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Running Shots Hulst Archives courtesy of Sharon (Eric's mom) |
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Eric Hulst.... His-Story. He put Laguna Beach High School (the Artists) on the national distance running map for preps. The Laguna Beach legend was always at the head of the pack, recognizable for his muscular size and striking red hair. He set a relentless pace and ground down the opposition. He was big enough, and strong enough to easily play football. |
| As an eighth grader, Eric Hulst was sure that his athletic career was in tennis. Over the summer Eric was enrolled in tennis camp. The schooling paid off in February when he made the Laguna Beach high varsity team as a freshman, playing on the second doubles team. But by then Eric Hulst's tennis career was almost over. It would last another couple of weeks before he would officially turn in his racquet to become a full-time runner on the track team. Hulst's metamorphosis from tennis player to distance runner began in September. |
It all started in August. Coach Len Miller asked one of his incoming ninth graders, Glen Richardson, if he knew of any friends who might be interested in coming out for the cross country team. He said he had a neighbor, Eric, who ran around the neighborhood a lot to get in shape for tennis. Glen talked to him and Eric decided he'd give running a try. He'd never done any competitive running. Eric's first workout was a 12-mile run, an out and back course. Eric was impressive, at the halfway point, the team stopped to rest but Eric was the only one who ran the whole way. |
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In pre league workouts, Eric proves to be a blue chip prospect. For a time trial, Eric stepped on the Laguna Beach high school cross country home course, located above Countryman's Estates, and promptly breaks the freshman record by 12 seconds, recording a 12:29, which he lost in the last step to Jeff Tensfeldt, a senior. The Laguna Beach cross country (Artists) team is led by seniors Tensfeldt and Karl Weber. |
September 23, 1972 Laguna Beach @ Corona Del Mar Invite. Eric's first race -Frosh-Soph. Inspired by Dave Wottle, Eric wears a white-cap. Eric sets a new course record for freshman, breezing home with a 11:04 clocking, 40 seconds ahead of second place. Eric is Varsity from this point on. |
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September 29, 1972 - Laguna VS Servite @ Laguna Beach - Varsity - CR 11:55 Prickett Eric (White cap, look close) begins to move up. In his first varsity race, the freshman, outsprinted team mate Jeff Tensfeldt for the first place finish. Eric's time on the hilly Laguna Beach home course was 11:57, a half second ahead of Tensfeldt, who dueled Hulst for the last 100 yards to the finish line. Hulst's time was a mere two seconds off the course record, set last year by Joe Prickett! 1) Hulst 11:57, 2) Tensfeldt 11:57.5, 3) Weber 12:29. |
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(L-R) Tensfeldt, Weber &, Hulst. |
| The rest of the Laguna Beach XC Schedule. |  |
October 5, 1972 - Laguna VS Dana Hills @ Laguna - Eric wins the Varsity race. 1) Hulst 12:14, 2) Tensfeldt 12:18, 3) Weber 12:24 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 7, 1972 5th Annual Kenny Staub Invite @ Glendale - Varsity CR 9:53 12) Weber 10:34, 13) Hulst 10:34 (Frosh-Soph CR / Old record 10:49), 14) Tensfeldt 10:43. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 12, 1972 -Double Duel - Laguna VS El Dorado & Brea @ Brea -CR 9:28 2) Weber 9:34, 3) Hulst 9:51, 4) Tensfeldt 9:58. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 14, 1972 -Pacific Invite (San Bernardino) 4) Weber 9:41, 6) Hulst 9:45, 8) Tensfeldt 9:49. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 21, 1972 -Orange County Meet @ UC Irvine 3) Weber. Six seconds back in 4th) Hulst, who breaks the previous frosh record by 20 seconds. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 28, 1972 -Mt Sac Invite. 2-miles, 100-yard course (2.06 miles). 3) Weber 10:47, 8) Tensfeldt 11:10, 11) Hulst 11:13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 2, 1972 -Double Duel -Laguna VS Sonora & Saddleback @ Laguna -CR 11:55 Joe Prickett 1) Weber 11:44 (New *CR by 11 seconds), 3) Hulst 11:51, 4) Tensfeldt 11:54 *CR on a slightly-modified course -Miller modified course to widen start area for three teams. Hulst & Tensfedt both topped old CR. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 9, 1972 -Double Duel Laguna VS Valencia & University @ University 2) Weber 10:19, 3) Hulst 10:31, 5) Tensfeldt 10:34 -The double duel caps the dual meet season a perfect record 9 wins 0 loses for the Laguna varsity team.
