Weren't Bill & Dirk Lakeman high school teammates? I seem to recall a T&FN picture of Lakeman outleaning Bill at the state meet with both at 4:04 or 4:05. Any wonder that with the other two guys under 4:20, they had a national record 4 X Mile team?
Weren't Bill & Dirk Lakeman high school teammates? I seem to recall a T&FN picture of Lakeman outleaning Bill at the state meet with both at 4:04 or 4:05. Any wonder that with the other two guys under 4:20, they had a national record 4 X Mile team?
Actually the famous picture, which was distributed as an insert in the Who's Who in Oregon HS T & F, was from their district meet. My memory is a little fuzzy but I believe they ran 4:07.1 and 4:07.2. They went on to run 4:06.9 and 4:07.2 at the state meet. I believe Dirk's state record of 4:04.94 was set at the Twilight meet, or some other grand event of the day.
It is a shame that this thread has not gathered speed because one of the most overlooked/unknown facts in the history of American running is that Billy holds BOTH the 5k and 10k records at Oregon. I know it has been mentioned before but it is worth repeating. To be at the top of those legendary lists warrants some monumental respect!
Just my opinion.
I agree that is monumental. And they finally last year voted him into the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Long overdue in my opinion. Olympian, School Record holder in two events I think would warrant something sooner. McChesney's are great people. Lots of classic stories about Bill in his days at Oregon. After they won NCAA Cross Bill's first year (on what is probably the greatest cross team made up of mostly Americans, i.e. Chapa, Salazar, McChesney, Centrowitz, Clary), the U of O president had a celebration dinner at his house. Everyone showed up in suites and ties except for Bill. He showed in a Kermit the Frog outfit, complete head to toe, with a hood and flippers over the hands. The doorbell rang, and the school president went to answer the door, found Kermit the Frog on his doorstep. The school president knew Bill was a character, and with no pause said "Hey, Bill, glad you showed up" or something to the effect. First time I saw him race was at the Twilight meet in 1981. Ran 3:56 and pushed Tom Byers when Byers thought he had the race won. And Bill ran the race in his Pink Panther singlet. Kind of Classic.
What about the Mastilirs? While only a duo, they ran 8:46 and 8:49 respectively. At the very least some impressive genetics.
Not for comparison at all as I think everyone mentioned was fantastic, but how fast did the Assuma brothers run?
Great stories, hinderdropplet.
Both Assumas ran 8:52, you can find a couple of these lists on Patrick Hoffman's page.
Steve is now the proud papa of twim boys, Stevie and Billy.
Does Billy hold the American collegiate 5,000m record? If not, he has to be one of the top five times.
hey mooker...how old are Steve's twin boys? I'm just wondering what folks out this way will do when another Bill McChesney shows up in an athletic contest!
-the statman
p.s. we missed andrew at the multi-events this past weekend.
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Bill Sr once told me he was the state champion in the mile. pretty amazing family
I think Marcia said they were born in November. Love those folks, they were my surrogate family when I first moved to Oregon (made sure I ate at least once a week too!)
Andrew just finished some big basketball thing (voted MVP of course), so he is just now gearing back into thinking about his new decath career. I'll probably drag him down to Eugene for an all comers in July with my little distance guys. My Alberto is healthy again and doing a slow build. I plan on trianing him like a McChesney, he's the right size!
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Ah...the Assuma brothers...got my butt kicked by them in age-group meets in late 70s. One won the cal state two mile as sophomore and I think one of 'em broke four in indoor meet in England, maybe first American to do that. Had other siblings who ran.
Since I ran in Oregon at the time, I am quite sure Dirk ran for Lincoln HS in Portland with Art Boiloue (sp?). We had the McChesneys and the Fulton brothers, Joe, Dan and Bob. The Fultons and McChesneys were great friends and competitors. Dominated Oregon HS running.
Dirk Lakeman wasn't much until he went to college, a decent miler but it wasn't until college when his times dropped. I beat him in the PIL (Portland HS Championships) with a 4:23 mile. Couldn't touch him in college though, he really came on.
Back to the McChesneys.....very classy family. I saw Bill Sr. at the Masters Championships in 2003. Wonderful person.
I think you have your Dirk's confused. Lakeman definitely ran for South Eugene and led the nation with his 4:04 mile in '77.
The Assummas were age group phenoms. I heard that they tore up the AAU Nationals most every year since they were 8 or 9. Frank is still competitive, pretty amazing longevity.
1500Master wrote:
Since I ran in Oregon at the time, I am quite sure Dirk ran for Lincoln HS in Portland with Art Boiloue (sp?). We had the McChesneys and the Fulton brothers, Joe, Dan and Bob. The Fultons and McChesneys were great friends and competitors. Dominated Oregon HS running.
Dirk Lakeman wasn't much until he went to college, a decent miler but it wasn't until college when his times dropped. I beat him in the PIL (Portland HS Championships) with a 4:23 mile. Couldn't touch him in college though, he really came on.
Back to the McChesneys.....very classy family. I saw Bill Sr. at the Masters Championships in 2003. Wonderful person.
Lakeman transferred from Lincoln in Portland to South Eugene for his junior and senior years of high school.
I agree totally. Bill Sr is a great guy, as is his wife, Marsha. My wife and I enjoy talking to them. They are super people. Two boys passed on, sadly.
I stand corrected. Now I am trying to figure out the #2 guy at Lincoln that I defeated since it wasn't Dirk. Art B. won the race.