THE PRIDE OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
THE JACKIE ROBINSON STATUTE
DEDICATED NOVEMBER 29, 2017 - THE ROSE BOWL
GO VISIT!
THE PRIDE OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
THE JACKIE ROBINSON STATUTE
DEDICATED NOVEMBER 29, 2017 - THE ROSE BOWL
GO VISIT!
Pasadena Sports Hall of Fame
the cover of the June 1980 issue of Track & Field News as the "New Sprint King." Only one other individual from Pasadena, Charles Paddock (PHS alumni - 1918) was ever crowned the world fastest.
To say that he was favorite for the 1980 Olympics (U.S. Boycotted) is an understatement.
Between 1978 - 1981 Mr. Sanford was ranked among the best in the USA and the world in both the 100m and 200m sprint events. In 1981, he tied the world record for the 50m indoor, a record that would take 20 years to break.
Unbroken stadium, meet and/or school records across the United States is representative of Mr. Sanford's impact on the sport of track and field. His records at Pasadena High School and USC are nearly 40 years old. Mr. Sanford continues to be ranked among many collegiate and world ranking "All Time List" however, Olympian Carl Lewis probably gives the most accurate assessmant of Mr. Sanford's talent when he was quoted as saying, "No one ever compared me to Jesse Owens until I beat James Sanford..." which happened only once.
In 2004, Mr. Sanford was inducted into the Pasadena Sports Hall of Fame, Inc.
Honors
1977
State Champ 400 Yards
1979
IAAF
World Cup Champion
100m USA Outdoor Champion PAC-10 Champion
100 & 200m
In 1977, James Sanford lead Pasadena High School to its second state championship, winning 4 out of 5 races, a record that would last 30 years.
In 1979, while still a student at USC, he was the No. 1 Sprinter (100m) in the world, securing the IAAF World Cup Championship; the USA Outdoor Championship, and the PAC-10 Championship. Mr. Sanford appeared on
PASHOF INDUCTEE