July 4th in Needham, MA
AAU Senior National 20K Championship
2 Lap Course
I had to smile recently at an all-time 25 greatest male U.S. marathoners list that had John J. Kelley ranked 7th. This annual July 4th race is but one example of how Young John Kelley dominated long distance running during the 1950s and 1960s. All-time list are best done by era in 10 – 20 year increments. On this list Clarence DeMar, John A. Kelley, and Buddy Edelen were ranked 9 – 11th respectively.
Here’s a history of this national 20K championship race held each year on this date. Included are top finishers & winning team members.
1954:
1. John J. Kelley
2. John Lafferty
1955:
1. Charley Robbins
2. Jimmy Daley Jr
3. John Lafferty
1956:
1. John J. Kelley 64:21
2. Jimmy Daley Jr
3. John Lafferty
Team Title -Boston Athletic Association (BAA)
Kelley, Lafferty, Tony Sapienza, Tom Ryan, Rene Doiron
1957:
1. John J. Kelley 65:57
2. Tony Sapienza
3. Ted Corbitt
50 Starters
Team Title – BAA
Kelley, Sapienza, Lafferty, Gonzales Scotto, Robert Cheves
1958:
1. John J. Kelley 64:05
2. Browning Ross
3. Jim Green
43 Starters
Team Title – BAA
Kelley, Green, Sapenzia, John Booras, Al Confalone
1959:
1. John J. Kelley 64:08
2. Jim Green
3. Al Confalone
39 Starters
Team Title– BAA
Kelley, Green, Confalone, Dick Packard, Don Fay
1960:
1. John J. Kelley 64:46
2. Jim Green
3. Ed Duncan
47 Starters
Team Title- BAA
Kelley, Green, Wm Feeney, Mike Bigelow, Dan Dunlop
1961:
1. Pete McArdle 63:43
2. John J. Kelley
3. Larry Damon
53 Starters
Team Title – BAA
Kelley, Damon, Al Confalone, Ken Mueller, Bob Zollinhoffer
1962:
1. Fred Norris 63:12
2. John J. Kelley
3. Graham Parnell
75 Starters
Team Title – BAA
Kelley, Al Confalone, Gerry Harvey, Len Ehler, Ed Duncan
1963:
1. John J. Kelley 64:20
2. Fred Norris
3. Ralph Buschmann
Team Title – BAA
Kelley, Jim Green, Al Confalone, Tony Sapienza, James Tierney
1964:
1. Jim Keefe 65:03
2. George Conefrey
3. Jim Green
64 Starters
Team Title – BAA
Green, Robert Sullivan, Tony Sapienza, Richard Packard, John Gray
1965:
1. Larry Furnell 65:37
2. John J. Kelley
3. Jim O’Connell
81 Starters
Team Title: New York Athletic Club (NYAC)
Furnell, Ed Winrow, John McDonnell, John Kopil, Bill Schwab
1966:
1. Ralph Buschman 64:10
2. Tom Laris
3. John J. Kelley
78 Starters
Team Title – NYAC
Laris, Ed Winrow, John Kopil, Vince Chiapetta, Ed Bowes
1967: National Junior Championship & Open
1. Ralph Bushmann 64:32
2. Amby Burfoot
3. Norman Higgins
Junior Championship
1. Ray Hall
2. Ken Mueller
3. Ray Crothers
1968:
1. Art Coolidge 63:28
2. James Keefe
3. Ed Norris
Tea m Title – BAA
Coolidge, Norris, Ken Mueller, Peter Stupe, Ron Wayne
The Ted Corbitt Record at Needham
1955: 7th– 75:08
1956: 7th- 72:49
1957: 3rd- 72:13
1958: 7th 70:25
1959: 12th- 73:12
1960: 8th – 72:08
1961: 9th – 70:21
1962: 30th– 74:53
1965: 24th- 75:51
New York Pioneer Club (NYPC) Team Record at Needham
1956 2nd place
Ted Corbitt, Rudy Mendez, Jim Borden, John Conway, Gus Likos
1957 3rd place
Ted Corbitt, Jim Borden, Rod MacNicholl, Nat Cirulnick, John Conway
1958 2nd place
Ted Corbitt, Rod MacNicholl, Jose Dones, John Conway, Eugene Pofsythe
1959 3rd place
Rudy Mendez, Ted Corbitt, Rod MacNicholl, Charley Robbins, Jose Dones
For more running history information visit the following:
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