San Jose State Spartans track and field
American college track and field team
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The San Jose State Spartans track and field team, also known as "Speed City",[3] is the track and field program that represents San Jose State University. The Spartans compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is based in San Jose, California, at the PAL Stadium.[4]
| San Jose State Spartans track and field | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | San Jose State University |
| Head coach | Charles Ryan |
| Conference | MW |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| Outdoor track | PAL Stadium |
| Nickname | Spartans |
| Colors | Gold, white, and blue[1] |
| NCAA Outdoor National Championships | |
| Men: 1969[2] | |
The program is currently coached by Charles Ryan.[5] The track and field program officially encompasses four teams because the NCAA considers men's and women's indoor track and field and outdoor track and field as separate sports.[6]
The team was known as "Speed City" in the 1960s under coach Bud Winter. Spartans Tommie Smith and John Carlos were both part of the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute. The San Jose State track team also led the 1968 Black American Olympic boycott movement to advocate for civil rights.[7] A statue, Victory Salute, was erected to honor the moment in 2005, and a History Park exhibit was created about the team in 2007.[8] The men's team was cut in 1988 but revived in 2018.[9]
Notable athletes
AIAW
The Spartans have had one AIAW All-American finishing in the top six at the AIAW indoor or outdoor championships.[10]
| AIAW All-Americans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Championships | Name | Event | Place |
| 1973 Outdoor | Linda Langford | Discus throw | 2nd |
| 1973 Outdoor | Linda Langford | Javelin throw | 2nd |
NCAA
As of August 2025[update], a total of 85 men and 3 women have achieved individual first-team All-American status for the team at the Division I men's outdoor, women's outdoor, men's indoor, or women's indoor national championships (using the modern criteria of top-8 placing regardless of athlete nationality).[11][12]
Olympics
The Spartans have collectively won nine Olympic track and field medals, from seven athletes.[45]
| Olympic medalists | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Country | Olympiad | Event | Medal |
| Willie Steele |  United States |
1948 London | Long Jump | Gold |
| Lee Evans | United States |
1968 Mexico City | 400 meters | Gold |
| Lee Evans | United States |
1968 Mexico City | 4x400 meters | Gold |
| Ronnie Ray Smith | United States |
1968 Mexico City | 4x100 meters | Gold |
| Tommie Smith | United States |
1968 Mexico City | 200 meters | Gold |
| John Carlos | United States |
1968 Mexico City | 200 meters | Bronze |
| John Powell | United States |
1976 Montreal | Discus throw | Bronze |
| John Powell | United States |
1984 Los Angeles | Discus throw | Bronze |
| Jim Doehring | United States |
1992 Barcelona | Shot put | Silver |