Houston McTear
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
February 12, 1957 Baker, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 2015 (aged 58) , Sweden |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Running |
| Event(s) | Sprints |
| Club | Muhammad Ali Track Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
60 m: 6.54 100 yd: 9.30 |
Houston McTear (February 12, 1957 – November 1, 2015), was an American sprinter, who emerged from desperate poverty in the Florida Panhandle to become an international track star in the mid-1970s.
McTear rated in the top 10 in the 100 meters for the United States from 1975–1980, but he was stronger at shorter distances, including 60 meters. His 1978 world record in the 60 meters (6.54 s) stood up until it was broken by Ben Johnson in 1986. McTear ran a 6.38 in 1980, but that mark has been invalidated due to "questionable timing". If that time were to stand, it would still be the world record. However, his meteoric rise was effectively ended by the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics.
McTear was born in Okaloosa County, Florida. While at Baker High School in Baker, Florida, McTear won state titles in the 100 and 220 yards four times, the only Florida high school athlete ever to do so. He recorded a 9.0 mark in the 100-yard dash as a high schooler at the Florida AA High State Meet in the preliminary heats, in Winter Park, Florida, but the world record time was not recognized because it was hand-timed. The time remains the NFHS National High School record in the now discontinued event. He was the 1975 High School Athlete of the Year, as selected by Track and Field News.
At the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, McTear ran a 10.16 sec over 100 metres, at the time the fastest ever run under any condition by a Florida high school athlete. It is still No. 3 on the all-time list, only surpassed by Jeffery Demps and Marvin Bracy.
McTear qualified for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal in the 100 meters, but an achilles tendon injury suffered in the Olympic Trials forced him to withdraw from the Olympic field. He was replaced by Johnny "Lam" Jones, who finished sixth. The American 4 x 100 meter relay team won the gold medal, led by McTear's rival Harvey Glance.
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