November 18, 1972 - Orange League Finals @ Marina High School *CR Ralph Serna 9:55 Despite the quick rise to the top of Eric Hulst there is no jealousy or animosity among the team - he's inspired them. With the addition of Eric Laguna's Cross Country Team wins the Orange League title, the first undisputed varsity title for Laguna Beach in five years. 3) Weber 10:20, 5) Hulst 10:27, 11) Tensfeldt-10:42, 12) Mark Sweeney 10:44, 16) David Peden-10:51. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ November 25, 1972 CIF Prelims @ Mt Sac, 2-miles, 100-yard course (2.06 miles). 3) Weber, Eric places 8th. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ November 27, 1972 -School Assembly honoring Laguna Beach Cross Country team Eric sets a Nat'l age-group record with a 15:18.3 three-mile clocking to highlight the assembly. The time chops almost 10 seconds off the old 14-year-old record of 15:25.0. Hulst went through the mile at 4:52 and 2M at 10:06, paced the first seven laps by Karl Weber. Hulst ran the last five laps alone. Courtesy of Hulst Archives |
| December 2, 1972 -CIF Championship Meet @ Mt Sac - 2-miles, 100-yard course (2.06 miles). |
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AA- Division Freshman Eric Hulst blazes to a 5th place finish in 10:46, one step and one second behind was senior Karl Weber, who was running his last high school cross country race. The race was won by Pat Dutzi (El Dorado) in 10:17.4. |
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*In the "AAAA" Division (Large Schools) A Sophomore makes a big splash taking 3rd behind seniors Terry Williams and Curtis Beck. His name: Ralph Serna. |
Prior to entering Loara High School (a 3 year HS): Serna roars a 4:19.7 mile, a CIF frosh record. Ralph was invited to run in the High School Mile at the Vons Classic (6/9/72). Serna is 7th place behind the 4:04.2 of Curtis Beck (Santa Monica). |
FRESHMAN TRACK Laguna Beach High School, the school record for two miles is 9:51.7 by Dave Hustwick (1970). The long standing school record for the mile at Laguna Beach HS is by Lynn Watkins. 1973 -Laguna Beach high school gets new Varsity Running uniforms.
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1973 - Track Schedule ================ March 1, Afternoon The Laguna Beach Varsity Tennis Team downs Tustin, with points in the singles by Freshman Eric Hulst winning two matches before he returned to the track for... - - - - - - - - - - - - March 8 -El Dorado -rescheduled due to bad weather (April 25). - - - - - - - - - - - - Eric will be held out of his specialty, the two mile, where he already owns the school record, to concentrate on the mile, along with John Brockman (a junior) will aim for a 4:25 to break the school record. - - - - - - - - - - - - March 22, -Saddleback @ Laguna Beach -2M 1) Hulst 10:17 - - - - - - - - - - - - March 29, -Laguna Beach @ Valencia -2M -**Eric breaks his own school record by 13 seconds in the windy stadium. - - - - - - - - - - - - March 31, -Beach Cities Invite. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 5, -Sonora @ Laguna Beach - Eric doubles. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 6-7, Laguna Beach Trophy Meet, The 3-Mile is a special addition to the meet to allow Hulst the opportunity at a record. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 10, Eric is notified he will be featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of Sports Illustrated. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 12, University @ Laguna beach - Mile 1) Hulst 4:28.9 PB - - - - - - - - - - - - April 14, Upland Relays, Coach Miller requests for Hulst to be allowed the run with the large school competitors so he could match up with previously unbeaten Bob Krzyko of Upland. Permission is granted... - - - - - - - - - - - - April 16, Sports Illustrated issue is out with Eric on page 111. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 17, Glendale Relays, Hulst, running his second tough race within four days, suffers his first defeat at Two-Miles Tuesday night. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 25, Re-scheduled -Laguna Beach @ El Dorado -Hulst pulls off an easy (For him) distance double 2M 1) 9:54, Mile 1) 4:32. - - - - - - - - - - - - April 26, Laguna Beach @ Dana Hills. 1) 880 2:07.2. - - - - - - - - - - - - May 1, Orange League prelims 1) 4:27.6. - - - - - - - - - - - - May 4, Orange League Finals - - - - - - - - - - - -
