2014 USATF Outdoor Open Track & Field Championships

Payton Jordan was Stanford’s head coach from 1957-79.

Feb. 6, 2009

STANFORD, Calif. – Payton Jordan, the longtime Stanford track and field coach who died Thursday at age 91, was an icon in the sport because of his roles in some of its most seminal moments.  Jordan, who died of cancer in Laguna Hills, left a lasting imprint not only as a coach, but as an administrator and athlete.
The turmoil and triumph of the 1968 Olympic Games? Jordan was there. The most successful single track and field meet in American history? It was Jordan’s idea. The masters movement that allows athletes to shine into old age. Jordan was a pioneer.
But those who knew Jordan were touched by him in ways that went far beyond his substantial influence in the sport. “Most people talk about Payton in reference to track,” said Stanford’s Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field, Edrick Floreal. “But for the people who really know Payton, there is so much more.  “He’s a rare person. Payton had the rare ability to captivate people, to inspire people to expand their wings and expand their limits.   “You look at guys that were coached by Payton and you see how they treat their wives, treat their kids or run their businesses. Those are the examples of Payton’s influence.”
Jordan coached Stanford from 1957-79, producing seven Olympic athletes, six world-record holders and six national champions. But that’s not all. He was the mastermind behind the 1962 U.S. vs. USSR dual meet that drew 155,000 over two days to Stanford Stadium during the height of the Cold War. The friendships Jordan developed and the welcoming tone of the meet during a tense period of history softened America’s view of the Soviets, if only for a short while. “He greeted them with a great big smile and with an outstretched hand,” said longtime friend Bob Murphy. “He had a smile that would just melt the world.   “He found a vein of understanding and appreciation that did not exist in any government so-called diplomacy. He found a common ground, in track and field, where the Soviets and the U.S. could get together and compete in a friendly and very productive way.
“It certainly produced a warming spot in the Cold War. There was a numb that extended far into Moscow and Washington D.C.”
His accomplishments were many.
In his younger days, Jordan was a record-breaking sprinter. He was a member of USC’s world-record 4×440 relay team (40.5) in 1938 and ran the fastest 100 yards ever on grass, in 1941. In addition to helping the Trojans to national track championships in 1938 and 1939, he helped USC beat Duke in the 1939 Rose Bowl.
Jordan never competed in the Olympics, with the 1940 and 1944 Games canceled during World War II. Jordan joined the Navy instead and, afterward, began his coaching career at Occidental College, which he led to two NAIA titles and 10 conference championships.   Late in his coaching career and after retirement, Jordan gave rise to the masters track movement, setting six age-group world records in the sprints. In 1997 at age 80, Jordan set the last of his world marks, 14.65 in the 100 meters and 30.89 in the 200.    And though he moved to Southern California, Jordan continued to play an enthusiastic role in Stanford track and field, lending his name to the annual invitational that continues to bear his name.   When the meet formerly known as the U.S. Open was renamed in his honor in 2004, Jordan said, “I am overwhelmed and deeply grateful to be honored by my old school.  It is a wonderful feeling to know that you are still remembered.”
But Jordan’s supreme achievement may have been his delicate handling of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team in Mexico City.  Jordan was the head coach of the team many consider to be the greatest of all-time. It earned a record 24 medals, 12 gold, and featured Bob Beamon’s extraordinary long jump, Dick Fosbury’s revolutionary high jump technique, and world marks in the sprints by Jim Hines and Lee Evans.  Before the Games, Jordan’s tolerance and open-mindedness helped deflect a threatened boycott from the team’s African-American athletes and kept the team from falling apart. And during the Games, he dealt with the fallout of the Tommie Smith-John Carlos black-gloved civil rights protest that drew the ire of Olympic officials and politicians and forced the athletes out of the Games.   Jordan and sprint coach Stan Wright were informed of Smith’s and Carlos’s plans, but allowed them to make their own decisions. They even supplied the runners with black socks and handkerchiefs. “I always tell my kids, everybody’s born for a time in their life,” Floreal said. “That there is a special person to handle every difficult moment in life. I think Payton Jordan was bred for that time. “He was the right person at the right time to handle that situation. Nobody could have handled it any better.
“Maybe that’s his legacy. Maybe, that’s how his legacy lives in the rest of us.”

