Career
He remains the current world record holder because the event has not been run frequently by elite athletes since the early 1960s. Both brothers were inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1977. On April 2, 1960, in a dual meet against Louisiana State University, the 20-year-old hurdler ran a time of 21.9 for the straight 220 yard low hurdles—which is slightly longer (2012 meters) than the metric distance recognized worldwide.
That time has not been surpassed since.
1960 is the last year the IAAF recognized the world record in the 200 meter low hurdles. The previous mark of 22.5 was held by Karl Martin Lauer, the German Olympic hurdler, over the metric distance.
As were all marks from that era, it was recorded by three hand stopwatches, as opposed to today"s Fully Automatic Timing (FAT). The fastest FAT time recorded is now 22.30 (with a wind of -06 mps) set on May 16, 2010 by Andy Turner set at the Manchester City Games in a specially arranged race, but using standard conversion, Styron"s mark is still superior.
Turner beat a time by Olympian Laurent Ottoz of Italy in 1995.
Two weeks after the 21.9, Styron ran 22.2 in Abilene, a week later a 22.3 in Baton Rouge, two more weeks later a 22.2 in Natchitoches, a week after that 22.3 in Lake Charles, then a 22.1 at the Modesto Relays, equal to the #2 time ever recorded by Elias Gilbert without a wind gauge. Styron"s run had wind gauge recording he ran into a headwind, -0.9 mps. A year later he equaled that performance at the same track.
In all, Styron holds 9 of the top 18 hand times recorded during that era.
Two other people making that top list finished second to Styron, both were Olympic medalists, Dick Howard and Irvin Roberson. Styron did not get the opportunity to run for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, 1959 was the last year the event was held.
Traditionally, the event was not held in Olympic years. Styron finished 6th in the 400 meter hurdles at the 1960 Olympic Trials.
He remained a nationally ranked hurdler until 1962, tying the American record in the indoor 60 yard hurdles at 7.0.
In 1962 he was rated as the best all around hurdler.
