a little history, a little humor

First gold medal by black African woman… The first Olympic Games

10,000-meter race for women was held at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Derartu Tulu of Africa won the race becoming the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Elana Meyer, a white South African, was second and she and Tulu ran the victory lap together.

-“The Best of Running” Runner’s World, May 2003

     Like greyhounds chasing mechanical rabbits… Pacing lights, 8-yards apart circled the inside of the track at ITA’s indoor professional meets in 1973. The lights were programmed to light up in turn at whatever pace was desired. Jim Ryun, multi-world record middle distance runner and the first high school runner to break the four minute mile barrier, lost $250 “because the pacer light beat me. I felt ridiculous chasing a light around the track rather than a man.”  -T&F News, March II, 1973

*California comunity college alums Bob Seagren (Mt. SAC), Warren Edmonson (Merritt), and Bob Messina (Golden West) competed in the pro circuit