This Day in Track & Field/X-Country, Dathan Ritzenhein wins 2000 Foot Locker XC, by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–December 8, Frank Shorter wins 4th Fukuoka (1974), First Kinney XC (1979), photo by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country, December 7, Tim Hacker wins first US title after 15 US Championshipsby Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field, December 6, Rob De Castella wins Fukuoka in 2:08:18 (1981), should have been recognized as World Best, by Walt Murphy

Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country-December 9

1989–Melody Fairchild (Boulder,Co), 2^nd to Celeste Susnis the year before, won the first of her two Kinney/Foot Locker titles in San Diego (Susnis finished 5^th here). 6’-3” Bryan Dameworth (Agoura,Ca) won the boys’ race in 14:49. Fairchild is still active in the sport as a coach.

Other notable finishers:

Girls-3.Carole Zajac, 4.Sarah Schwald, 7.freshman Liz Mueller (1991 Champion), 10.Amy Rudolph, 13.Deena Drossin (Kastor).

Boys:-3.Louie Quintana, 6.Martin Keino, 9.Teddy Mitchell, 12.Jason Stewart

Results: Boys Girls

Girls Race: (Commentary by Marty liquori and Pat Porter)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cizRPSCOYbA

Fairchild: http://melodyfairchild.com

1995—Junior Julia Stamps was a heavy favorite to win her 2^nd straight Foot Locker title in San Diego, but, suffering from a head cold, she collapsed late in the race (she would do the same in 1996), opening the door for California rival Kim Mortensen (17:12) to come away with the victory. 2^ndin 17:28 was Amy Yoder (now Begley), who would become one of the best distance runners in the U.S. She won the 10,000-meters at the 2001 NCAA Championships (and the Indoor 5000 in 2000), was 6^th in the 10k at the 2009 World Championships, and 26^th in the 10k at the 2008 Olympics.

There was also an upset in the boys race as Abdul Alzindani (15:12) sprinted past favored Sharif Karie (15:24) with 100-meters to go to win going away.

Finishing 7^th and 10^th, respectively, were juniors Gabe Jennings and Jonathon Riley, who would become All-American teammates at Stanford. Placing 13^th was freshman Jorge Torres, who would become the only male 4-time Foot Locker finalist and would win the National title in 1998 (5^th-1996, 2^nd-1997).

A running prodigy as a teenager, Stamps struggled with injuries and motivation during her collegiate years at Stanford, but found a new love for running after moving to NY City and moving up to the marathon (see link below).

Results: Boys Girls

Stamps Reflects on Her Roller Coaster Career

(2009): http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/julia-stamps-mallon-my-running

Alzindini: https://www.runnerspace.com/news.php?news_id=610796

2000–There was a lot of pre-race buzz at the Foot Locker Final in Lake Buena Vista (FL) about the matchup between the big 3 of prep running, but Dathan Ritzenhein (14:35), the defending champion, made it a 1-man show as he ran away from Alan Webb (14:55) and Ryan Hall (14:59). Webb did his best to stay with Ritzenhein, but lost contact after 2-miles. Those three have arguably matched the accomplishments of the FL “Big 3” in 1986–future Olympians Marc Davis, Todd Williams, and Bob Kennedy.

Sara Bei, now married to Ryan Hall, won the girls race and is still one of the top American female distance runners.

The runners were given the royal treatment at nearby Disney World, serving as the Grand Marshals of the daily parade through the streets of the famed entertainment complex (and I got to join in on the fun!).

Other notable finishers

Boys: 10.Bobby Curtis, 13.Bobby Lockhart, 20.David Vidal, 22.Brett Gotcher

Girls: 7.Amber Trotter (2001 Champion), 20.Alicia Craig

Results: Boys Girls

Marc Bloom/NY Times: http://tinyurl.com/2000FL-RitzWebbHall

Amby Burfoot Looks Back

Video-Both Races(Commentary by Tony Reavis and Deena Drossin-Kastor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgHJjmRk71U

DyeStat Coverage: http://archive.dyestat.com/rivals/7993491.html

Sports Illustrated Vault(May,2001/Ritzenhein-Webb)

Wiki Bios: Hall Ritzenhein Webb

2023—Winners at this year’s Foot Locker Championships on a sunny day in San Diego (Dec.9) were Sophomore Elizabeth Leachman (Boerne Champion,TX) and Senior Drew Griffith (Butler,PA).

It was sweet redemption for Leachman, who had faded to 15^th at Nike Cross (NXN) the previous week after building what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. This time, she decided to be patient until late in the race when she caught front-running Rachel Forsyth (17:08.3/Pioneer,MI) and quickly pulled away to win in 16:50.7, the 9^th-fastest girls’ time ever run on the Balboa Park 5k course. Forsyth finished 3^rd after also being passed by Allie Zealand (17:04.5/Home-school, Forest,VA). 10^th was junior Zariel Macchia (William Floyd,NY).

Ty Steorts (Hurricane,WV) had a sizable lead in the Boys’ race as he approached the one big hill on the course for the 2^nd time. He was quickly swallowed up by the chase pack, with Griffith holding the lead at the end of the downhill portion. He was never seriously challenged as he went on to win in 15:06.9. Finishing 2^nd was his Western Pennsylvania rival, Ryan Pajak (15:12.2/Ringgold,PA). Griffith and Pajak are now teammates at Notre Dame.

