Deby LaPlante
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Deborah C. Smith | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | Deborah C. Lansky April 3, 1953 (age 72) Trenton, Michigan, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Deborah C. "Deby" LaPlante (née Lansky, in second marriage Smith, also Sweezey ; born April 3, 1953) is an American retired female track and field athlete. She competed in the hurdles event. She twice won a medal at the Pan American Games during her career.
LaPlante was national outdoor champion in the 100 meter hurdles in 1978 and 1979 and indoor in the 60 yards hurdles in 1976 and 1978 (she was also second and the leading American in 1975).[1]
LaPlante set her personal best in winning women's 100m hurdles title on June 16, 1979, clocking 12.86s in Walnut, California. This at the time set a new national record.
In 1977, LaPlante won gold in the 100m hurdles at the Pacific Conference Games.[2]
Later in 1979 on the 25 August, LaPlante was fourth in the 100m hurdles event at the IAAF Athletics World Cup representing the United States.[1]
LaPlante is credited with a world best times for the 60y hurdles of 7.97s and 7.53s in 1978.[3]
LaPlante also competed for the United States in an annual competition against the Soviet Union. In this she won four bronze medals in the 100m hurdles in 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1978.[2]
Olympics
In 1972, LaPlante as Deby Lansky, was fourth in her qualifying heat at the Olympic Trials in the 100m hurdles.
In 1976, LaPlante was second in the Olympic Trials in the 100m hurdles and subsequently finished 6th in her semi-final at the Olympics.
In 1980, LaPlante fell at the 9th hurdle of the final of the 100m hurdles at the Olympic Trials not finishing the race and so not making the team.
In 1984, LapLante, then known as Deby Smith, reached the semi-finals of the Olympic Trials so not making the team.[4]
Personal Life
Born as Deby Lansky, Lansky married Fred LaPlante after meeting him at Eastern Michigan University, although they later divorced.[1][5]
In 1977, both Deby and Fred LaPlante worked at Columbia University, she as secretary, he as a coach at the University and also his wife's personal coach.[6][7]
Later they moved to San Diego State University from 1979-83, where Fred was coach of track and field.[5]
Awards and Accolades
In 1992, LaPlante as Deby Sweezey (La PLante) was voted to the San Diego State University Hall of Fame.[8]
LaPlante has also been inaugurated into the Michigan Track and Field Hall of Fame.[9]
Masters Athletics
Deby LaPlante Sweezey later competed in Masters Track and Field winning the 1995 World Masters Championship (W40) in the hurdles.[10] 1993 Deby held the Masters W40 World Record in the 80 meter hurdles.[11]
Rankings
LaPlante was ranked among the best in the US and the world in the 100 m hurdles from 1976 to 1984, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.[12]
| Year | World rank | US rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | - | 2nd |
| 1977 | - | 2nd |
| 1978 | - | 1st |
| 1979 | 8th | 1st |
| 1980 | - | 2nd |
| 1981 | - | - |
| 1982 | - | - |
| 1983 | - | - |
| 1984 | - | 8th |
References
- ^ a b c "Deby LaPlante". "olympedia.com". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Debbie LaPlante". Athletics Podium. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Staff, SI. "A roundup of the week Jan. 9-15". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ "US Olympic Trials History". Track and Field News.
- ^ a b Sauerhaft, Roger (22 January 2009). "Hurdle Master: Fred LaPlante brings "incredible" technical expertise to lead post". Michigan Daily. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ^ "Columbia Spectator, Volume CII, Number 55, 8 December 1977: Deby LaPlante: almost a CU hero". Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ "Columbia Spectator, Volume CII, Number 61, 31 January 1978". Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ San Diego State Univ. [1] Retrieved Dec 28, 2020
- ^ "The Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame". mitchtrack.org. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ 1995 World Masters Championship. Page 76 of 99. [2] Retrieved Dec 28, 2020
- ^ National Masters News, May 1997 Page 21 of 44. [3] Retrieved Dec 28, 2020
- ^ "World Rankings — Women's 100H" (PDF). Track and Field News. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
External links
- Deby LaPlante at World Athletics
- Debbie LaPlante (née Lansky, Smith) at trackfield.brinkster.net
- Deborah C. "Debbie" LaPlante at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- World Masters Championship
- Masters W40 80 metres hurdles world record progression