The State of Sports!

NJSports.com

Get New Bio Updates
on Facebook!

All you need to know about New Jersey sports history.

Baseball Basketball Boxing & Wrestling Football Hockey Golf Soccer Tennis Track & Field

Auto Racing Horse Racing Olympic Sports Women's Sports Miscellaneous Sports

SOharaSigned 

Andy Stanfield

Sport: Track & Field

Born: December 29, 1927

Died: June 15, 1985

Town: Jersey City

Andrew William Stanfield was born December 29, 1927 in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Jersey City. Andy’s explosive speed made him unbeatable in foot races as a boy and he excelled as a sprinter and long jumper as a student at Linclon High School. Following a stint in the army after World War II, he enrolled at Seton Hall, where he was coached by Johnny Gibson—who was early in his 27-year career in South Orange. Gibson was a legendary hurdler and he turned Andy into an excellent hurdler, in addition to developing him as a sprinter and long jumper.

Andy began racking up national titles in the spring of 1949, winning AAU championships in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Because of nagging injuries that limited him in the 60 yards and 100 meters, the 200 became his strongest distance. In 1951, Andy won the AAU indoor title in the long jump. A year later, he was 200-meters champion. During his college career, he won 8 of a possible 9 IC4-A sprint titles, both indoors and outdoors. Andy often competed against fellow New Jerseyan Meredith “Flash” Gourdine, star of Cornell’s track team.

After graduating from Seton Hall in 1952, Andy ran for the Pioneer AC in New York. Andy was the world record holder at that distance heading into the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. He shook off a sore thigh muscle to AStanfieldCokeAdwin the gold medal in the 200. He finished ahead of fellow Americans Thane Baker and Jimmy Gathers. Andy also ran the anchor leg in the 4 x 100. They were co-favorites with the vaunted Soviet squad. The Soviets opened up a lead after the first two legs, but 100-meters champion Lindy Remigino made up the ground and gave Andy the baton even with their opponents. Andy turned on the jets and beat Vladimir Sukharev to the finish by two meters.

Andy ran the 200 in a world-record 20.6 seconds during his career. He was also part of a the U.S. team that shattered the world record in the 4 x 220 relay. Under the coaching of Joe Yancey, he continued to dominate in the 200 meters during the mid-1950s. He attempted to defend his gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, but could not hold an early lead and was edged by Bobby Morrow.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Andy carved out a career in the computer business. He headed a computer science school in New Jersey in the ‘60s and ‘70s. In 1969, Andy and his family were featured in a Coca-Cola campaign. He passed away in Livingston in 1985 at the age of 57.

 

Athlete Profiles

Great Moments

It Happened in Jersey

CONTACT

CONTACT!

• Who We Are
• Email Us
• Don't Know Spit?

GETALIFE

GET A LIFE!

They still play sports outside NJ. Check out 300 more athlete bios at Jockbio.com


All images on this site are from the collection of the authors. They are used for educational and informational purposes and are subject to standard copyright laws.

Copyright © 2021 Upper Case Editorial Services, LLC.