Willie Banks

Event: Triple Jump

Inducted to Hall of Fame: 1999

Willie was one of the best triple jumpers in the world throughout the 1980s. He made three Olympic teams, and twice recorded sixth place finishes at Olympic finals. He also won a silver medal at the first World Championship meet in 1983.

Willie swept three Mt. SAC Relays titles. His winning distance in 1984, 56-4w, remains the second longest mark recorded under any conditions at the Relays. In the same series that year, Willie popped a wind-legal jump of 55-9 1/4, which continues to be the meet and stadium record.

Willie's PR of 58-11 1/2, set at the U.S. national championship in 1985, remains the seventh longest jump in history. The quality of this mark is indicated by the fact that it broke a world record that had stood for nearly 10 years, and it took another 10 years before it was broken (by Jonathan Edwards).

Born: 1956

College: UCLA

• 1977: 4th, 53-10 1/2w
• 1979: 3rd, 55-1
• 1981: 1st, 54-9 1/4 (16.69m)
• 1984: 1st, 56-4w (17.17m)
• 1985: 1st, 56-1 1/4w (17.10m)
• 1992: 5th, 53-5 1/2w

• PR: 58-11 1/2 (17.97m)
• Broke World Record:
  • 58-11 1/2 (17.97m)
• Broke American Record 7 times:
  • 1981: 56-7 3/4 (17.26m)
  • 1981: 56-9 1/2 (17.31m)
  • 1981: 56-9 1/2 (17.31m)
  • 1981: 56-11 1/4 (17.35m)
  • 1981: 57-7 1/2 (17.56m)
  • 1985: 57-11 3/4 (17.67m)
  • 1985: 58-11 1/2 (17.97)
• Olympic 6th place finish:
  • 1984: 54-11 1/2 (16.75m)
  • 1988: 55-10 1/2 (17.03m)
• World Championship Silver Medal, 1983
  • 56-4 1/2 (17.18m)
• U.S. National Champion:
  • 1980: 56-11 1/2 (17.36m)
  • 1981: 57-7 1/2 AR (17.56m)
  • 1983: 56-7 1/2 (17.26m)
  • 1985: 58-11 1/2 WR (17.97m)