text: who is ira murchinson. the guy that ran track? he ran the 100m at the olympics bac in 1940's or 1950's ira james murchison (february 6, 1933 - march 28, 1994) was an american athlete, winner of the gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1956 summer olympics.  born in chicago, illinois, ira murchison was noted for his exceptional speed from the starting block, which earned him a nickname human sputnik.  before the melbourne olympics, murchison equalled twice the 100 m world record of 10.2 and ran in berlin a new world record of 10.1, thus becoming one of the favourites to win the 100 m olympic gold medal. but at melbourne, murchison managed to finish only in a disappointing fourth place. he also ran the leadoff leg of the 4x100 m relay team for the united states, and helped the american team to a gold medal in a world record time of 39.5.  in 1957, murchison repeated the 100 yd world record of 9.3 and, as a western michigan university student, won the 1958 ncaa championships in 100 yd. at the 1963 pan american games, murchison finished third in the 100 m and helped the american 4x100 m relay team to win a gold medal.  ira murchison died in harvey, illinois, aged 61.