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- - - - - - - - - - - - June ?, All-comers meet: Hulst doubled -2M 9:24 -35 minutes later ran the mile in 4:24.4. - - - - - - - - - - - - June 23, Nat'l Junior Meet, Gainesville Florida. **Eric averaged 60-75 miles a week. Courtesy of Hulst Archives |
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Sophomore Year - Cross Country -Courtesy of Hulst Archives |
Sept. 7, 1973. All-Comers meet @ UCI - just 8 days after the end of his freshman year... Irvine, Eric cracks the world 15-year-old standard for 6-Miles with a time of 30:44.3, then continued running to a world mark for 10,000 meters of 31:43.1! (The old marks were 32:06.4/33:55.2 the latter mark was 10 years old.
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Terry Williams (Lompoc) and Curtis Beck (Santa Monica) who dominated CIF prep cross country the last three years, have graduated but Ralph Serna (Loara) and Eric Hulst (Laguna) return to insure there will be no lack of talent the next three. Incoming junior Serna, in his first CIF cross country season last year (third behind Williams and Beck in 4-A championships). In the spring he ran a 4:13.2 mile, 9:17.8 and set a National Sophomore class record of 14:10.6 for three miles. Sophomore Hulst is on his way to becoming the best distance runner ever developed in Southern California. |
October 6, 1973 Kenny Staub Invitational @ La Crescenta Park in La Crescenta (2-Miles). Now a sophomore, Eric Hulst takes individual honors and sets a course record of 9:51.6 to edge Guy Arbogast of Crespi who ran 9:53.0 in the varsity small schools division. Eric was named the meet's outstanding runner. *Glendale's Bobby Thomas won the Large schools in 9:58.0. |
October 20, 7th Annual Orange Cross County Championships. The only xc meeting between the two. Loara High junior Ralph Serna won "The race of the unbeatens" defeating Laguna Beach's Eric Hulst in their featured showdown. Serna, who holds the National sophomore 3M record and Hulst who holds the National frosh records for 2M & 3M!!! Both had spectacular track records last spring and were both undefeated in XC this fall, this is the first time they have met in head-to-head competition. The race over the UC Irvine 2M course lived up to its advanced billing as the two ran stride for stride during the last half-mile. Serna had a stronger kick in the final 50 yards and that was the difference as he clobbered the course record with a 9:26 clocking. Hulst checked in at 9:30!! The previous course record was 9:41 set last year by Foothill's Larry Gerich. The race: Serna led a pack of 4 runners past the mile mark in 4:35. Hulst who appeared to be laboring in the early portion of the race, ran in 4th place until making a strong bid in the final half mile. Hulst, charged to the front and took the lead from Serna as the pair came onto the track for the final 300 yards. Serna let Hulst keep the lead until they came off the final curve and then sprinted past him for the win. |
October 27, 1973 -Walnut, Mt. Sac Cross Country Invitational, 2-miles, 100-yard course (2.06 miles). Lompoc high's Roger Fabing nips Laguna Beach sophomore Eric Hulst by a stride to post the fastest time of the day. Fabing, who withstood Hulst's furious challenge in the final 300 yards, clocking a 10:12 to Hulst's 10:13. Fabing moves to 4th on the all-time list on the hilly 2-mile Mt. Sac course, while Hulst's time equals the 5th fastest. Marina's Gary Blume led the race through the first mile, but tired badly after going up the rugged switchbacks encountered in the second half of the race. It was going up those switchbacks that Hulst took the lead only to lose it to Fabing as they started going downhill. (Photos: L-R -Fabing & Hulst @ Arcadia / Gary Blume). |
