Van Cortlandt Park

malmo wrote:

1971 Easterns: Winner Gordon Oliver B-CC 12;34

http://i57.tinypic.com/73hu3d.jpg

Mike Brown (RIP) of LaSalle high school and Georgetown Univ. is the black guy behind the leaders in this 1971 photo.

Gunny wrote:

Kevin McCarey graduated from Cathedral in June 1972. The picture shows him in the cross country season of 1971. Matt was a junior. Kevin defeated Matt and Mike Brown for the Catholic City Champs running 12:25.

agip wrote:

They seem to move the start around a lot too - since I've been runnign there, I've seen 3 different starts for the 5k and 2 or 3 for the 2.5 mile course. I have no idea where the races in the 70s started.

The condition of the grass matters too - it used to vary but now it is in great shape. very fast grass.

I ran there in like 2005 and there wasn't any grass, only a massive lake.

Anyone else run in the Eastern's Flood of 1980.

Wealthburg wrote:

Great feedback Harriers. Based on the responses, I conclude about 15 secs. faster, give or take, than the '70s & '80s.

I can't comment on how it was to run there back then. As a coach I bring my team to that invitational now and then.

The footing from what you have all said is better now although I have to say those railroad ties at times would be annoying to adjust your stride to.

I was there a couple of years ago when Cheserek ran that time. It should be noted that it was a freakishly hot day for October when he ran. I remember it being well over 80 degrees. I watched him come in on the straightaway. I knew he was shooting for under 12. He was so far out with 40 seconds to go I thought there was no way he would make it. It was quite the sight to see.

Of course their was all kind of talk about him being 20+ years old at the time. I don't hear that too much anymore.

Wealthburg wrote:

Anyone else run in the Eastern's Flood of 1980.

I wasn't there in 1980, but in the 1977 Easterns it was raining so much that the NYT ran a photo of one of the races and the guys looked like they were running in a stream.

They shortened my race to 1 1/4 (ish) miles by not letting us cross over to the back hills. I hadn't known that they'd shortened it, so it was a surprise.

kartelite wrote:

I ran there in like 2005 and there wasn't any grass, only a massive lake.

That shouldn't happen again.

"The 27 existing soccer, baseball/softball, and cricket fields will be re-graded and redesigned in a new layout to maximize play space, enhance field quality, and improve sight lines.

A new irrigation and drainage system will also be installed.

In addition, portions of the cross-country trail will be improved, and a new synthetic turf football field is being installed at Van Cortlandt Stadium."

Cemetery Hill is associated with the Sunken Meadow 5 mile XC college course.

Sunken Meadow has Cardiac Hill. Cemetery Hill is associated with Van Cortlandt Park. Atop the hill is the VC family cemetery, hence named Cemetery Hill.

BeLikePre wrote:

Cemetery Hill is associated with the Sunken Meadow 5 mile XC college course.

The official Parks Dept title for that area in VCP is Vault Hill.

Cat Hill in CP is correctly called the Cedar Hill Range.

Didn't say anything about it being the official name of the hill. I think most runners know it as Cemetery hill.

the minutiae I know astounds wrote:

The official Parks Dept title for that area in VCP is Vault Hill.

Cat Hill in CP is correctly called the Cedar Hill Range.

LI Runner is correct on all accounts.

Sorry if the tone of my post was not clear.It was informational not corrective.

LI Runner wrote:

Didn't say anything about it being the official name of the hill. I think most runners know it as Cemetery hill.

the minutiae I know astounds wrote:

The official Parks Dept title for that area in VCP is Vault Hill.

Cat Hill in CP is correctly called the Cedar Hill Range.

I ran at Vanny between 1958 and 1965. I'm 70 years old and have been running for 56 years. There were plenty of rocks, roots, sand and rough grass. Runners would get hurt quite a bit. I remember that there was one old guy who would buy a gallon of white paint every year, go through the course and paint all the big rocks in order to make them more visible. He did this voluntarily and paid for the paint himself. He was one of our very few fans/spectators at the time.

OLD Vanny runner wrote:

I ran at Vanny between 1958 and 1965. I'm 70 years old and have been running for 56 years. There were plenty of rocks, roots, sand and rough grass. Runners would get hurt quite a bit. I remember that there was one old guy who would buy a gallon of white paint every year, go through the course and paint all the big rocks in order to make them more visible. He did this voluntarily and paid for the paint himself. He was one of our very few fans/spectators at the time.

Wow thanks for sharing.

Maybe the guy with the paint is the guy who put the rocks there in the first place :)

No worries!I try to get to Vanny once a year for one of the NYRR XC races, but with an 11:00am start time, it basically kills a whole day. They also stage only a 5k, but would love to see the college 5 mile course used.

the minutiae I know astounds wrote:

Sorry if the tone of my post was not clear.

It was informational not corrective.

LI Runner wrote:

Didn't say anything about it being the official name of the hill. I think most runners know it as Cemetery hill.