8 man mile relay?

[danimal16]

Re:

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Shorty Smith Relays in Santa Ana contested not only the 8x200 but also the 8x100! Talk about a demolition derby!

They also had a relay pole vault and high jump -- where the winning team was the sum of its four jumpers' best clearances.

What wacky fun we had.

Of course, we also ran a shuttle 4x120 lows with eight teams per heat -- meaning Runners No. 2 and 4 (like me at age 15 below, leading for Valencia HS) ran against the hurdles.

Those were the daze!



K E N

P.S. Anyone know who the El Modena, Santa Ana Valley or Whittier kids are in this shot?

The Santa Ana Valley Runner looks like Darrell Roberts. He graduated in 1972. I know SAV did very well at Shorty Smith in 1971 and 1972. Those relays were great fun.

[mrbowie]

I ran a few shuttle hurdle relays in SoCal in the early 1960s and I don't know how they looked from the stands, but they were confusing as hell for the runners.

[dj]

I once ran in a 20 x 440 in a high school meet (or maybe it was junior high); with that many people, it meant you had to use all kinds of people who weren't used to running that far. It was a hoot.

Idea came from my coach, who said that when was a member of the Berlin Olympic Club in the '30s they used to have 100-person 4x4s. Doing that involved strategy, because you had mixed men and women and had to use throwers and jumpers, so if you started to get too far behind, you had to decide whether to throw in a real 400 runner to get competitive again. Must have been quite a sight.

Were I still a high school coach, I'd have loved to put on a meet which included a "whole team" relay. Or "ultimate medley," I never decided on a name.

Five miles (then), 800m now, 31 runners: 16 x 100m, 8 x 200m, 4 x 400m, 2 x 800m, 1 x 1600m.

[gh]

I once ran in a 20 x 440 in a high school meet (or maybe it was junior high); with that many people, it meant you had to use all kinds of people who weren't used to running that far. It was a hoot.

Idea came from my coach, who said that when was a member of the Berlin Olympic Club in the '30s they used to have 100-person 4x4s. Doing that involved strategy, because you had mixed men and women and had to use throwers and jumpers, so if you started to get too far behind, you had to decide whether to throw in a real 400 runner to get competitive again. Must have been quite a sight.

[dj]

I seem to recall an alternative to backwards hurdles in the shuttle relay. Alternate lanes face opposite directions and run four man/woman heats.

It used to be a standard event every year at the Penn Relays... may still be.

Still is. Put on the program in 1926 with Lord Burghley providing the impetus.

[dukehjsteve]

I seem to recall an alternative to backwards hurdles in the shuttle relay. Alternate lanes face opposite directions and run four man/woman heats.

It used to be a standard event every year at the Penn Relays... may still be.

[lonewolf]

I seem to recall an alternative to backwards hurdles in the shuttle relay. Alternate lanes face opposite directions and run four man/woman heats.

[Halfmiler2]

I recall Dennis Craddock having a 4x400 hurdle race in the late 1970's when he coached at Virginia. It was interesting.

[dukehjsteve]

Ken, you're lookin' like a WILD YOUNG STALLION there, boy ! And I sure hope you did not slam one of those backwards hurdles.

[TrackCEO]

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Shorty Smith Relays in Santa Ana contested not only the 8x200 but also the 8x100! Talk about a demolition derby!

They also had a relay pole vault and high jump -- where the winning team was the sum of its four jumpers' best clearances.

What wacky fun we had.

Of course, we also ran a shuttle 4x120 lows with eight teams per heat -- meaning Runners No. 2 and 4 (like me at age 15 below, leading for Valencia HS) ran against the hurdles.

Those were the daze!



K E N

P.S. Anyone know who the El Modena, Santa Ana Valley or Whittier kids are in this shot?

[NCAA5000]

On a thread on the T&FN message boards about 4months ago I wrote the following:

"...During the 1960s, the LA area high schools would have several relay meets at which they would contest the 8-Man Mile Relay --- each relay member running 220 yards.

The old Coliseum Relays was the best place to watch from up high. It was literally a 'mad house' - - - four minutes of non-stop excitement.

Not sure when they discontinued it but that event was the most entertaining relay I have seen...."

The thread reference is: http://mb.trackandfieldnews.com/discuss ... highlight=

We enjoy track for many reasons ... one of which is fun & enjoyment. This 8-man mile relay was great fun!! .... we drove across the desert (students @ ASU) each year for the LA Coliseum Relays and to watch this relay. Who cared if Ron Clarke just set the World Record in the 5000!!! Ha.

[dj]

What college did Bates end up at?

Arizona.

Forget Arizona. I'm getting too old or preoccupied to read clearly. I was responding to the imaginary question of where Michael Bates went to college!

[Texas]

I remember seeing James Bates. Looked 25 in high school. Ran 9.4 at Manual Arts.

Don't ask me which specific issue, but in an old Track & Field News, there is a picture of that Manual Arts 8-man relay team, with Bates being one of the 8.

What I wouldn't give to have all those pre 1970 issues of T&FN. From 70-2009 I'm set.

[dukehjsteve]

[quote="mrbowie"]I remember seeing James Bates. Looked 25 in high school. Ran 9.4 at Manual Arts.

Don't ask me which specific issue, but in an old Track & Field News, there is a picture of that Manual Arts 8-man relay team, with Bates being one of the 8.

[Texas]

What college did Bates end up at?

Arizona.

He must not have done much there. Injuries?