A fictional Phileas Fogg took 80 days to go around the world, but during that time in 1978 Henry Rono broke four world records in four events, clocking times that even Jules Verne couldn’t have imagined. Rono had earned two NCAA cross country titles, as well as an indoor 2-mile crown, before his glorious stretch…
In just three years of Varsity eligibility, Gerry Lindgren amassed 11 NCAA titles – the only two athletes with more titles all enjoyed four years of such eligibility. He won all but one NCAA race he lined up for, and that loss was to another Hall of Famer, Jim Ryun. Lindgren’s first chances at NCAA…
Karl Schlademan coached men’s track & field and cross country for nearly 40 years at Kansas (1919-26), Washington State (1927-40) and Michigan State (1940-58). A native of Seafield, Indiana, Schlademan graduated from DePauw University. On arriving at Washington State in 1927, Schlademan steadily built the Cougars into a national contender on the track. Washington State…
A talented competitor and coach, John Chaplin coached at Washington State University from 1968-94. While at Pasadena City College in 1959, Chaplin ran on PCC’s track & field team and managed to best world-class sprinter, James Bates, in the 100-yard dash by a nanosecond (9.6 seconds). He transferred to Washington State where, running under fellow…
Jack Mooberry served as Washington State University’s head track & field coach for nearly 30 years, from 1945-73, compiling a .706 career dual meet win percentage during his tenure. As an athlete, Mooberry was a state champion sprinter in Washington and become a national-class sprinter at Washington State under fellow USTFCCCA Hall of Famer Karl…