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Running Shots |
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Kansas State Meet May 15, 1965 Ryun enroute to his 3:58.3 state win(fastest mile in high school only competition). |
After a stunning 8:42.6(2mile) in his state meet, Craig Virgin vowed to crack Pre's national record of 8:41.6. Two weeks later @ the International Prep Invite(above) Virgin performs 8:40.9 in 87° heat! (1973) |
Scott Fry (Perkins, Sandusky, OH) ran 8:08.1-3k (= 8:47.02 for 2 miles) in "85." Fry was also the Foot locker x-country national champion in "84." |
John Gregorek (St. Anthony's, Smithtown, NY) class of 78. Gregorek was the years top runner, who led 3 events: His 4:05.4 mile won the Golden West Invite; His 3:47.5 1500 came against the USSR Juniors; His 8:56.9 win in the Junior AAU steeple. Additionally, Gregorek ran 8:50.7 in only serious 2-mile attempt. His 8:50.7 was 2nd only to to the fine 8:44.0 by Alan Scharsu. John also anchored the leading distance medley squad (@ Penn Relays,above).
Gregorek would represent the US as a member of the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Teams in the 3000 meter steeplechase and has a 3:51.3 mile & 13:17.44 5k to his credit. |
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Scott Fry (Perkins, OH) Ran under nine minutes for 2-Miles six times in 85 also ran 4:09.48-Mile & 14:19.30 for 5000m. |
John Zishka (Lancaster, OH) Class of "80" 4:03.85 -Mile an 8:53.0 - 2-Mile & 13:55.65 for 5000m. |
Curtis Beck |
Mark Dani (Valhalla, CA) leads Eric Mastalir. Dani ran 8:54.75 for 2-miles outdoors behind Mastalir but really shined indoors running 8:49.1 for 2M & a 4:10.31 mile. Eric Mastalir also ran a 14:01.40 for 5000m. All in "86." |
Wills vs Hoffman (76 xc) Herb Wills (Leon, FL) leads Brett Hoffman (St. Petersburg, FL). Wills ran 9:00.9 for 2M as a junior. Hoffman (a senior) went 8:53.0 for 2-Mile & a 4:10.4 -Mile. |
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Matt Centrowitz (Power Memorial, NYC) Class of "73" 440y- 51.1 / 880-1:51.5 / 1500-3:43.4 Mile-4:02.7 2M- 8:56.2 & 5000m- 14:17.0 Centrowitz was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in both 1976 and 1980. University of Oregon '78. He also set the then U.S. record in the 5000m in 1982 with a time of 13:12.91. |
Matthew Centrowitz (Broadneck, MD) Class of "07" 1500- 3:49.54 / Mile-4:03.40 2-Mile-8:41.55 @ NON (above, left, Link to race) Centrowitz's 2M win at Nike Outdoor Nationals led 11 runners to sub-9-minutes, making it one of the greatest prep distance races in history. Matthew's Splits-4:25.7 / 4:15.85 / Last lap-58 !! |
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Matt Centrowitz (Power Memorial, NYC) negotiates through Van Cortlandt Park (1972). Marty Liquori, who in 1966 at Essex Catholic in Newark set a scholastic record of 12:23.2 for Van Cortlandt’s 2.5-mile course. Matt Centrowitz of Power Memorial (12:24.5), John Gregorek of St. Anthony’s on Long Island (12:31.0), Alberto Salazar of Wayland High in Massachusetts (12:22.5), Alan Webb of South Lakes High in Virginia (12:18.8) to name a few. |
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6/16/79, WALNUT, CA. -AAU National Championships -5000 meters (L) Matt Centrowitz wins the first of 4 straight USA National Titles at 5000m (79-82) 3rd last year, A modest pace allowed Centrowitz to sprint a 54-second last lap to win in 13:40.8. |
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6/14/80 - WALNUT, CA. -AAU National Championships -5000 meters (Mt. Sac). Craig Virgin pushed the pace but Olympic 1500 runner Matt Centrowitz kicked to win his Second National Title. 1) Matt Centrowitz ... 13:33.61 |
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| Craig Virgin & Matt Centrowitz -1973 | Virgin & Centrowitz -1979 | Centrowitz -1978 |
(L) Centrowitz & Salazar -1980 |
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Carl Sandburg's flying Eagles -Tom Graves & Bob Hicks. Hicks, the elder of Sandburg's dynamic duo. |
