RELAY MONTH

APRIL IS RELAY MONTH THROUGHOUT THE TRACK AND FIELD WORLD.

I am going to put up pictures of relay teams or videos or just written commentary regarding relay teams I have been involved within the next 30 days. Some are record holders, some are champions, while still others I just need to say some words about. Most shall be members of the ELHS girls team. 

I was asked a few years ago, if I would talk about recent people the way I speak of those from the past.  I think I always will. Everyone has a story...here is mine.

Hopefully some shall inspire you. I will be putting up some relay team almost every day in April. This picture was taken at Forest Park during Cross Country season in the Fall of 1974.

This group is the team I ran on back in the day. Four of these in the picture are the 1975 Western Mass. 4 x 440 (mile relay) record holders. This is likely the only picture that exists of the four of us at the time. It was taken during Cross Country season. YES - I RAN Cross Country!

The guy in the hat was probably the brains of the operation, his name is Russ Ellsworth. Besides running third leg on our record setting relay team, he also held the 880 Western Mass. record.

Next was not on the team, but the following guy was Terry Drost. He was the second leg of the team and also an accomplished miler. He ended up the next season winning Western Mass in XC, just as Lauren Litscher of EL did in 2007.

The next guy was the 1975 Harambee superstar-winning the inaugural event. Believe it or not, he wasn't fat like he is today! He ran the anchor on the team, so supposedly it was all on his shoulders.

He still has his high school record in the 600 and 300...but his school is closed. Yes this is Springfield Technical High School's Coach Budd. 

The next guy was not a member of the relay, but the final guy was the lead off. His name is Ben Money. He always gave his best and helped us go undefeated in dual meets in Massachusetts. The only time we lost was at the All-State Championships.

I guess no color film existed back then and we ran in yards not meters.