Jamul Toads 1976

Hodgie-san · 2004-07-07T14:27:34-04:00

When I rummage through my archives I just never know what I might turn up. National AAU Championships Nov. 27, 1976 Belmont Plateau, Fairmont Park Phila., Distance 10,000 Meters. Cloudy and overcast, Temp. 61 degrees. Course: Fast. 1. Ric Rojas Col. TC 30:23 2. Terry Cotton Jamul Toads 30:26 3. Jeff Bradley Reading Berks 30:27 4. Kirk Pfeffer Jamul Toads 30:33 5. Barry Brown Fla. TC 30:34 6. Mark Finucane E. Tenn. 30:37 7. Ted Castaneda Col. TC 30:38 8. Bobby Thomas Maccabi 30:40 9. Ed Mendoza Jamul Toads 30:41 10. S. Foster Fla. TC 30:41 11. Tom Fleming NYAC 30:43 12. George Malley Nitty VTC A 30:43 13. Bill Lundberg Chicago TC 30:44 14. Ronald Zarate Reno TC 30:47 15. Dave Harper Jamul Toads 30:47 16. John Gregorio Col. TC 30:49 17. Bob Hodge GBTC 30:50 18. Matt Centrowitz NYAC 30:50 19. Pete Squires NYAC 30:51 20. Ron Spiers NYAC 30:51 21. Charlie Vigil Col. TC 30:30:53 22. Herm Atkins Club NW 30:53 23. Tom Lux Jamul Toads 30:55 24. Randy Thomas GBTC 30:59 25. Morgan Fennell NYAC 31:01 26. Chuck Smead Ath. In Action 31:04 27. Don Timm Ath. In Action 31:05 28. Steve Flanagan Col. TC 31:07 29. Benji Durden Atlanta TC 31:07 30. Michael Bordell Col. TC 31:09 31. Byron Dyce Fla. TC 31:10 32. Hamilton Amer Summit AC 31:11 33. Kevin Foley Summit AC 31:11 34. Gary Cohen Athletic Attic NJ 31:13 35. Duane Waltmire Ath. In Action 31:15 36. Paul Stemmer Nitty VTC A 31:16 37. George Reed Seacoast Striders 31:17 38. Don Kardong Club NW 31:17 39. Steve Floto Col. TC 31:18 40. Dwight Kier Nitty VTC A 31:18 41 Ed Leddy Knoxville 31:18 42. Bruce Fisher Chicago TC 31:21 43. David Casillas Chicago TC 31:26 44. Dave Reinhart Athletic Attic NJ 31:27 45. Victor Elk USMC 31:29 46. Anthony Sandoval West Valley TC 31:30 47. Mike Slack Chicago TC 31:31 48. John Sharp Ontario 31:35 49. Steve Mahieu Wash. Running Club 31:36 50. Joel Majors Atlanta TC 31:36 51. Rick Albright Club NW 31:36 52. Scott Graham GBTC 31:36 53. Phil Meyer USMC 31:38 54. Tim Steele Shore AC 31:39 55. Keith Woodward Spur t moment TC 31:40 56. Jim Nuccio West Valley TC 31:42 57. Julio Piazza Phila. Pioneers 31:42 58. Bruce Baden Nitty VTC A 31:42 59. Bob Legge Ontario 31:43 60. Pat Tyson Club NW 31:43

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6 years ago 07/18/2019 1:28pm EDT

re: SVRat

new book out from june of 2019,

Running to the Edge, a Band of Misfits and the Guru that Unlocked the Secrets of Speed.

By Matthew Futterman, Deputy Sports Editor of the New York Times.

Great book, great factual stories of how the TOADS and Jamul AC merged in 1974, to become one of the strongest collection of runners, and the 1976 AAU XC champions.

I am an original Jamul Toad, from that first group of Jamul Toads that toed the line for the 1974 Balboa Park 8 mile race. Kirk Pfeffer and I screened the first batch of nylon racing singlets at Kirk's house in Santee. This was a great period in time for American distance running. I feel very lucky to say I am a Jamul Toad, to have had the honor to run and sweat with all the names that have been mentioned in this thread. And I feel very lucky to have had Bob Larson, CBL, as a coach.

Get the book, read an accurate history of the 1976 national champs. Then take a look at the current Dirt Dog cross country results from the last few years. The Dirt Dog XC races are a series of XC races with team titles at stake, for the bragging rights in San Diego county.

6 years ago 07/18/2019 1:31pm EDT

re: dwilson1956@mac.com

LOVE IT.

Thank you for the update!