Soph, Tom Graves (Sandburg) qualifies for the State meet in the 2M with a 9:06.6... Tom has the # 2 time for sophomores, behind the 9:05.0 for Alan Scharsu of Fitch HS (1976). |
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At state, Graves looks around for the defending state 2M champion but finds himself alone in winning the individual title. Tom slashes 5 seconds off his PR to 9:00.6, & moves atop the sophomore list for the 2M Nationally ('76). Defender, Ron Craker (York) was knocked down-out of contention on the last lap. |
Saturday, May 28, 1977, Class AA state track meet @ Eastern Illinois University in Charleston Temp: 95° |
(R) Tom Graves wins his 2nd state meet 2M title in 8:51.87 well ahead of Fenton's Jim Spivey in 9:00.3! |
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(R) Bob Hicks comes out from the shadow of Tom Graves, winning the state meet mile, with a 4:08.6. Graves the outstanding Eagle junior is 2nd in 4:09.3, giving Sandburg a1-2 finish. |
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Tom Graves - Carl Sandburg High School, IL - Class of "78" The Orland Park, IL native won TWO Illinois state x-country titles (76, 77), and began 78 with a near-win in the junior trials for the IAAF x-country race (blanket finish,3rd)--Graves was slowed by an achilles tendon injury forcing him to forego the trip to Scotland for the International x-c race... But one afternoon in the middle of May, Graves uncorked a great single-day double of 4:12.2 and 8:52.2 @ the Palatine Relays (enroute to 8:52.2- second pic from right). Graves then went on to win the distance double (mile/2mile) @ the state (IL) track meet. The 2M for the 3rd time!!! |
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As a sophomore, Tom Graves (Sandburg) was 3rd in 1975 Illinois State, Class AA, Cross Country meet in Peoria. |
1976 Class AA State Cross Country Championship in Peoria, Illinois. |
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(L) As the runners come out of the "Triangle" (middle), Tom Graves takes the lead for good. (R) Graves wins in 14:08.5, the fifth fastest time ever on the Detweiller Park course and the second fastest ever for a junior. In 2nd: Jim Spivey in 14:16, another junior... |
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1977 Class AA State Cross Country Championship Setting up an Epic State Meet Duel @ Detweiller Park (L)... (R) Graves won again, 13:56.6 over Spivey's 14:00!! |
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Saturday, May 27, 1978 State Track Finals, Charleston, Illinois, two-mile & mile - Tom Graves (Sandburg) & the distance double. |
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(L) The Sandburg two-times defending champion Tom Graves enroute to his unprecedented THIRD straight two-mile title. Here, hanging behind East Moline's Brian Kinman for six laps before pulling away in the last lap and a half. Grave's winning time of 9:06.91 in the 95° heat was the slowest he's run in capturing three consecutive individual titles. But he was saving himself for the bigger challenge in the mile: Deerfield's McCallister twins... |
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(L) Sandwiched between the McCallister twins, Todd & Mark. |
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The Sandburg senior becomes the third runner to pull of the distance double joining Lebanon's Crag Virgin and Lincoln-Way's Dave Merrick. |  |
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Nov. 4, 1978 - Cross Country SEC - Birmingham, AL., - 5 Miles (above) Future 10,000m AR record holder, Mark Nenow (Kentucky) led early. After 2M, Auburn frosh Tom Graves took control. In the end, Graves pulled away to upset favorite Pat Davey (Tennessee). 1) Graves-24:10, 2) Davey-24:23. (Nenow was 7th at 24:41). |
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Nov. 20, 1978 -NCAA Cross Country Championships Results (Partial from above pic) |
June 2, 1979 - NCAA Track - 5,000m Finals Above - Auburn frosh, Tom Graves hangs on to Rudy Chapa's fast pace. |
Graves was 8th with a 14:07.8. 5/31, He ran 13:58.7 to win heat # II. |
