Michael Solomon (born September 29, 1954) is a retired sprinter from Trinidad and Tobago.

Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Solomon later moved to the United States where he attended George W. Wingate High School and then the University of New Mexico.[1] He specialized in the 600-yard run and won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in the discipline with a conference and school record mark in 1974 and 1975.[2][3] He won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship in the indoor 600-yard run in 1977 and was twice selected an All-American at New Mexico, having set some records at the school that remained decades later.[4][5] He later won titles in the 600-yard run at the US championships in 1979 and 1981.

Internationally, Solomon represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics and competed in the 400 metres and 4 x 400 metres relay, reaching the semifinals in the former while helping his team place sixth in the latter.[6][7] He competed at the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games and won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay.[8] He also competed in two events at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and in two events at the 1979 Pan American Games.[1] He made a return to the Summer Olympics in 1980 and placed sixth in both the 400 metres and the 4 x 400 metres relay.[6] He later reached the 400 metres semifinal at the 1983 World Championships.[1]

Solomon's son, Jarrin Solomon, also became a sprinter and won an Olympic medal.[9][10]

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Trinidad and Tobago
1976 Olympic Games Montreal, Canada 6th 4 × 400 m relay
1978 Central American and Caribbean Games Medellín, Colombia 2nd 4 × 400 m relay
Commonwealth Games Edmonton, Canada 4th 400 m
5th 4 × 400 m relay
1979 Pan American Games San Juan, Puerto Rico 6th 4 × 400 m relay
1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Soviet Union 6th 400 m
6th 4 × 400 m relay

References

  1. ^ a b c "Michael Solomon". Best of Trinidad.
  2. ^ "Lobo Track Men Try NCAA Title". Albuquerque Journal. March 13, 1975. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "UTEP rules WAC Indoor". The Albuquerque Tribune. March 2, 1974. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "WSU Nips UTEP in Indoor". Albuquerque Journal. Associated Press. March 13, 1977. p. 77 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Sickenger, Ken (July 15, 2012). "Like Father, Like Son". Albuquerque Journal. p. 21, 24 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b "Mike Solomon". Olympedia.org.
  7. ^ "Solomon, Lobos Ready". Albuquerque Journal. April 8, 1977. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Ramphal, Vidia (September 28, 2023). "On This Day in Sport: September 29". Loop News Trinidad & Tobago.
  9. ^ Guerrero, Maria (July 6, 2012). "Albuquerque native to compete in the Olympics". KOB. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  10. ^ Rosales, Glen (February 25, 2007). "Lobos Pick Up the Pace". Albuquerque Journal. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon


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