6 years ago 07/18/2019 2:13pm EDT

re: dwilson1956@mac.com

dwilson1956@mac.com
wrote:
new book out from june of 2019,
Running to the Edge, a Band of Misfits and the Guru that Unlocked the Secrets of Speed.
By Matthew Futterman, Deputy Sports Editor of the New York Times.
Great book, great factual stories of how the TOADS and Jamul AC merged in 1974, to become one of the strongest collection of runners, and the 1976 AAU XC champions.
I am an original Jamul Toad, from that first group of Jamul Toads that toed the line for the 1974 Balboa Park 8 mile race. Kirk Pfeffer and I screened the first batch of nylon racing singlets at Kirk's house in Santee. This was a great period in time for American distance running. I feel very lucky to say I am a Jamul Toad, to have had the honor to run and sweat with all the names that have been mentioned in this thread. And I feel very lucky to have had Bob Larson, CBL, as a coach.
Get the book, read an accurate history of the 1976 national champs. Then take a look at the current Dirt Dog cross country results from the last few years. The Dirt Dog XC races are a series of XC races with team titles at stake, for the bragging rights in San Diego county.

Read the book a few weeks back. It's a great read. One of the best (I think it's much better than either Once a Runner or Running with the Buffaloes, IMHO).

6 years ago 07/18/2019 3:39pm EDT

re: darkwave

Does it really take much to be better than either one!

6 years ago 07/18/2019 3:47pm EDT

re: darkwave

Good documentary about Larsen out too on Amazon "City Slickers Can't Stay With Me".

6 years ago 07/18/2019 4:14pm EDT

re: Far Out West

I was also in that 1976 race. I got a poor start and was swallowed up in the mob. I never was able to get going. I recall how tough the course was. Every time I tried to start passing people, some obstacle appeared, like a hill or slippery footing or just no room to go around.

The next day, Sunday, was the Philadelphia marathon, which I also ran. Hard to imagine now, but it was 3 times and out and back along the river. Probably less than 100 runners, if even that many. The thing to remember is that the first NY five borough marathon was just the month before. Big city marathons were not yet an event.

Thanks for the reminiscence, Bob.

6 years ago 07/18/2019 4:47pm EDT

re: Old Ultra Guy

6 years ago 07/18/2019 5:08pm EDT

re: malmo

malmo wrote:
Hunt finished in the top ten at NCAA thar year. He's allowed to finish 77th after four days rest.

George, a number of Div. II champs competed and did extremely well in Div. I champs 2 days later.

Marc Hunter (Cleveland State) and Jim Schankel (CP-SLO) specifically.

Just for perspective.

6 years ago 07/18/2019 9:29pm EDT

re: darkwave

darkwave wrote:
dwilson1956@mac.com
wrote:
new book out from june of 2019,
Running to the Edge, a Band of Misfits and the Guru that Unlocked the Secrets of Speed.
By Matthew Futterman, Deputy Sports Editor of the New York Times.
Great book, great factual stories of how the TOADS and Jamul AC merged in 1974, to become one of the strongest collection of runners, and the 1976 AAU XC champions.
I am an original Jamul Toad, from that first group of Jamul Toads that toed the line for the 1974 Balboa Park 8 mile race. Kirk Pfeffer and I screened the first batch of nylon racing singlets at Kirk's house in Santee. This was a great period in time for American distance running. I feel very lucky to say I am a Jamul Toad, to have had the honor to run and sweat with all the names that have been mentioned in this thread. And I feel very lucky to have had Bob Larson, CBL, as a coach.
Get the book, read an accurate history of the 1976 national champs. Then take a look at the current Dirt Dog cross country results from the last few years. The Dirt Dog XC races are a series of XC races with team titles at stake, for the bragging rights in San Diego county.
Read the book a few weeks back. It's a great read. One of the best (I think it's much better than either Once a Runner or Running with the Buffaloes, IMHO).

I just finished it -- very well done, and interesting. I agree that Once a Runner is pretty awful, but Running with the Buffaloes I thought was good. Anyway - that's OT. Running to the Edge is a keeper.

6 years ago 07/18/2019 9:50pm EDT

re: Far Out West

Good documentary about Larsen out too on Amazon "City Slickers Can't Stay With Me".[/quote]

The idea for the book came to the author after he saw the film.

Author does a nice job with the book.

Both the film and the book do a great job with Larsen's history and this epic 1976 race.

6 years ago 07/18/2019 10:16pm EDT

re: dwilson1956@mac.com

[quote]

dwilson1956@mac.com

wrote:

Kirk Pfeffer and I screened the first batch of nylon racing singlets at Kirk's house in Santee.

You need to screen some more and sell them to us old toads that never had a chance to be a Jamul Toad.

