a little history, a little humor

To vault, or jump, that is the question… “The funniest thing I have seen was Connie Varneck, the high jumper, competing in the pole vault in the 1951 AAU decathlon. Having no experience at vaulting, Connie trotted down the runway, threw the pole aside, and high jumped over the bar. He cleared 5’9” that way and picked up 234 points for his troubles.”  –Bert Nelson, co-founder, Track & Field News
 –“of People and Things,” by Bert Nelson-Track & Field News, June, 1958
 
Jackie against…who? … Jackie Joyner-Kersee broke the heptathlon world record three times before winning the 1988 Seoul (South Korea) Olympics. She was so good that her coach-husband (Bob) made up an opponent for her, “Wilhelmina world record.” Jackie won the gold medal and beat “Wilhelmina” by breaking the world record again.
-“Strange But True Facts About the Olympics”, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Olympic Double Issue, July, 1996
    
Has anyone ever done this to the Mounties? … In 1955 Rafer Johnson, then a UCLA freshman and later the1956 Olympic decathlon runner-up and 1960 Olympic champion, entered six events against traditionally powerful Mt. San Antonio College and won ALL six events-high hurdles, broad jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, and discus. Later that season he scored 25 points in six events to lead the Bruin freshman over the rival USC freshmen. He finished his first year at UCLA holding or tied eight freshman records, including the world decathlon mark at 7,983pts. (old tables). His 14.0 high hurdle PR tied the NCAA freshman record.
     Johnson also anchored the Bruin mile relay to a national frosh mile relay record of 3:15.4. 
-UCLA 1956 Track & Field media guide
               

Salute the Champions

Coach Knuth Looks at Great California Community College Athletes of the Past and Their Impact on the Cross Country and Track & Field World

                Fullerton’s Rick Sloan
       Anaheim HS/ Fullerton CC/ UCLA   Olympian … the fourth American to score 8000 pts. 

  • Rick Sloan, who worked with international coaching guru Tom Tellez at Fullerton CC, 1966-67, came to UCLA with best marks of 16-1 and 6-9 ¾”.  He was the first Bruin to high jump 7-0 and was an All-American in the pole vault.
  • A UCLA co-captain his senior year Sloan became a 1968 Olympic decathlete-7th place at the Mexico City Games; he was ranked fourth in the USA in 1967; and second in 1968-69. His best decathlon was 8,051 points-fourth American to score 8000. Sloan held the world decathlon event records at 16-7 in the pole vault, 6-11 ¾” in the high jump.
  • As Washington State’s head track and field coach since 1994 Rick is considered one of our country’s top decathlon coaches and worked with Olympic decathlon champion Dan O’Brien and 7-8 Olympic (’84) high jumper Doug Nordquist (Fullerton CC/ currently Fullerton CC HJ coach).
    Rick started his coaching career at Pasadena CC where he coached Greg Tinnin, the 1972 State Meet MVP (14.0-HH, 7-0-HJ). Rick then assisted at Mt. SAC for one year before becoming full-time assistant coach at Washingt