Nick Newton
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Milton "Nick" Newton (November 6, 1933, in
Tarboro, North Carolina Tarboro is a town located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the town had a population of 10,721. It is the county seat of Edgeco ...
, United States – March 31, 2018, in
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) was the inventor of the Newton Starting Blocks. Newton blocks are considered by many to be the best in the world, used at many major track meets like the Mt. SAC Relays.
Starting blocks Starting blocks are a device used in the sport of track and field by Sprint (running), sprint athletes to brace their feet against at the start of a race so they do not slip as they stride forward at the sound of the starter's pistol. The blocks ...
are the device sprinters use to hold their feet at the start of a race so they do not slip as they push out at the sound of the gun. Using his experience as a tool and die maker for Waste King, Newton invented a cast aluminum block design as an improvement for his daughter Pam, who was excelling in girls' track. Newton's solid, but lightweight versions greatly improved on the flimsy or rusty old devices that had been standard equipment for decades. Obtaining his first patent in 1978 Newton has subsequently patented two additional innovations to offer sprinters more possible settings to prepare for their start. He became heavily involved as a mentor for the L.A. Mercurettes Track Club, an elite track club of the 1970s and 80's. In 1976, he joined Olympian
John Carlos John Wesley Carlos (born June 5, 1945) is an American former track and field athlete and professional football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he displayed the Black Power salute on th ...
in an athletic delegation arranged by
Henry Kissinger Henry Alfred Kissinger (May 27, 1923 – November 29, 2023) was an American diplomat and political scientist who served as the 56th United States secretary of state from 1973 to 1977 and the 7th National Security Advisor (United States), natio ...
to the then segregated
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which was a step to the desegregation of athletics in that country.


Athletic accomplishments

Newton had no experience in track and field as a child. In small town North Carolina, there was nothing like that. He was an unathletic, two pack a day smoker until his daughter got involved with track. He turned into a proficient Masters sprinter and high jumper, Newton was an early practitioner of the sport after turning 40 in the 1970s. He set many records even after surviving a battle with
testicular cancer Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. Symptoms may include a lump in the testicle or swelling or pain in the scrotum. Treatment may result in infertility. Risk factors include an c ...
. He once held the World Record for the M45 400 metres and the M60 division High Jump. In 2004, he was elected into the Masters division of the
National Track and Field Hall of Fame National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newton, Nick 1933 births 2018 deaths 20th-century American inventors American masters athletes American male sprinters American male high jumpers Track and field athletes from California Track and field people from California 20th-century American sportsmen