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Track and field coach Payton Jordan dead at 91

The Associated Press
Friday, February 6, 2009; 1:43 AM
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. — Payton Jordan, coach of the record-setting 1968 US Olympic track and field team, died Thursday. He was 91.

Jordan died of cancer at his home in Laguna Hills, daughter Cheryl Melville said.

He led the US track team to a record 24 medals, 12 of them gold, at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He served as Stanford’s track and field coach from 1957-79.

Years ago, Jordan recalled how his Olympic team excelled despite some black athletes threatening to boycott the games over a push for civil rights.

“We just sat down and talked about how hard everyone worked for so long to get ready for this lifetime opportunity,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1989. “It was like the high altitude in Mexico City _ something we weren’t used to _ or like an injury. It was just something we had to work through and overcome.”

Before his coaching career, Jordan broke world records with Southern California _ in the 440-yard relay in 1938 and the 100-yard dash on grass in 1941. His records stood for decades. He also played football for USC and played in the 1939 Rose Bowl.

Instead of competing in the 1940 and 1944 Olympics, which were canceled due to World War II, Jordan joined the Navy.

He started his coaching career at Occidental College, and later produced seven Olympic athletes at Stanford.

After retirement, he laced up his running shoes to compete in masters races. He set his last masters world record in the 100-yard dash at the Penn Relays in 1998 _ at age 80. He set his last world record in the 100-meter dash in 1997.

He was married to his wife Marge for 66 years before she died in 2006.

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Courtesy of Mark Winitz

Update: 3/17/09

There’s some good news to report on Jack. Dee said that he was coming
home this weekend and has shown some improvement in cognitive ability,
which apparently is a sign that the tumor is decreasing. The plan is
that he will be home for a week and then go back to the hospital for the
next series of chemo. The chemo treatment takes about 4 hours. The
doctors told Dee that the tumor is quite large at 5 by 7 centimeters and
is a fast-growing variety. Dee indicated that after Jack’s testicular
cancer was treated, he had 6 full body scans (MRIs), which unfortunately
excluded his head.

Since Jack will be home on alternate weeks, it’s suggested that you mail
cards or notes to Jack at his home address (see below), but Dee said he
is still not up to having visitors. You can also send notes to Jack at
their email address ([email protected]) and Dee will get them to Jack.
FYI, we mailed Jack a copy of Lance Armstrong’s book: “It’s not about the
bike” as Lance’s story has to give all cancer patients some hope.

Let’s all pray that the tumor continues to shrink.

Jack and Dee’s home address:
345 Elm St. Unit B
San Mateo, Ca. 94401

3/14/09

Jack Leydig was hospitalized last Friday for tests due to some memory issues.
The tests revealed an inoperable tumor in the frontal lobe of his brain and
radiation cannot be used. So this week, Jack is starting 2 to 4 months of
chemotherapy. Jack cannot have visitors at this time but his wife Dee
has asked that friends send notes or cards to Jack at the Kaiser Hosptial
in Redwood City. Please use his full name : William Jack Leydig at this
address:

Kaiser Foundation Hospital
7th Floor, Room 782
1150 Veterans Blvd
Redwood City, Ca 94063

By the way, Jack’s partner in the shirt business, John Gabeny at Pacific
Impressions is trying to keep the business going. So please get the word
out to anyone you know who will be ordering shirts for a race. John’s
business phone is 408-727-4200.

Please keep Jack and his family in your prayers.

From: “Tom Lyons (SF State)” <[email protected]>
Date: March 12, 2009 9:00:22 AM PDT
Subject: Track Meet on 3/27/09 at SF State

Hello all,

We are having a track meet at SF State on March 27th. It is primarily a Distance Carnival, however, we do have all the track events except the 4×100 (if interest, I would add that). We also have the LJ and TJ. We do not have all the events at a typical track & field meet as the meet sprang up from a need for distance runners to run a meet because they do not meet Stanford’s entry standards. We expanded it to have 14 events which allows for marks to count toward nationals/regionals qualifying purposes.

