After winning both the AAU and Final Trials 400m in 1976, Maxie Parks placed no better than fifth at the Olympics. He made ample amends in the relay when his anchor leg of 45.0 clinched the gold medals for the United States. Parks attended UCLA but was never a major force in the NCAA championships, his highest placing in the 440y being third in 1974. Parks continued to run after Montréal and made the 1977 World Cup team. At that meet, he was anchoring the 1,600m relay team to what appeared to be a runaway victory when he collapsed on the track with a severely pulled hamstring. He never competed again.
Personal Best: 400 – 44.82 (1976).
