Top All Time Kansas Distance guys

Yes, I remember the name, Jim Euell. I am looking thru my Big 8 Indoor Championship program from 1972 now and he is not listed on the roster or in the results for 1972, however.

jscott wrote:

Yes, I remember the name, Jim Euell. I am looking thru my Big 8 Indoor Championship program from 1972 now and he is not listed on the roster or in the results for 1972, however.

I'd really be interested in whatever his story might be. I saw him run as a Connecticut prep and he was really great. Perhaps he was injured his whole time at KU, I don't know--but, sadly, he never seemed to have done much there.

thanks for your times, I've added them to the list...your point about other Kansas greats is true...and it is difficult to track them all down (most of our best runner ran in the days before the internet - so most of their times are not easily found or where done in the days before courses were certified as much as they are today (so they may not be on official state lists, etc)...so any links, results, times you know of is appreciated.

Big names currently looking for:

1) Stan Vernon - just found a low 45:00's 15K at Tulsa '81

2) Fred Torneden - teaches where I do (so I will get his times eventually)

3) Mike Regan - did most of his best running times back East, will try to get his times through his brother

4) Curt Shelman - still lives near Wichita (Rose Hill) now does some bike racing

5) Gary Gregory - has a running store in Wichita (First Gear)

6) Trey Harrison - in the El Dorado area, also races bikes now

7) Tim Gundy - moved to Oregon, Physical Therapist (i think)

did a story on him back in his Olympic Trial days where I got some of his best times from back then

8) Bob Luder - someone gave an updates with a few times on dyestat.com, but still looking for more

9) Kent McDonald - someone gave a fast time for him from Cresent City Classic (would like to confirm) did find a blazing 9K for him in 25:43 Jackson Mi

10) J.P. Worcester - hope to see him in races this year for some updates

11) Bob McAnany - same as above

12) Rick Bishop - someone gave an update on here

who else can we think of?

Alan Walker - think he did Atwood back when I was a kid

John Mason -

Randy Smith -

I was around KU when Euell was there. I remember McDonald telling me a story involving Euell. The cross country team had bombed at the Big 8 meet so Timmie refused to take them to regionals. The team minus Euell paid their own way to regionals and qualfied. Timmons then decided to get involved and booted the walk on who had taken Euell's spot which pissed off the other six who had paid to go to regionals. Kent says Euell ended up having the best day at nationals. I also recall Jim captured a Big 8 indoor 1,000 but that's from memory and I could be wrong. Unfortunately KU does a crappy job of putting track information on the web.

that story reminds me of the time when PSU coach Suernam (sp) didn't take his team to Nationals after we beat them even though 2 teams could go (they were 2nd). which in the end only hurts our district since they used to allow each district 1 qualifier + how ever many teams from your area placed in the top 10 at National the year before.

I think we got 5th and only beat them by 3 pts - so they would have likely placed in the top 10 as well.

Here's a link to the "History" section of the 2005 KU Track media guide. I haven't been able to find the 2006 or 2007 media guides online.

Beginning on page 12 you'll find a list of every indoor and outdoor Big 12, 8, 7, 6 and MVC Champion in KU history.

Jayhawk wrote:

I was around KU when Euell was there. I remember McDonald telling me a story involving Euell. The cross country team had bombed at the Big 8 meet so Timmie refused to take them to regionals. The team minus Euell paid their own way to regionals and qualfied. Timmons then decided to get involved and booted the walk on who had taken Euell's spot which pissed off the other six who had paid to go to regionals. Kent says Euell ended up having the best day at nationals. I also recall Jim captured a Big 8 indoor 1,000 but that's from memory and I could be wrong. Unfortunately KU does a crappy job of putting track information on the web.

Thanks! Euell was amazing in HS; good to hear that he had at least a few good performances at KU.

[quote]jerrry wrote:

or where done in the days before courses were certified as much as they are today (so they may not be on official state lists, etc

I know...I only gave you my PRs from certified, fairly big races. I once ran a 10k race in 29:01, but I know it must have been about 9.7k, since the winner ran 28:30 and he never broke 29:30 before, so I don't even count those kinds of races...lol...

old tymer wrote:

I'd really be interested in whatever his story might be. I saw him run as a Connecticut prep and he was really great. Perhaps he was injured his whole time at KU, I don't know--but, sadly, he never seemed to have done much there.

he had plenty of other blue-chip company there at Lawrence who disappeared in a hurry, once they got to KU.

Thanks for the link Kevin but I'm not sure about the guide's accuracy, I could swear McDonald won the Big 8 Steeple all four years he was at Kansas.

I was living in New Orleans in the late 70's and early 80s. Kent Mcdonald was a top area road racer. I think he might have broken 29 minutes at the Crescent Classic one year.

any noteworthy results from the Trolley Run?

Tim Gundy lives in Clarkston, Washington and is a physical therapist for the Lewiston, Idaho Public School District. He was running well even a few years back, placing in the top 5 masters at Bloomsday in Spokane. He also coaches cross country and track at Asotin (Washington) High School

Didn't Gundy run mid/low 3:40s for the 1500 while at KU? I kind of remember his flirting with the 4 minute mile. I was only 9 at that time, but remember him well-Tim was, and I am sure still is, a great guy.

Stann Vernon moved to Dallas in the early 80s, worked at a locally owned running shoe store, and dominated the road racing scene for several years. And Dallas had a surpringly strong running scene in those days. I have no idea where he is now.

Stan's little brother Tom was a very good high school runner for Joe Schrag at Topeka West. The last time I saw Tom was at the Long Beach Marathon in 1988.

[quote]drewr wrote:

how did Mike Petterson, your dad's teammate, who ran a 4:10 mile in '65 when Ryun ran his 3:58, end up doing in college? He still probably had a top 5 time for high school milers in '65 I would guess, but was obviously overshadowed. Did he go to KU?

Mike did NOT run his high school PR of 4:10 at the state meet when Jim ran his 3:58. He went with Ryun through the 1/2 at 2 minutes, thus killing his chance for a PR. I'm not sure what race he ran his PR in. Any Wichita, Ks. or high school historians out there?