| The real Crazy Horse |
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What happened to Canadian runner Dennis Stark? |
| Look Me |
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Good question? I remeber him well from early 80's and he had great potential back then in the high school days, but as far as I know did not have much of a running career after that? I believe he was a 3:50 a500m runner back then? |
| Hoser, eh |
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Absolute beast in high school in the late 70s. Ran some impressive times. I remember him making the junior team for world XC as a 17-year-old with a cast on his arm. This was back at the old course at Woodbridge. He went to East Tennessee State University for a while and never raced all that well. There were rumours in '83 or '84 that he was in amazing shape and was going to come back on the scene with a vengeance. He was mentioned in T&F News after a 15k road race around that time in which he was fighting for the lead over the first couple of hundred metres. The eventual winner--some well known runner of the day--waved to him and said sarcastically, "Have a nice race," assuming he was some yokel trying to get a little bit of glory. Quarter mile from finish Stark was still hanging on, almost winning and running a hell of a fast time. Word was he was going to run nationals XC in Victoria one February early/mid 80s, then supposedly he got drunk at a bar, punched a woman in the face, and was beaten badly by her boyfriend. Never heard from him again. |
| OldTimerRunner |
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I use to run against Dennis (not with him) back in college. A few guys on my team knew Dennis. Rumor was drinking was always a problem for Dennis. |
| tippler |
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He really liked the firewater. |
| Quinte High School |
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Stark ran at ETSU,he was All American three times in cross country and track and field News had him as somebody to watch for at Nationals xc to win in 1983 or 1984.In fact Stark was..is a legend at the NCAA South Eastern Regional Championships back in the early 80's down at Furman.His course record was not broken until they held Nationals there back in the 90's.He hammered the Clemson runners one year...koleman and the gang.The race your actually talking about was not a 15km but the Virginia 10 miler...he ran close to a 47:30....Jon Sinclare won that year....1984 perhaps 85.He actually ran 3:47/1500m in HS and finished 4th at the world juniors in 1980.His arch rival was Ian Clark in HS.I watched them race at OFSAA in 1979 in Kingston/Canada.Dennis would hammer the up hills and Ian would take the down hills and the flats. No one has seen or heard from Stark in decades.He vanished. |
| Hoser, eh |
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I stand corrected: never knew he'd run that well at ETSU. That's right: Jon Sinclair won the race and couldn't figure out who the hell Stark was. Ian Clarke was a beast too. OFSAA in 1979 in Kingston was on a rolling golf course. I remember that meet. Reid won the junior race I think, and Start and Clarke were in the senior? And thanks for the links to those pics--I remember that Woodbridge meet well! |
| jacknife |
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I believe gabriel kamau was the winner w/sinclair second. |
| early_riser |
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I heard a story about Coach Walker bumping into Stark early in the morning (about 6 A.M.)at their hotel the day of regionals. Coach said "good morning" and was surprised and pleased that "Dennis was up and at it early today." Th truth was that Stark had been up and drinking all night and was just going back to his room. He proceeded to blast the race. |
| Mr. Marvel |
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Iron Man? |
| Canadian eh? |
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| wwwwwwwwwww |
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http://dennisforward29.blogspot.com/2006/07/dennis-stark-to-officially-declare.html http://www.cityidol.to/dennis_stark.htm |
| rsam |
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Dennis had a heart of gold! I raced against Stark and Clarke in 1978 at OFSSAA Kingston and beat both in the Junior 1500 in 354.6... they were both as tough as nails... both were a year younger than me so no bragging rights... Ian Clarke is coaching elite Runners in Ottawa with the Lions Track club.. not sure he is still running...i did the US College thing and got sick and burned out.. had more success in Traithlon going to World Age group champs twice in the 90's |
| lada |
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You also beat Dallas Allaire in that one. Pretty amazing, what did your PB's end up being? As well, they both got you in the 3000. What was the race like? |
| Yumguy |
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He wasn't booked. |