West Virginia Isn't the Place to Be

From what I can see, Canada is on the list for sure.  In addition to Matt Lincoln and Casimir Loxsom heading to Vancouver for the Harry Jerome Track Classic on Canada Day (Monday July 1), Mac Fleet worked out with Cas yesterday and took this picture:

Cas Loxsom lacing them up. Photo by Mac Fleet.

Maybe Kansas is near the top of the list too.  Here's Tyler McCandless, posing with Coach John Lucas's favorite Olympic athlete, Billy Mills.  Tyler won the Double Road Race in Overland this weekend.  That's a 10K and then a 5K.  Tyler's time of 30:16/14:57 is the new World Best in the event.

Billy Mills with Tyler McCandless.

Or maybe the place to be is Istanbul!  Here's Phil Passen with his wife Priscilla at the bridge between Europe and Asia.  Priscilla is from South America, so that's 4 Continents in one photo, so to speak. Phil's travels often leave ME exhausted!

Phil Passen and his wife Priscilla.

Meanwhile I'm enjoying the 1/2G* (as apposed to 3G or 4G) internet service of beautiful West Virginia.  I started this post yesterday, but it's just getting done now....

*I deem the internet service in WV "C" service, which is 1/2 of "G" or thereabouts.

Billy Mills, Billy Mills, BILLY MILLS

Billy Mills gave a talk yesterday prior to the Marine Corps Marathon that was really inspiring.  When America wants to promote its heroes for the rest of the world to see, Billy would be a great choice.  Check out the story in the Washington Post for a little pick-me-up in the Motivation Department.  (And he golfs too!)

The last person Billy passed at the 1964 Olympic 10,000 M Final was Mohammed Gammoudi.  I've had the pleasure of hearing from both men via Facebook after they were featured on our humble little blog.  I'll send this post along to them also.  Both are cordially invited to golf with us anytime!  Our very own Olympic Order Historian, Coach John Lucas called this race the best Olympic moment he witnessed in his over 50 year Olympic obsession.  That's some powerful stuff.  As is Mr. Mills.  (Mohammed got his Olympic Gold 4 years later!)

Humble Blog Garners Increasing Attention

It's a pleasure to have a friend in the entire Penn State Track and Field / Cross Country Program.  When the organizers of the Harry Groves Tournament convened in 2002, no one had any inkling that anything like it would ever occur.  Everyone wins, that's for sure.

Our humble group garnered a full page in the recent newsletter from the Team.  Three of the original members of the group are mentioned as winners of the 10th Annual Tourney; Founder Clark Haley, Paul "Ironbutt" Mundy and Steve "Finally" Shisler.  With them in the photo is curator of "PSU is 800 U" Coach John Gondak.

Also included was a photo of Coach Dr. John Lucas revealing his top moments from the last 50 years of the Olympics, all witnessed by himself!  For those interested, it was Billy Mills' come-from-behind victory in the 10,000 M race in Tokyo in 1964.  When I wrote to Mr. Mills to let him know about it he was quite pleased and sent us a nice note himself.

Check out the entire newsletter and sign up as a Friend of the Program at the link above.  Every little bit of enthusiasm and funds really does make a big difference.  Seeing PSU Track (and Field!) grow in stature each year is quite pleasurable; joining in yourself is even better.

The Olympic Order in Happy Valley

Very few of the highest honor the Olympics bestow have been given out.  One of them went to former PSU Coach and preeminent Olympic scholar of the 20th Century, Dr. John Lucas.  We were lucky enough to entice Dr. Lucas to our Friday night reception with the help of fellow Olympian Greg Fredericks.  Dr. Lucas then regaled us with a short lecture on the greatest moments in his Olympic experience.  As it turns out, the number one moment for him was the 10,000 M victory of Billy Mills in Tokyo in 1964.  Here's a photo of the beautiful Olympic Order necklace and a color video of Billy Mills' race.  (Billy Mills, Billy Mills, Billy Mills.)

Great Performance #3: A Surprise

Having ignored all 10 of my readers, and all 20 or so votes in the poll, Greg Frederick's 1972 American Record 10K in 28:08.0 has been selected as the third in our series of Great Performances. Included is the July 1972 cover of Track and Field News. The other photo is of Greg at the Penn Relays, prepping for the OlympicTrials eight years later. (I will one day spit on the grave of Jimmy Carter.) It boggles my mind how hard it would be to continue at such a high level for a whole decade. Greg truly is special. (I think I could take him in a round of eighteen holes though!)

Greg was a newcomer and somewhat reluctant 10,000 meter runner in 1972. At the AAU Championships leading up to the Olympic Trials, Greg was among the top level of runners. Among the others were Jack Bacheler, Frank Shorter, Jeff Galloway and Tom Laris. Easing into the first mile at 4:30, Frank Shorter was later miffed that no one was willing to share the pace. When the second mile passed in 9:04, Shorter decided to try to run away with the race, owing to the relative finishing speed of the others. Laris, Greg, and Bacheler stayed with Shorter, with Greg passing 6 miles in 27:21.8 (a PR and collegiate record). Greg blazed the last 220 yards in 26.6 and the final 440 in 55.2! (Remember you"youngins"- 440 yards is longer than 400 meters).

At the time, his American Record was 12th on the All-Time World List, better than Billy Mills and Gerry Lingren's previous bests (both 10000 meters and 6-mile equivalent). Now a Systems Analyst at PSU's Applied Research Laboratory, Greg will attempt to golf at this year's Harry Groves Memorial Tournament and will bring many friends with him.

He Can't Possibly Pull That Off!

Rob Whiteside brings us this juicy video of the 1972 Munich Olympic 800 meter finals. Watch it three or four times and you will still swear Dave Wottle can't win that race. A tip of the cap to a man with a pair of pickle jars (as Coach would say). 53 second first lap and then a sub-51!


Another one I find to be even more astounding is Billy Mills finish at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic 10,000 meter finals. Ron Clarke and Mohammed Gammoudi probably still don't see him coming yet!