The Three Bills, Bill Jakunis, Bill Welsh, Bill Rodgers, photo by Ralph Giordano, note by Jeff Benjamin

The Three Bills: Bill Jakunis, Bill Welsh, Bill Rodgers, by Ralph Giordano

Staten Islanders were treated to an evening with Bill Rodgers last night, organized by Jeff Benjamin, a long time correspondent of American Track & Field and RunBlogRun.com. Here is his note on the photo, that arrived in my mailbox this morning.

The Three Bills, photo from Ralph Giordano, from reception on Staten Island last night….

Here is what long time correspondent and friend, Jeff Benjamin noted in email this note on the photo:

” Bill Jakunis, Staten Islander, 1976 Olympic trials champion in high jump, upset Dwight Stones-I believe 13th in Montreal-Olympic team mate of Bill Rodgers

Legendary runner coach, Bill Welsh, Staten Islander, 10th in 1957 Boston Marathon, Jakunis coach and also coached Staten Island’s only sub four minute miler, Charles Marsala

Bill Rodgers,” (AR in marathon, 1975, 1979, bronze medal, World Cross Country, 1975, four time NYC winner, four time Boston winner, and should have had AR for hour run on track)

P.S. Thanks on four time Boston-1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, forgot 1978 with Jeff Wells and Bill Rodgers finish! NYC was 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979, at one time, Bill Rodgers won 35 of 39 races, in 1978-1979.

#INGNYCM, #newyorkcitymarathon

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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