| ** Eric now averages 100 miles a week and is on a upper body weight training program.in addition to lifting everyday during lunch, he does 30 pushups before and after each running workout. |
November 8 - Orange League Finals |
| November 20, The 15-year old soph, Hulst sets a US age-15 and soph class records with a 14:51.0 5,000 meter run. |
November 24, Mt Sac. CIF Cross Country Semi-Finals. 2-miles, 100-yard course (2.06 miles). Laguna Beach's Eric Hulst was an easy victor in the first 2-A race as he romped to a 10:15 clocking, 12 seconds ahead of the runner-up. 4-A: Loara High junior Ralph Serna lost his first race of the year. It was Sunset League rival Gary Blume of Marina who ended Serna's long string of victories. Blume, running his best race of his high school career, was a convincing winner over Serna. For Blume, this victory was a complete reversal from his showing at the Mt. Sac Invite last month on this course. At Mt. Sac Blume was leading as he started up the steep, grueling switchbacks of the hill which dominates the final mile. It was as if he hit a stone wall for Blume quickly tired and fell far back. But against Serna this day Blume, who was leading by a stride as they started uphill, attacked the switch-backs aggressively and managed to open a six-to-eight yard lead by the time he reached the top. He built up the lead to 12 yards as they ran along the ridge. Blume stopped the clock at 10:03 while Serna finished with 10:20. Lompoc twosome Jim Schankel and Roger Fabing blitzed the first 3A field as they clocked 10:01 & 10:02 respectively. |
| Blume (Left) & Serna at Sunset League Finals. | Lompoc's Terry Williams, the Mt. Sac cross country course record holder at 9:48.0 and is the only runner to break 10 minutes. |
November 27, Still 15-years old, Hulst lowers his US age-15 and soph class records with a 14:32.8 at 5,000 & 3M best to 14:05.4! His 5,000 meter clocking breaks his own national age and class record (14:51.0) set last week, and shaved 10 seconds off the world mark of 14:42.8 set in 1970 by East Germany's Wolfgang Pieper. Hulst had mile splits of 4:40, 4:46, and 4:39.4 on his 3M run, running his last lap in 65.0. His final 880 was 2:16.4, He covered the final lap of the 5,000 in 68.0. |
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Sophomore, Kingery who clobbered the marathon record by 1½ minutes added the class record for 3 miles-14:12.2... *(Junior year photo) |
Only to have 4:13.2 (mile) soph Serna lower it to 14:10.6... | ...Until... 11-27-'73 -Soph, Hulst reduced it to 14:05.4 (3M), 14:32.8m (5k). |
December 1, CIF Cross Country Finals - Due to the rain storm which drenched runners and spectators alike, the races were run on a "rain course" through parking lots inside of on the hilly two-mile dirt course at Mt. San Antonio College. |
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| December 8, Hulst runs another good 3-Mile of 14:08.6. |
December 15, -Saturday Morning All-Comers meet @ UCI Irvine, Laguna Beach High School Sophomore Eric Hulst made an all-out assault at 6M/10,000 meters. The now 16-year-old distance star clocked 29:19.4 for six miles and continued on for a 30:12.8 time for 10,000 meters. Sophomore, Hulst moves to (then) 4th all-time for U.S. preps at 10,000 meters. |
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L.A. Times Indoor Games - "74 Hulst, a sophomore, edges the fast-closing Jim Schankel(Lompoc), a senior. Both timed in 8:58.4-- Eric's first sub-9. (Serna's in 3rd, 9:01.4.) Eric also becomes the first Soph to break 9 indoors. Another soph goes under 9 indoors that season -Rudy Chapa runs an 8:55.7. |
As a frosh in '73, Eric Hulst never would have been in the lead in either the mile or 2-mile but as a sophomore (above), Hulst was already a sub-9 minute two miler by outdoors, winning invitationals and doubling. Photos courtesy of Ken Ernst |
