Randy Lightfoot was a record-setting hurdler in 1970s

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Randall Lee "Randy" Lightfoot, a record-setting hurdler . He grew up in Plainview, graduating from Plainview High School in 1971. An outstanding athlete, Randy won the Texas Class 4A 120-yard high hurdles in 1971 at Austin's Memorial Stadium in a time of 13.5 seconds, at that time tying a national high school record. He later had a time of 13.4 at a meet in Chicago.

He was named all-state in 1969, '70 and '71 and by the time of his graduation he had established or tied six national prep records in the hurdles and was recognized as 1971 National High School Prep Champion in the 120 highs. In 1972, he was named National Juniors Champion in the 110-meter highs.

In 1972, at a banquet in New York City, he was among several recipients of an award by the Benrus watch company for significant achievements regarding time and longevity.

Receiving a scholarship to the University of Texas, he won the hurdles in the inaugural Southwest Conference Indoor Track Meet in 1972 and tied the school record of 13.6 outdoors.

Randy was sports editor of the Plainview Daily Herald from 1981-83, then a sportswriter for the Odessa American for three years, including coverage of the highly successful Odessa Permian High School football program. He later worked in the news department of the paper.

He earlier had been a sportswriter in Pampa and Borger and head track coach at West Texas A&M in Canyon for one year.
Randall Lee "Randy" Lightfoot was a renowned hurdler who grew up in Plainview and graduated from Plainview High School in 1971. Randy was an exceptional athlete who won the Texas Class 4A 120-yard high hurdles in 1971, at Austin's Memorial Stadium, in a time of 13.5 seconds. This time tied a national high school record at that time, and he later set a new personal record of 13.4 seconds at a meet in Chicago.