Wednesday, July 22, 2009

GOLDEN STATE'S BEST HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS FROM THE '60s THRU '80s KEEP TRACK OF EACH OTHER AT STATEWIDE 'RUNNERS REUNITED II'

Amazing what you can find on the internet now. The following article courtesy of Track and Field News is about a reunion of past high school studs (and studette) that took place in mid July. Now most of the runners ran down south but there is one blast from the past that run up north and that is Rich Kimball (on the left in picture). He ran at Jesuit HS as a freshman and finished out his high school career at De La Salle HS. For those youngsters out there that have never heard of Rich Kimball, how does 1:51.1 (880yd), 4:02.4 (mile) and 8:46.6 (2 mile) in 1974 sound to you? Definitely one of the all-time greats!

You can read all about his accomplishments and all the other runners that attended at the following links. Amazing stuff.

GOLDEN STATE'S BEST HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS FROM THE '60s THRU '80s KEEP TRACK OF EACH OTHER AT STATEWIDE 'RUNNERS REUNITED II'

ATTENDEES' PERSONAL BEST RACE TIMES IN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL

TRANSCRIPTS OF ON-CAMERA INTERVIEWS

So if we were to hold a similar reunion for Northern California distance runners, who would be invited along with Mr. Kimball? Boys and girls please. No limit to the numbers that can be invited.

13 comments:

just another runner said...

Francie Larrieu = HUGE one

Patti Sue Plumer, Polly Plumer

Ceci St. Geme (hey, some Norcal connection there)

Matt Gusto

Rebecca Chamberlain

just another runner said...

Oh, and Cory Schubert... amazing races at the state meet back in the 80s

just another runner said...

Wait thought of more...

Amber Trotter

Julia Stamps

Sara Bei (or is that too recent since she's still competing as a pro)

Kristen Gordon (17:01 at Woodward among other accomplishments)

Albert Caruana said...

Excellent start.

I definitely remember Matt Giusto in high school as we were both in the same league (PAL, not league if you know what I mean.)

He still has one of the fastest times on the crystal springs course and won the Kinney (sponsor then) national cross country championship in 1983 after finishing 3rd in the Western Regional.

just another runner said...

How many FL champions has Norcal had (some of the runners were before FL times though)?

Giusto, Sara Bei, Amber Trotter, Marden?

Anonymous said...

Ummm... ever heard of Jordan Hasay?

Albert Caruana said...

I don't think Jordan counts as Northern CA...but she is definitely one of the all time greats...maybe #1.

East Bay said...

How about Roy Kissin and Scott Bauhs? The first having run 8:52 for 3200 & 4:16 for 1600. And I think most people know about Scott Bauhs

Young sung Leal, the legend from Arroyo. Another possible invitee. Yosef Ghebray as well, he had a stellar career at James Logan.

And, last, but certainly not least. Why hasn't German Fernandez been mentioned yet? As far as I'm concerned he is the best runner ever to come out of Northern California from High School. Period.

Anonymous said...

Tsk, tsk Albert... I thought you read Letsrun. And what about Caitlin Chock?

Albert Caruana said...

Caitlin Chock is another good one. Definitely had quite a senior year.

Anonymous said...

Laurynne Chetelat

Jordan Hasay is so Norcal.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember a guy named Ron Larrieu, Francie's oldest bro? I belive he was a state mile champion in the mid 50s, was he not? And an Olympian?

grep brock said...

Greg Brock says, Ralph Gamez, Berkeley High School. State Meet 2 mile champ 65,66. Anyone remember Marie Mulder?

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