McChesney’s sons Tom, Bill Jr. and Steve were University of Oregon distance runners. Bill Jr., who died tragically in a 1992 automobile accident, set the UO outdoor record in the 5,000 meters of 13 minutes, 14.80 seconds in 1982. It still stands.
McChesney’s sons Tom, Bill Jr. and Steve were University of Oregon distance runners. Bill Jr., who died tragically in a 1992 automobile accident, set the UO outdoor record in the 5,000 meters of 13 minutes, 14.80 seconds in 1982. It still stands.
Bummer. A revered family name in Eugene.
I remember as a sophomore in high school watching Bill McChesney running in the 1981 NCAA Cross Country championships in Wichita, KS. Some of the McChesney family was there too.
Just to make sure people are not confused you saw Bill Jr. Run and not his father. Sadly Bill Jr died in an auto accident in the 1990s.
Run Around wrote:
Just to make sure people are not confused you saw Bill Jr. Run and not his father. Sadly Bill Jr died in an auto accident in the 1990s.
Just to make sure people are not confused you pointed out that he saw Bill Jr. run and not his father. You also pointed out that Bill Jr sadly died in an auto accident in the 1990s.
I believe brother Ken ran at Montana.
Saw Bill run a 4:50ish mile at Hawyard around 1981, it was some sort of age group record at the time. More importantly, the crowd went nuts for him! Maybe it was the Twilight Meet, '81 or '82.
This was shortly after his son Bill ran a 13:15 at Hawyard that same spring.
Yes Ken did run at Montana. Best coach I ever had.
Montana state I think. Ken coached me on his first team, and
I met Bill a couple times. Good people all of them.
I watched that run, I think it was to break the 5:00 mile at age 50. Wonderful guy that I run with him and a relay team for the Oregon Track Club Masters around 30 years ago. Very sad.
Larry Wilson
I believe Bill ran under a 5:00 min. mile at age 50, I saw this race. I ran with Bill on a relay team for the Oregon Track Club Masters about 30 years ago for several races. Bill to me was a giant for track and field and just so nice of a guy. Very sad.
Larry Wilson
My mistake, Bill ran at age 59 a mile in 4:50, wow!!!
Back in the 80s, UofO used to have all comer meets in March/April. In the those races (3k and up) there were no heats, so we all raced at once. The McChesneys ran those a lot and as elites lapped, they would shout out some inspiration. What great family. Sorry to hear about their loss.