The meet returned to its familiar name after going through some changes in recent years (East Bay, Champs Sports).

Results (click on an athlete’s name for their school, their year in school, splits, and photos):

Girls: https://finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/meets/11665/events/8807

Boys: https://finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/meets/11665/events/8808

Race Videos: Boys Girls Complete Webcast Interviews

The South sweeps the team titles

DyeStat Coverage: Boys Race Girls Race

MileSplit: https://www.milesplit.com/meets/563408-foot-locker-nationals-presented-by-hoka-2023/coverage

Born On This Day*

Nick Hysong 54 (1971) 2000 Olympic gold medalist—Pole Vault

Bronze medalist at the 2001 World Championships (4th-1999, 5th-2005)

1994 NCAA Champion (Arizona State/1992-7th, 1993-5th); PB: 19-4 ¼ (5.90/2000);

1995 U.S. Indoor Champion

Ranked #1 in the world in 2000 (6th in 1999, 2001, 2002); Made the top-10 U.S. Rankings ten

times from 1994-2005

Set the current Arizona High School Record of 17-4 ½ (5.29) in 1990.

Runs the Risen Performance training program in Phoenix.

Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Hysong

http://www.risenperformance.com/

T&F News Rankings: http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/rankings

Mike Stahr 61 (1964) 1987 NCAA Indoor Champion—Mile (Georgetown/7^th in 1988)…4^th outdoors in the 1500 in 1988

1982 U.S. Junior Champion as a H.S. Junior (Carmel,NY)—1500m

2-time winner of the Millrose H.S. Mile (1982,1983)

As a freshman at Arizona State in 1984, he ran a 1:45.6 anchor as the Sun Devils set an

American Record of 7:08.96 in the 4×800 relay.

(Pete Richardson 1:47.5, Eddie Davis 1:47.8, Treg Scott 1:48.1, Stahr 1:45.6)

Due to coaching changes at ASU, transferred to Georgetown after his sophomore year. Anchored the Hoyas to a

World Record of 9:20.96 in the Distance Medley at the 1987 Penn Relays.

(John Trautmann 2:53.1, Darron Outler 46.9, Miles Irish 1:46.1, Mike Stahr-3:54.9

#1 prep miler in the U.S. in 1983—4:06.0

PBs: 1:46.44 (1988), 3:37.34 (1989), 3:57.25 (1986), H.S.: 1000m-2:24.2i (1983, #14 All-Time),

Mile-4:06.0 (1983)

Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Stahr

Transfer: http://tinyurl.com/StahrGeorgetown

DMR Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CexhVbuBrwk

(obviously taken by a Georgetown fan!)

Penn Wall of Fame

H.S. Rivals (Miles Irish):

http://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/12/sports/stahr-finds-friendly-foe-in-running.html

Ken Popejoy 75 (1950) 1972 NCAA Indoor Champion—Mile (Michigan State/1971-3rd, 1973-5th);

NCAA Outdoor: 1972-1500(6th), 1973-Mile(5th)

In 2012, he organized a reunion of the 1972 Michigan State team that won Big-10 Indoor and Outdoor titles and

missed winning the NCAA Indoor title by 1 point. (see link)

“Junior year (1971) was the first time I broke the four-minute mile,” Popejoy said at the reunion. “I ran 3:59.5 at the Von’s Coliseum Classic and when I lined up for that race and I was standing right next to Jim Ryun (note: Ryun was the first high school runner to break four minutes in mile) and I had never met Jim Ryun before. I had a five-inch scrapbook of Jim Ryun. At the start of the race I’m standing next to him and I’m thinking “Oh my god…that’s Jim Ryun”. He reached out, slapped me on my butt, and said “Good luck, Popejoy”. And I was like, “God, he knows my name.” I could have gone and sat in the stands. I was done. But we ran the race – he won, I got second. At the finish, he says “That’s your first sub-4 isn’t it?” And I’m like “Oh my god, yeah!” And he said “Great, you and me, we’re going out to dinner tonight in Los Angeles and it’s on me.”

PBs:3:38.4 (1975), 3:57.0 (1973)

Reunion(2012): https://msuspartans.com/news/2012/4/11/Ken_Popejoy_Returns_to_MSU.aspx

1972 NCAA: https://vault.si.com/vault/1973/06/18/some-hot-times-in-a-hothouse

Deceased

Milt Campbell 78 (1933-Nov.2, 2012) 1956 Olympic gold medalist-Decathlon(Silver-1952)

1955 NCAA & U.S. Champion in the 120y-hurdles during his sophomore year at Indiana

Excelled at every sport he tried, including swimming, wrestling, judo, and professional football. A native of Plainfield,

New Jersey, Campbell started winning early, finishing first in the 60-yard hurdles and High Jump at the 1953

National H.S. Championships at Madison Square Garden. And that was less than a year after he had won the silver

medal in the decathlon at the 1952 Olympics!

Despite his failing health at the time, Campbell was able to participate in 2012 in decathlon 100^th-year celebrations in

Eugene, Oregon(during the Olympic Trials) and Marburg, Germany. Check out the links below for much more on this