SUMMER GAMES SPOTLIGHT : BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 14 : A MEMORABLE DAY

Not since 1968 has the United States had as memorable a day in Olympic track and field as it did Thursday, when Americans won nine medals, including four golds.

On Oct. 18, 1968, at Mexico City, Bob Beamon won the long jump with the first 29-foot leap, Lee Evans broke the world record in the 400 meters and Bill Toomey began the decathlon competition, which he eventually won.

But in terms of medals won, Thursday was the best.

“This had to be the most successful night for American track and field since (1968), and even since the very beginning of the Modern Olympics,” said David Wallechinsky, author of “The Complete Book of the Olympics.”

This a daily roundup of Olympic-related items from reporters in Barcelona from the Los Angeles Times, Newsday and Baltimore Sun, all Times-Mirror newspapers.