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The elite of Southern California showed up for the 7th annual Arcadia Invitational Track Meet, April 20, 1974. Photos courtesy of Ken Ernst |
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Hulst earlier doubled 4:16.4/9:00.6 at Beach Cities Inv. Both PR's. The Mile was first. **Schankel is also doubling. |
(L-R) Andy Clifford (Sunny Hills), Jim Schankel (Lompoc), Ralph Serna (Loara). |
1. Clifford - 4:07.1 2. Serna - 4:07.6 3. John Musich (Burbank)- 4:08.9 4. Schankel - 4:09.1 5. Hulst - 4:09.1 |
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| Hulst leads Mike Durham (Troy), Schankel and Bobby Thomas (Glendale). | At six laps - Schankel breaks away. |
On the 7th lap - Hulst rips a 66.5 to overtake Schankel. |
1. Hulst - 8:59.8 2. Schankel - 9:04.8 3. Thomas - 9:06.3 ** Thomas' previous best was 9:18.9!! |
Hulst races to the 2nd fastest times ever for a soph in both events!! The mile - Shy of Jim Ryun's soph class record of 4:07.8. 2M - Behind Craig Virgin's soph class record of 8:57.4. |
June 1, The 56th CA state meet. |
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The 2M turned into a marvelous race between Sophomore Hulst and World JR XC Champion Kimball. Kimball wins 8:46.6 to 8:50.5 enroute to unprecedented distance double. |
As a sophomore, Eric makes the junior track team, (10k) and was the youngest member of the National Team. Shown here: Hulst is leading in the US VS USSR Track duel meet. |
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| After second place finishes in 2 big meets (CA State & AAU Juniors), Eric decided the older guys had had enough. Austin, Tex., In the 10,000 meter run at the US-USSR Junior duel, a very determined Hulst brought a resounding roar from the crowd with a stunning last lap, busting open a close race for a 25m victory in 30:49.4. Eric calmly trotted to the water jump to cool off before his victory lap-the other three runners needing support when they finished. It was only his fourth time to run the event. |
Eric sets Nat'l Outdoor Track records for a Soph @ 2M (8:50.6); Steeple (9:24.6); 3M/5k (14:05.4/14:32.8); 6M/10k (29:19.4/30:12.8)!! |
Hulst vs Serna |
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Oct. 5, 1974 - Season Opener Laguna Beach Junior Eric Hulst wins the Varsity race @ Kenny Staub, with the days fastest time: 10:03.9(Two-miles). Eric was named the meet's outstanding runner for a second straight year. |
Oct 12, 1974 -Villa Park Classic - First CLASH of this 1974 XC season for Serna vs Hulst. |
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@ 1000m - Serna reaches the path first. (R) Unlike last year when Steve Scott (Upland, HS) squeezed through first. |
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Separating themselves from the field, the super preps duel it out. |
Serna makes a break. |
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Serna sprints away. |
1-Serna 9:48-obliterates his own course record. |
Hulst: 9:51. |
Mission Viejo Postal Meet (Replacing Westminster Postal)...3rd clash "74" XC season. |
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The start... |
400 yards... |
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1-Serna 8:56.0 (Nat'l Postal Record); 2-Hulst 9:00.2. |
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Laguna HS as a team did not qualify for CIF XC Finals, so... Eric ran the Nat'l Sr AAU XC Championships "74" @ Crystal Springs. The HS Junior places 40th!! |
1974 Mens National A.A.U. Cross Country Championships Saturday, November 30th, Belmont, CA. 10,000m (old course). 40 Eric Hulst ................31:41.0. A Few Other Participants 66 Roy Kissin ..............32:25.6. 68 Nick Rose ...............32:28.9. 75 Terry Williams...........32:39.3. 89 Thom Hunt................32:55.2. 117 Mitch Kingery............33:29.9. 166 Jim Schankel.............34:33.8. |