The distance races will be as fast as any distance races ever at SF State. Incredible fields forming.
The meet will run on time.
The meet will have sufficient officials from USATF.
The meet will have auto-timing and wind readings.
The meet will run on  time!

If you’d like to come out and compete, we’d love to have you.

More info and entry here – http://www.directathletics.com/meets/track/11118.html <http://www.directathletics.com/meets/track/11118.html>

Feel free to email/call if you have questions.

Tom Lyons

San Francisco State University
Head Coach Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
Assistant Coach Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
(415) 338-2219 On Campus – Room 201 Gym
(415) 717-6103 Cell Phone

http://www.sfstategators.com/
Host of the 2009 NCAA DII West Region Cross Country Championships

Date: March 7, 2009

Registration: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  (morning of the meet)

Starting Time: 10:15

Admission Fee: $3.00 (Per person / Athlete – all who enter the stadium)

Awards for all participants in all heats.

Location: 2223 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704.

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Order of Events

1. 1500m Run  (Bantam, Midget, Youth, Open)
2. 100m Dash   (Open, Youth, Midget, Bantam, Sub-Bantam)
3. 800m Run     (Bantam, Midget, Youth, Open)
4. 4×200  (Sub-Bantam, Bantam, Midget, Youth, Open)
5. 300m Run  (Bantam, Midget, Youth, Open)
6. 4x100m Relay (Sub-Bantam, Midget, Youth, Open)

Field Events

1. Long Jump  (Sub-Bantam, Bantam, Midget, Youth, Open)
2. Shot Put (Open, Youth, Midget, Bantam, Sub-Bantam)

All events will be run girls, then boys

All participants will receive awards

• Since this is the first meet of the season it is set up for speed and quickness.
• FAT timing will not be provided.  Each coach is requested to time their own athlete as meet marks are not likely to be posted on the Pacific Association website when the meet is over.
• This is a very stress free meet, those with smiles receive special attention!

If you need assistance with this meet or the youth age group portion of the California Relays, email Darrell Hampton or call him at 510-774-9701 or work 510-596-4317

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mark Winitz
Win-It!z Sports Public Relations
Tel: (650) 948-0618

NAPA, Calif. – February 21, 2009 – The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley
Marathon announced today that elite U.S. marathoner Peter Gilmore (San
Mateo, Calif.) and 2007 NVM women’s champion Devon Crosby-Helms (Seattle,
Wash.) will join a sold-out crowd of 2,300 participants for the 31st
annual race on Sunday, March 1, 2009. Although the race does not offer
prize money, its fast and scenic course that spans the length of the
world renowned Napa Valley wine country draws runners of all abilities
from near and far.

* TOP MEN *
Gilmore, 31, owns an impressive personal record at the marathon distance
of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 45 seconds, earned at the 2006 Boston
Marathon where he placed seventh. He is a veteran of two U.S. Men’s
Olympic Marathon Trials (2004 and 2008). At the 2008 Trials in New York
City, Gilmore was a top contender for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team
headed to Beijing. He fought an untimely chest cold, however, forcing him
to drop out of the race and deal with the biggest disappointment of his
life. A foot injury dampened much of Gilmore’s 2008 racing year, but now
the athlete who is sponsored by MarathonGuide.com says he is rounding
into top form.

A racing-sharp Gilmore could threaten the longtime Napa Valley Marathon
men’s course record of 2:16:20 set by Dick Beardsley in 1987. Gilmore,
however, has other plans.

“I’ll run Napa as a training run,” said Gilmore, who is preparing for a
spring marathon but hasn’t finalized which one yet. “I’ve never done a
marathon as a training run leading up to another marathon. But Napa is a
beautiful race. It’s easy for me to travel to, and the expected winning
time is right in the wheelhouse of what I want to do for a training run.
Mid 2:20s would be nice.”

The average men’s winning time at Napa over the past five years is 2:27.

“Obviously, winning (at Napa) is a top priority, but I have to put a
limit on what I’m willing to do to conserve a little bit for another
marathon,” commented Gilmore, who has logged 100 to 150 training miles a
week over the winter.

