Phil Mulkey

Who is Phil Mulkey?

Philip Roy "Phil" Mulkey is an American track and field athlete, primarily known for the multi-event decathlon. Mulkey was the 2nd place American, behind a pre-Olympic battle between UCLA teammates Rafer Johnson and C. K. Yang at the 1960 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships which served as Olympic Trials. Mulkey qualified for the 1960 Summer Olympics, but was unable to finish the competition, dropping out after throwing the Discus with two sub-par performances to begin Day 2.

The year earlier, Mulkey took the silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games, finishing behind American teammate Dave Edstrom. In 1961, Mulkey surpassed Vasili Kuznetsov's World Record by scoring 8,727 points at the Southeastern AAU meet in his home town of Memphis, Tennessee, but the record was never ratified by the IAAF because the field was not approved.

Collegiately, Mulkey competed for Memphis State College and then the University of Wyoming. He never quit the sport, moving from the Open division into the early days of Masters athletics. He competed at many Masters Athletics World Championships and set several world records as he progressed through the age groups. His M60 American Record was decertified as the American record after World Masters Athletics changed the implement specifications, but it remains the best mark. He coached his then girlfriend Philipa Raschker, one of the most successful Masters athletes ever. Both Phils each were named the 1993 and 1994 USATF Combined Athletes of the year.