TRACK
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Hulst travelled north to San Jose CC. March 29, 1975 - San Jose Relays - 2 Mile 1) Eric Hulst 8:58.6 |
CA State Track Meet - 1975 Balboa Stadium, San Diego; Sat, June 7. |
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A "super" CA state-meet 2 mile "75." Eric Hulst (Laguna, Jr) runs the fourth-fastest clocking ever(8:44.9, in 75) but he had to run that fast to outkick Ralph Serna (Loara, Sr. -8:45.9) Above: Hulst is in the lead by the first lap (65.3). |
Hulst cruised past the mile in 4:20.8 with Serna and Mitch Kingery (San Carlos, Sr.) staying right behind. Kingery hung on until 660 to go before fading to 4th (8:57.3). Hulst led a 66.1 for the seventh circuit. |
Serna tried to pass Hulst, twice on the backstretch and once on the final bend, but each time Eric fought him off, and with 50y to go Serna could challenge no more. Eric increased his margin to 4y at the finish- last lap in 62.2. |
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1975
Super State: 2M Eric takes control of the race early. 1st lap 65.3. |
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Hulst cruised past the mile in 4:20.8 with Serna and Kingery (San Carlos) in close attendance. |
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Eric Ralph 67.8 1 1/4 67.8 |
Eric grinds to the finish. |
Eric crosses the line to win the CA state 2M. |
Finish. |
2M -Stats |
| Knoxville, Tenn., June 13-14, The AAU Junior Championships, where Eric doubled, running the 10,000m and the Steeplechase. |
Senior Year - With the graduation of Ralph Serna a new rival emerges. |
Fall - Saturday -Oct 25, 1975 -Walnut - Mt. Sac Invitational - 2-miles, 100-yard course (2.06 miles).- Varsity |
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| Thom Hunt ran in third position most of the race before challenging and passing Hulst in the last 200 yards. Hunt sets a course record of 9:45. Hulst's time was 9:47 also under the previous record by Terry Williams, 9:48. Don Moses (Crescenta Valley) was third at 9:51. |
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Dec 7, 1975, Culver City Marathon Hunt - 2:24:04 Hulst - 2:30:56 |
January 10, 1976 - Mission Bay Marathon - Eric Hulst takes one more shot to qualify for the Olympic Trials Marathon. |
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| Hulst went through the first 10 miles of the San Diego race in a quick 53 minutes! | Eric placed 13th, 2:27:25 - less than 4 minutes would separate him from running in the Olympic Trials (Sub 2:23) for the marathon that summer... But he can still possibly qualify for the Olympic Trials @ 10,000 meters. |
National Junior Cross Country Championships Jan 24, 1976 brought together many of the top distance runners to compete @ Irvine. Serna (UCI frosh) and Roy Kissin (Stanford frosh) made the team last year. Hulst and Salazar both made the U. S. junior track team which competed against Russia last summer. Serna the NCAA Div. II champ last fall, HS bests: 4:07.0, 8:45.9, 14:16.2 (Mile/2M/5k) Salazar is favored to win the race. The Wayland, MA HS senior was undefeated in cross country last fall, beat the Russians at 5k last summer with bests of 13:45.6, 14:14.6 (3M/5k). He finished 24th (29:39) in the AAU National Cross Country Championships last November. Hunt, the senior from Patrick Henry was also undefeated last fall, setting a course record each time out. Hunt has beaten Hulst 3 times during the current school year: Mt. Sac, a Marathon (Dec) & an Indoor 2Mile only 8 days ago (Hulst was upset by Don Moses in the mile the same evening! Hunt, the most versatile, 4:07.9, 8:56.4, 14.19.0, 29:46.0, 2:24:04 (Mile/2M/5k/10k/Marathon). Ron Craker (York, IL), a senior, clocked 8:51.8, 13:53.0, 2M/3M in postal competition last fall. Hulst the California State 2Mile champ at 8:44.9, has other bests of: 4:09.0, 14:32.8, 29:11.2, 2:30:56 (Mile/5k/10k/Marathon). |
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Hulst blitzes right from the start. Photos: Ted Brazil |