Additional top contenders among men include:

— Andy Martin (Bend, Ore.), 34, a prolific marathoner and former
triathlete who won 26.2-milers at the Big Sur International Marathon
(Carmel, Calif.) and Cincinnati (Ohio) Flying Pig Marathon on
back-to-back weekends last year. His personal best is 2:20:04.

— James Nielsen (Palo Alto, Calif.), a two-time NCAA Division III
5,000-meter champion while at the University of California-San Diego, and
a two-time USA world cross country team member. Nielsen, 29, recorded a
personal best of 2:21:01 while winning the 2007 Eugene (Ore.) Marathon.

Male Age Group Watch: Ed Spinney, 55, of Eugene, Ore., who in the late
1970’s and early 1980’s sported an impressive range of 3:57 for the mile
to 2:18 in the marathon. Spinney ran a 2:47 marathon last year, and he
hopes to break the NVM course record of 2:43:29 for age 55 to 59 men at
this year’s race.

* TOP WOMEN *
Devon Crosby-Helms, 26, returns to the Napa Valley Marathon with a
2:49:51 marathon personal best on her resume, a nice improvement on her
2:52:49 runaway victory at the ’07 NVM. Since then, she has also
bolstered her credentials as one of the top U.S. women at ultramarathon
distances. The numerous ultras she has won include the ’07 Tahoe Rim 50
Mile in a course record time (8:39:30) and the ’08 Vermont 100 Mile.

Crosby-Helms competed on officially sanctioned (by USA Track & Field)
U.S. national teams at the last two IAU World Cup 100K races, an
international event which is often referred to as the “world
championship” of ultra-distance running. Last November, in Italy, she
placed tenth overall in the race. Along with U.S. teammate Kami Semick,
who placed second overall, Crosby-Helms helped pace the U.S. team to a
silver-medal-winning performance.

In fact, Semick, 42, of Bend, Ore. is also a top prospect for the women’s
victory at this year’s Napa Valley Marathon. She was the U.S. 50K trail
champion in 2006, and has won marathons at Portland (’08), Silicon Valley
(’07), and Seattle (’05). Semick’s personal best at the marathon distance
is 2:45:24.

“If Kami is in top form, there’s no hope for me,” admitted Crosby-Helms,
who recently had her training interrupted by a foot injury. “I really
don’t know what my speed is going to be like. While winning is always
fun, I just love the Napa race so much. It’s more about just running the
race and enjoying it.”

Mary Coordt (Elk Grove, Calif.) will compete in the race once again after
a memorable performance last year. Coordt, 39, finished the 2008 race in
fourth place behind women’s winner Maureen Ackerly. Her time of 2:46:30,
a personal record, qualified Coordt for her third U.S. Women’s Olympic
Marathon Trials. In fact, the top four women all qualified for the Trials
with times under the Trials “B” qualifying standard of 2:47:00. Coordt is
a two-time champion (’97, ’05) at the NVM.

Female Age Group Watch: Christine Iwahashi, 53, of Sacramento, Calif. is
a three-time winner (’86, ’87, ’90) of the Napa Valley Marathon — tying
her with David Chairez (’84, ’86, ’89) for the most NVM victories.
Iwahashi will run the 112th marathon of her long career at this year’s
NVM.

The 2009 Napa Valley Marathon starts on Sunday, March 1 at 7:00 a.m.
sharp in Calistoga on the Silverado Trail near the intersection of
Rosedale Road. The marathon’s fast, USA Track & Field certified (for
accurate distance) road course runs the length of the beautiful Silverado
Trail and finishes at Vintage High School in Napa. Top runners are
expected to reach the finish between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Runners will
receive official times up until 1:00 p.m. when the course closes.

Entry slots are still available for the companion Kiwanis 5K Fun Run,
which starts (8 a.m.) and finishes at Vintage High School on marathon
morning.

For more information about the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon,
please visit the marathon’s web site at www.napavalleymarathon.org.

