Ran into Rob Baker last weekend, a 1991 Navy Track and XC alum from Plymouth NY. The only other coach in America who has more tenure and (almost) as many bona fides as Coach Groves is Al Cantello of Navy. A 1960 Olympian, Coach Cantello once held the world record for the javelin despite having less than stellar technique. He would essentially run up to the line, throw, and crumple into a heap, hoping to not cross the line (I'm barely exaggerating!) I attended his and decathlon expert Frank Zarnowski's running camp two straight years (along with Alberto Salazar one year, who had just beaten the Soviets at the Junior USA-USSR meet.) I bet Coach has a few stories he can tell about Coach Cantello at next year's outing. Rob says he still wears his Olympic uniform for practice one day a year!
Rob was a member of the 1991 XC team that lost 5 members in an horrific car accident at training camp in York County. Rob just missed getting to the camp in time to jump in the car for a trip to the grocery. They too have reunions (better attended than ours!) and still invite the parents of the five to attend. His high school times were almost identical to mine. Rob has restored a one-of-a-kind 1958 Airstream 30-footer. A beauty beyond belief! He has just a couple of months until he joins us poor schlubs in the civilian world. I forgot to ask if he golfs. Visit his blog by clicking on this post's title.
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