The course includes international-type barriers. |
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| Hulst, near the 1320, in which he burns the first mile in 4:24, over the pancake-flat Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course. | Hunt and Serna hang on. |
The following Photos: Steve Ernst |
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| At 1½ miles, Eric breaks away. Hulst blasts past 2 miles in 9:04!! (Eric's lead is 11 seconds). | The chase pack Hunt, Serna, Roy Kissin (WVTC, Stanford frosh, 8:56.2-2M last year at San Ramon, HS) & Salazar. |
Hulst cruises 13:59 @ 3miles (Eric's lead is 14 seconds). |
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The race is for second. |
9 (Nine) seconds later... (L-R) Don Moses (Crescenta Valley) 8:52.6-2M, Marty Froelick (Scarborough, TX) 9:01.2-2M / Obscured: Tim Holmes (WVTC, Downey, CA) HS Jr. 9:02.4 & George Aguirre (Santa Barbara) 9:00.2-2M. |
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Eric rips 22:48 for the 4.9 mile course (4:39 mile pace!). |
Hunt races 23:08 to edge Salazar by 1 second as both runners went stride for stride over the last 300 yards (4:43 pace!). |
Serna nails 4th. |
RESULTS: 1-Hulst 22:48; 2-Hunt 23:08; 3-Salazar 23:09; 4-Serna 23:13; 5-Froelick 23:18; 6-Moses 23:19; 7-Kissin 23:21; 8-Brian Hunsaker (UCI frosh) 23:24 9-Holmes 23:44 10-George Aguirre (Santa Barbara) 23:54. Others Included: 13-Alan Scharsu (Sophomore at Fitch high, OH) 24:05; 14-Spilsbury (Foothill) 24:05; 23-Frank Assumma (9th-grader, Rialto Road Runners) 24:43; 27-Ron Craker (York, IL) 24:54; 29-Rod Berry (Sophomore at Redwood high) 24:55. |
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The team: Moses, Froelick, Serna, Salazar, Hunt, Hulst. |
Friday Night Feb 6th 1976 - The Forum - 17th Annual - L.A. Times Indoor Games - Event 17 - High School Two Mile Run 9:30pm. Meet Record: 8:55.0 Terry Williams (Lompoc) 1973. Much Thanks to Ken Ernst for the shots |
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Hulst takes command, passing the half in 2:08.2 and leading at 1320 in 3:15.2. Hunt takes over by the mile (4:24.0) and at six laps (6:42.8) using his superior speed rips a 59.4, hitting seven in 7:52.4, and continued with a last 440y in 60.0 (1:59.4 last 880)!! **10 or 11 laps per mile. |
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Hunt was a runaway winner with a then third fastest prep time in indoor history... And was so full of energy after finishing that he took two victory laps at virtually the same pace. |
Don Moses (Crescenta Valley) nails 2nd (Above Pic Sunkist 75-Jr). PR's: 4:08.5 / 8:52.6 (Mile/2M) and also ran a 4:11.5 indoor mile. |
Results: 1) Thom Hunt 8:52.4 (3rd Best Ever) 2) Don Moses 8:54.0 (4th Best ever) 3) Eric Hulst 8:55.8 4) Mark Spilsbury (Foothill) 9:01.8 5) G. Aguirre (Santa Barbara) 9:16.6 |
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Feb, 21, 1976 @ San Diego - Indoors Hunt up against world class milers races the then prep record - 4:02.7 mile. Splits: 62.4, 61.4, 60.0, 58.9!!!! |
Saturday 28th. February, 1976 - IAAF World International Cross Country Championships Chepstow Racecourse, Whales |
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The U.S. team establish themselves early Hunt, Hulst, Serna & Salazar. |
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Hulst and Hunt go 1-2 in Chepstow and the U. S. Jr team wins, scoring their lowest total of 16 points. 5-Salazar; 8-Moses; 11-Froelick; 19-Serna. |
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OUTDOOR TRACK |
| Prepdom's top three returning preps from last years great Junior AAU 10,000m race, Bill McChesney (4th), Rudy Chapa (1st) & Eric Hulst (2nd), better and Batter the old marks of 28:22.8 for 6M held by Hulst & Chapa and 29:11.0 for 10,000m claimed by Chapa. |
