The "Other" Reunion Was Also A Success

The Womens teams from the 70s have been getting together for longer than our group started by Clark Haley in 2002.  They have a triennial get-together and just staged their 9th one on this past weekend in Happy Valley.  I promised no math on the blog, so I won't try to figure out when that started! I am acquainted with many of them.  Some of them have also attended our events, and all of them should know how much we would like to see them at our future events.  Remember, the golf is optional, but highly recommended!  The only requirement is mirth!

Front row L to R
Liz Berry Larsen, Janet Norem, Mary Rawe Rapp, Peggy Cleary McKay
 
Back row
Sandy Miller, Sue Hawkins DeHart, Maria Lonnett Burgess, Tina Leatherman Jones, Sandy Alexander, Penny Fales Kramer, Carolyn Ihrig, Magda Kubasiewicz, Kris Bankes Jacoby, Donna Gardner Rowland
(Missing from photo- Liz Cunningham Kisenwether) 

Meeting with Coach Gondak.

A Berkey Creamery stop.

1980 Marked The Virtual End Of The AIAW: (With Movie and Song!)

The Organization persisted for 2 years and some teams even ran in both Championships.  But for all intents the NCAA sucker punched the AIAW in a bitter street fight  (and Here) and stole everything. Title IX played a role in the demise of the female-only organization.

But Penn State was there on the line in Seattle, Washington at the 1980 AIAW Cross Country Championships, finishing in 4th place.

1. Heather Carmichael          24th    17:42
2. Mary Rawe                       26th    17:44
3. Peggy Cleary                    62nd    18:14
4. Patty Murnane                  66th     18:16
5. Natalie Updegrove           69th     18:18
6. Doreen Startare              155th     18:58
7. Magda Kubasiewicz       193rd    19:29 

This adds Mary Rawe to the ranks of the Greatest PSU Women Cross Country runners.  (One of the main reasons I was persistent in getting these complete results!)   The Final Rankings will be coming soon!
Top Movies 1980:

1. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back  (now Episode 5)    "Luke, I am your father."
2. Raging Bull     "You didn't get me down, Ray." (meaning Sugar Ray Robinson beat him to a pulp, but he never went down.)
3. Airplane     "Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?"

Top Songs 1980:

1. Call Me - Blondie 
2. Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd 
3. Magic - Olivia Newton-John 

 

Another Third Place In The AIAW Championships: 1979

Top Movies 1979:

1. Apocalypse Now   " I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
2. Alien     " The pit is completely enclosed. And it's full of leathery objects, like eggs or something."
3. Mad Max     "I am the Nightrider. I'm a fuel injected suicide machine. I am the rocker, I am the roller, I am the out-of-controller!"

Top Songs 1979:

1. My Sharona - The Knack
2. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
3. Le Freak - Chic 

Two Nittany Lions placed in the top 10 of the 1979 AIAW Cross Country Championships.  Fourth place finisher Kathy Mills was joined by Heather Carmichael in 8th place.  The team finished in third behind first time winner North Carolina State and Oregon.

This cements Patty Murnane's name on the listing of Greatest PSU Womens XC Runners. Coming Soon.

Movies Were Still Better Than The Songs In 1978: AIAW Results Keep Coming!

There was a lot of opposition to having the 1978 Championships at altitude when Colorado submitted its bid at the 1977 AIAW race.  But somehow, they got the bid anyway (sound familiar!?).  It paid off for Colorado only with the individual win by Mary Decker.  The race turned out to be a good one anyway, with the Penn State Women ending up in third place overall.

Notice the fine finish by honorary Alum Martha White Collins for Virginia! And our first mention of Sue Hollick (Crowe) on these pages.  Did you know that I was responsible for Sue joining the team.  Just as I was instrumental in getting the Wolfe twins to join us!  (Scout's Honor)

Patty Murnane Nosack just misses out on being included in the pantheon of "Greatest" PSU XC runners.  But never fear, there is 2 years of results to come!

 Top Songs 1978:

1. Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
2. Night Fever - The Bee Gees
3. You Light Up My Life - Debbie Boone

 With Apologies to all!!!!



Top Movies 1978:

1. Grease   "Grease is the word."
2. Superman    "You'll believe a man can fly."
3. Animal House   "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

Another 2 Promises Kept! The 1980 Olympic Trials Video Is For Sale!

I promised former Olympian Javelin Thrower Duncan Atwood I would promote his efforts to put his personal 1980 Olympic Trials Videos together on DVD.  I may have been his first customer for that!  He has a lot of stuff for you javelin people out there.  And PSU has quite a few great javelin tossers too.  So check out his site.  As a new Friend of the Group (and Honorary member), I have linked his site on the right sidebar.

Duncan Atwood, 2 time Olympian.

The Video of the running events garnered much interest from the attendees at our Reunion meet and greet last Friday at LettermanS.  Coach Groves liked it a lot, as he was there trackside with many Nittany Lions competing on those days in 1980.  The videos are an eclectic mix which will bring a smile to just about every track fan out there, regardless of era. The short shorts, high socks, and afros of the disco era will make you chuckle.  When you see the mustache on Greg Fredericks on the Awards stand, you'll be tempted to shoot Dr. Pete's Recovery Drink from your nose!  Anne Fredericks even had to hold back as the rest of us gently nudged Greg and bought another round!

In addition to a brief glimpse of Mariel Hemingway in the days of the making of the movie Personal Best, you see glimpses of Nittany Lions Greg Fredericks, Larry Mangan, Peggy Cleary, Kris Bankes and Liz Berry. The interviews of athletes, coaches and others at the end are great too.

Buy your copy of the 1980 Olympic Trials Here

Mariel Hemingway, Scott Glen in Personal Best.