Education
In 1983, Phillips finished fifth in the 400 m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Championships.
In 1983, Phillips finished fifth in the 400 m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Championships.
Phillips spent most of his career in the shadow of his idol, Edwin Moses, frequently as runner up during Moses" unequaled winning streak. He managed to beat him once, at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. In 1988, Phillips lost to Moses at the Olympic trials, but showed a good pace at Olympics, winning his heat and semifinal.
The two times currently still rank them as the #5 and #6 performers of all time.
Although Moses ran his fastest Olympic final, he finished only third in a time of 47.56. In 2009, Phillips was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. in 36.43.
He continues to hold the 300 IH (Intermediate Hurdles) hurdle record at Silver Creek at 37.1 secretary He joins 1976 4x100 metres relay Gold medalist, and individual 200 metres Silver medalist Millard Hampton, in one of the rare instances (the school claims only eight exist) of two unrelated Olympic Gold Medalists coming from the same high school.
Silver Creek continues to host the "Hampton Phillips Classic" named in their honor.