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Eugene, Ore., March 20, 1976 - 17 year old Bill McChesney stepped onto Oregon's track against Paul Gies and Terry Williams. Running unattached, Mchesney broke the U.S. high school records for six-miles/10,000-meters at the Oregon Invitational relays. McChesney's 3rd-place time in the 6M/10,000 meter race was 28:09.4/29:06.8. Gies won in 29:00.4. Williams second at 29:05.8. Bill led through 4 miles before the Veterans (Gies & Williams ) took off and leaving Bill to fight it out alone. |
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Gainesville, Fla, March 26 - The Florida Relays -Rudy Chapa sets two PR's but.... The Hammond Indiana senior wanted a fast 10k to run under the Olympic qualifying time (28:40.0). The race was fast, Mike Keogh won in 28:29.8, but after gamely going through the 2M in 9:10.0, the Junior 10k champion couldn't hold the pace. Once it was obvious that the qualifying mark was out of reach, the disappionted Chapa slowed over the last mile. Chapa placed 4th clocking 28:11.0/29:09.4 for the 6M/10,000m. |
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Irvine, CA., March 28, 1976 - UCI Meet of Champions - 10,000m -Hulst shoots for the Olympic Qualifying time. The vet, Gary Tuttle(28yrs) shadows the prodigy, Hulst(18yrs) @ 10,000m. Tuttle never ran faster than a 9:36 2 mile in HS while Eric was breaking records as a 14year old. On a breezy day, two days after doubling 9:22 & 4:32 in a duel meet, Hulst put it on the line with Gary Tuttle of the Beverly Hills Striders providing the competition. Hulst ground out the pace for 4 miles before Tuttle pulled away and Eric couldn't hang on. Hulst finished with a gutty 4:45.0 to finish 27:58.0/28:54.8 6M/10,000 meters taking massive chunks out of McChesney's week-old records. |
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Des Moines, Iowa., April 24 - Denied at Florida relays, Rudy Chapa came back with a vengeance at the Drake Relays. In ideal distance weather, Chapa tucked in with the leaders and passed two-miles at 9:05 but unlike Florida the Indiana prep did not falter and stayed right with the lead group. Although, Chapa ended up "only" 5th, but he got a pair of prep records and more importantly to Chapa the Olympic Qualifying standard for his trouble. Chapa cruised to a 27:37.4/28:32.8 6M/10,000m and thus becomes the first high-schooler to qualify for the Olympic Trials at any distance longer than 400 meters in '76. |
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Laguna Beach, CA., April 9-10, 1976 - Trophy Meet A fast Friday mile- Hunt (4:06.6) topped Don Moses (Crescenta Valley- 4:08.5) and Hulst (4:09.5). On Saturday, the three doubled back (above) for the duece. Hunt running an even pace cruised past the mile in 4:24. Hunt's superior speed over the final laps gave him the win over Hulst (shy on speedwork while concentrating on the 10,000m) by three seconds. 1) Thom Hunt -8:49.6 |
| June 5 -CA State Track Meet -1976 Edwards Stadium, Berkeley; Sat. |
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Meet record holder, Eric Hulst strides toward victory in a slow (for him) 8:57.3 to become the third performer in the meet's history to win back-to-back 2M titles, joining Ralph Gamez (1965-66) & Ruben Chappins (1968-69). Second place went to Colin McConnell (R, Edison, Huntington Beach) in 9:00.5. Eric's plan for the 2M record went out the window when rival Thom Hunt came down with bronchitis before the state track meet, Hunt wasn't able to test his sizzling foot speed against Hulst's stamina. Also there were high winds and then there was Berkeley's "slow" dirt track. |
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Hulst (43) in action at TAC Senior Men's U.S. Cross Country Championships - November 28, 1981 @ Burbank |
Link: - Article, March 20, 2010 - Remembering a track legend. -Laguna Beach High School honors Eric Hulst, at the 2010 Trophy Invitational @ Laguna Beach HS. |
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Hulst, Serna & Tony Sandoval - TFN Cover |
76 NCAA XC - Hulst chases Rono, placing 34th. |
Hulst & Hunt |
