann led the Cougars to the programs' only national team championship in 1970 at the NCAA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. BYU took the team title with 35 points, highlighted by Mann's performance in the 440-yard hurdles where he had a finishing time of 48.8 seconds which was a world record time in the event. The outing also earned him his second individual national victory. 

The following year, Mann claimed his third-consecutive national title in the same event posting a 49.6 finishing time. 

Mann competed in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games where he claimed the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles. He is one of eight athletes from BYU that have won a medal in a track and field event and just one of three that have earned a medal for Team USA*.

*Alma Richards earned a gold in the high jump in the 1912 Stockholm Games, while Kenneth Rooks earned a silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase in the 2024 Paris Games. 

On the academic front, Mann continued his education at Washington State where he received a Ph. D. in biomechanics. He went on to teach as an associate professor at Kentucky for seven years. Mann continued to work with Olympic and professional athletes as part of his research including Noah Lyles who won the gold medal in the 100m and silver medal in the 200m at the 2024 Paris Games.

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"Ralph Mann was not only a world-class athlete but also a pioneer in biomechanics of sprinting and hurdling," said Dr. Iain Hunter who is a current biomechanist professor at BYU and worked with Mann. "I always looked forward to being around him for his character and humour. His groundbreaking work provided invaluable knowledge to sprint and hurdle coaches. His contributions will continue to influence the sport for generations to come."

Mann was inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 1981.