As long as we are going back in time and remembering prep runners from the 70's, what about the McChesney brothers of Eugene, Oregon. I know that Billy ran a 10K prep record that Hulst and Chapa broke it. Did all three running brothers break 9:00 for the 2 mile?
Dude you forgot to get rid of your link, You are as bad as catman. But with the board closing who cares anyway
Bill went 8:50, Tom 8:53, and Steve 9:04.
let's not forget kenny:
8:40 as a soph but unsure if he ran faster after that.
Did Ken McChesney run for Montana or Montana State?
I thought I was the top freshman at NCAA cross one year but I found out that some tall skinny blond haired kid named McChesney was a few spots ahead.
I never saw anything from him after that.
In 1982, South Eugene HS sophomore Kenny McChesney ran 8:40.8(3k) at the 5AAA Midwestern district meet. He dipped under the state auto qualifier of 8:42.9 and had the sixth fastest time in the state of Oregon but was not allowed to run in the state meet because he was fourth in the race behind three teammates. The OSAA rules did not allow more than three athletes per team per event in order to quote "prevent one team from dominating an event at the state meet". ?!??!?? There was a lawsuit filed (and lost) and part of the OSAA's rationale was that Kenny was only a sophomore and he would have two more years to go to state. He was mostly injured as a JR and SR in track and never got the chance to run in the Oregon state track meet. He then ran at Montana(as did his father Bill Sr.) and I believe he may have dipped under 9:00 in the steeple. I hear he's back in Oregon now and he is a HS teacher. Great kid, great family. Brother Steve is now living in Massachusetts and is coaching at the HS level.
Steve is the track coach at one of the high schools in my town (Newton, Massachusetts). He is undoubtedly one of the best distance coaches in Eastern Mass. Its hilarious because most of the time up here the coach is some guy who barely has a clue (having the athletes take the baton in the wrong hand is a dead give-away) -- and then there is a select group of coaches like Steve who are in a different realm altogther.
About 1998 Tom ran around 4:30 for the mile at the Hayward Master's meet. I think he was in his early 40's at the time.
My earliest memory of Billy was at the 1976 Olympic Trials in Eugene. Here was this small, high school kid that was hanging around the best distance runners in America like he knew all of them. Of course within four years he is one of the best American distance runners himself. Ran a terrific 5,000 at the 1980 Oly Trials, only to have Carter deprive him from competing at the Olympics. It was a shame he had to die so young.
I hate to bring this up but Tom McChesney died in the late 80's. He was hit by a car while riding his bike in the San Diego area. You must be thinking of somebody else.
Uh, it was Bill that got killed. I think it was in a head-on crash.
Bill McChesney was awesome in 1982, the first year I started following this sport. 13:15 and 27:50 as a collegiate. Damn!
Uh, it was Bill that got killed. Car accident.
13:15 and 27:50 in college! What a talent.
Wait a second. Is his brother dead too?
sadly, yes.
too young and too soon for both of them.
Yes. Tom rode his bike into a dumptruck in the early 80s.
With respect to the McChesneys I would appreciate if you be very carefull and don't speak of them idly.
I didnt know about the other one. What a tragedy for that family.
I run the McChesney Mile every year amd get the chance to chat with Bill Sr. He is a staple at all of the Eugene meets and if you ever get the chance go say hi to him and talk about his sons. He LOVES to talk about them and their running. He is a real class act and I enjoy that race as much as any other in the country.
Mike Miller
i ain't the expert, but....
i find it hard to believe this thread came to a close so quickly....but, i'm a guy that believes the past has something to teach us.
you want to know something about hs distance history? this is the place to lay it down, cuz i know of no other brother combo superior to the mcchesneys in the history of american hs track.
period.
not to mention the unbelievable shit goin on at south back in the day....guys you've probably never heard of: nielsen, gustafson, s. brown, et al...
regardless of my bias, this family--and extended family of south--deserves intimate perusal....not to mention the coolest uniforms of any hs ever, handily presented by marcia mcchesney herself.
chillyb
mmm-huuu