1972
...runs 9.8 in tennis shoes and cut off jeans. (8th grade)

1974
- runs 9.4, sets nat'l sophomore record (10th grade)

1975 
- Football, rushes for 1380 yds on 96 carries & 16 TDs
- March 4, wins US-USSR meet in Richmond, VA, 60 yards in 6.0 seconds
- May 9, 1975, matches world record with 9.0 in 100 yard dash 
- May 15, 1975 first SI feature story 
- October, races the horse (11th grade)

1976
- Ali buys the McTears a house, $30,000
- Finishes 2nd in olympic trials, but pulls a hamstring;left off the US olympic team

1977
- Summer, wins 7 of 8 races in Europe

1978
- Undefeated in indoor season. Houston: "I don't think I can be beat."
- January, 1st annual Muhammad Ali Invitational; beats world-class field
- May, AAU Championships at Madison Square Garden; breaks own world record in the 60

1980
- January 5, runs 6.38 60 meters, world record
- Russia invades Afghanistan, olympics boycotted
- Jimmy Carter invites Olympians to the White House. Houston doesn't go.