* * * * * *
The Napa Valley Marathon appreciates generous sponsor support from Kaiser
Permanente/Thrive, Calistoga Mineral Water Company, Gatorade, ASICS
America Corporation, Silverado Trail Wineries Association, Marathon &
Beyond, Road Runners Club of America, USA Track & Field, MarathonFoto,
Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, GU, CBS 5, Comcast, Napa Valley
Register, KVYN/99.3 The Vine, KVON 1440 AM, the Napa Running Company,
KCBS 740 AM, Silverado Brewing Company, DJ’s Growing Place, and Wine
Country Inn/Napa Valley.

National USATF Youth Division
202 Maple Avenue
Phone: 917-913-5505
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Lionel Leach
Phone: 917-913-5505
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 9, 2009

2008 USATF Youth Race Walk Honor Roll
The USA Track & Field Race Walk committee annually honors the top young
race walkers in America. The following athletes were judged the best in
each of their age groups by a panel of elite athletes and coaches at the
USATF National Convention in Reno. The criteria used to evaluate their
performances was the athletes times and places in major competitions,
including the USATF Junior Olympic T&F Nationals, USATF Youth Athletics
T&F Nationals, USATF T&F Junior Nationals, USA World RW Cup Trials and
the events of the USATF Race Walk Junior Grand Prix Circuit.

The committee elected to select 4 athletes in two divisions this year
because of the inseparable accomplishments of the athletes involved. In
the Bantam girls division Erin Jacob’s 3rd place finish in 9:14.83 at
the USATF Junior Olympic nationals wasn’t a significant advantage over
Cherylen Chavez’s 9:14.98, to warrant either being left off the honor
role. And in the Intermediate division the voting ended in a tie for the
third position.

As we have done in the past, all athletes recognized will receive a
Certificate, RW patch, and a T-shirt from the Race Walk committee
commemorating and congratulating them on their achievements.

A big thanks to RW Committee Secretary Ginger Mulanax and Maryanne
Daniel, chair of the Women’s Development, for all of the work they did
in making this happen.

YOUNG MEN
Roberto Vergara – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association
Ricardo Vergara – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association
Evan Crowdus – Kentucky Racers, Kentucky Association

YOUNG WOMEN
Catherine Davis – Southeastern Pennsylvania Athletics club (SEPAC),
Mid-Atlantic Association
Melissa Moeller – Indiana Race Walkers, Indiana Association
Nina Yang- Unattached, NYC, NY, Metropolitan Association

INTERMEDIATE BOYS
Trevor Barron – South Park TC, Three Rivers Association
Matthew Forgues – Maine Racewalkers, Maine Association
John Randall – Miami Valley Track Club, Ohio Association
Alex Chavez – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS
Christie Bernier – Maine Race Walkers, Maine Association
Allison Chin – Miami Valley Track Club, Ohio Association
Claudia Ortiz – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association

YOUTH BOYS
Sorenson, Tyler – Pleasanton Heat Track Club, Pacific Association
Steven Valadez – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association,
Santosh Dandi – Unattached, Merriam, KS, MO Valley Association

YOUTH GIRLS
Nicolette Sorensen – Pleasanton Heat TC, Pacific Association
Lila Haba – Umoja Track Club, Pacific Association
Molly Josephs – Walk USA, Long Island Association

MIDGET BOYS
Nate Roberts – Salem Track Club, Oregon Association
Emilio Mancha – Elgin Track Club, Illinois Association
Daimon Todd – Umoja Track Club, Pacific Association

MIDGET GIRLS
Ashley Jacobs, Athletic Track Club, Southwestern Association
Katie Michta – Walk USA, Long Island Association
Jennifer Vargas – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association

BANTAM BOYS
Justin Liedke – Cornhusker Flyer, Nebraska Association
Adam Haba – Umoja Track Club, Pacific Association
William Katzman – Albuquerque Track Club, New Mexico Association

BANTAM GIRLS
Caitlin Palacio – Unattached, San Jose, CA, Pacific Association
Sydney Beal – South Dayton Flyers, Ohio Association
Erin Jacobs – Athletic Track Club, Southwestern Association
Cherylen Chavez – South Texas Walking Club, South Texas Association
—
-End
This message was sent from Lionel Leach to [email protected]. It was sent from: Natonal Youth Chair, 202 Maple Ave, Irvington, nj 07111.

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