6 years ago 07/18/2019 10:56pm EDT

re: yakima

yakima wrote:
malmo wrote:
Hunt finished in the top ten at NCAA thar year. He's allowed to finish 77th after four days rest.
George, a number of Div. II champs competed and did extremely well in Div. I champs 2 days later.
Marc Hunter (Cleveland State) and Jim Schankel (CP-SLO) specifically.
Just for perspective.

For perspective.

https://trackandfieldnews.com/ncaa-cross-country-championships-mens-results/1976-ncaa-cross-country-championships/

6 years ago 07/19/2019 6:49am EDT

re: malmo

Someone regurgitated a 14 year old thread --- and it's great!

Recognize so many names/guys.

Rojas was hot for a while, then heard he went to Los Alamos Labs to work, then became Nikes top guy in Porto Rico. Many years ago, dude.

6 years ago 07/19/2019 10:36am EDT

re: Gramps

Gramps wrote:
Someone regurgitated a 14 year old thread --- and it's great!
Recognize so many names/guys.
Rojas was hot for a while, then heard he went to Los Alamos Labs to work, then became Nikes top guy in Porto Rico. Many years ago, dude.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My hat is off to those that squeezed every ounce of publicity from the Jamul Toads story. The lemon is completely dry now. Maybe another book will appear! Who knows!

6 years ago 07/19/2019 11:54am EDT

re: Gramps

Gramps wrote:
Someone regurgitated a 14 year old thread --- and it's great!
Recognize so many names/guys.
Rojas was hot for a while, then heard he went to Los Alamos Labs to work, then became Nikes top guy in Porto Rico. Many years ago, dude.

Yep, great thread - probably read it years ago too, just can't remember.

That Belmont Plateau course was sure brutal.

6 years ago 07/19/2019 3:03pm EDT

re: malmo

malmo wrote:
yakima wrote:
George, a number of Div. II champs competed and did extremely well in Div. I champs 2 days later.
Marc Hunter (Cleveland State) and Jim Schankel (CP-SLO) specifically.
Just for perspective.
For perspective.
https://trackandfieldnews.com/ncaa-cross-country-championships-mens-results/1976-ncaa-cross-country-championships/

Umm, George, for further perspective - Arizona's Terry Cotton went from 18th (NCAA) to 2nd (AAU).

I guess you could call that reverse perspective. Pretty damn impressive nonetheless.

So how did these Arizona guys (Cotton & Hunt) get from Denton, TX to Philly? Did they fly from DFW to Tucson to San Diego and then to Philly? Inquiring minds really would like to know!

6 years ago 07/19/2019 3:19pm EDT

re: malmo

The high quality depth in 1976 was staggering. 50 guys ran 29:40 or better at that 1976 NCAA xc champs, vs. only 19 at 2018 in Madison, although the top team there, Northern Arizona, did average 29:40. I can't remember if it ended up snowing for xc last year but it was about 30 degrees.

https://www.ncaa.com/di-mens-and-womens-cross-country-results

6 years ago 07/19/2019 3:28pm EDT

re: mahmood

mahmood wrote:
Umm, George, for further perspective - Arizona's Terry Cotton went from 18th (NCAA) to 2nd (AAU).
I guess you could call that reverse perspective. Pretty damn impressive nonetheless.

Actually, not very impressive at all. AAUs is a huge step below NCAA, competitive-wise. Neither open runners nor college ever runners ever took it very seriously. It's only in threads like this do you even remember it.

mahmood wrote:
So how did these Arizona guys (Cotton & Hunt) get from Denton, TX to Philly? Did they fly from DFW to Tucson to San Diego and then to Philly? Inquiring minds really would like to know!

I don't know, and I'm not the least bit curious. This is something that would never occur to me to think of. But since YOU asked, forty-three years later, I'll speculate for you. I assume they went home for Thanksgiving and then took a flight to Philly. on Thursday night or Friday morning.

6 years ago 07/19/2019 3:33pm EDT

re: zxcvzxcv

zxcvzxcv wrote:
The high quality depth in 1976 was staggering. 50 guys ran 29:40 or better at that 1976 NCAA xc champs, vs. only 19 at 2018 in Madison, although the top team there, Northern Arizona, did average 29:40. I can't remember if it ended up snowing for xc last year but it was about 30 degrees.

The Denton Texas XC course was on hard, sun-burnt grass. There was something that was supposed to resemble a hill, NOT, but it really was flat and extremely fast. I've run on tracks that were slower. Plus WSU took it out from the gun and didn't relent.

3 years ago 06/23/2022 5:46pm EDT

re: Far Out West

Far Out West wrote:
Good documentary about Larsen out too on Amazon "City Slickers Can't Stay With Me".

I’m watching that movie right now on Amazon prime

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