which section of tennessee has the best runners?

[corey o'neill]

I loved running at the Steeplechase when I was a kid in the early 80s and we ran between the hedges: it was fast and pretty flat. I've never liked the course as it has been laid out since about 1987--it's much, much harder than it looks. In fact, if it were lined with trees like VAP or McAlpine, I think we would think it was a fairly hilly course. But since it's totally bare, it looks like it's flat, which it's not. There are also a few places where you have to slow down to make a turn, something you don't think about a lot. Bumbi's 14:14 there just makes me sick every time I think of it!

 

 

yes me father run on that course and got all state i wish i could experince it. it used to be a real fast course he told me.

[AEtheridge]

Mike O'Neil, from D-B in the early 1980s?

[coachlj65]

Mike O'Neil, from D-B in the early 1980s?

 

Wow, that brings back memories. How well I remember Mike. Competed against him for 4 years, and being in the same region, practicly every meet.

[AEtheridge]

Then I may have competed against you, too. (Allen Etheridge, Oak Ridge, 1981-1983) We were state champs in 1983 against TN High.

[coachlj65]

Then I may have competed against you, too. (Allen Etheridge, Oak Ridge, 1981-1983) We were state champs in 1983 against TN High.

 

Well we definitely competed. I ran for Daniel Boone from 80-83 when we won the state champ in 81, 3rd in 80 and 5th in 82. small world.

[AEtheridge]

Then you probably remember Dale Carico, Bobby Parsely, and Scot Smith. Perhaps Walter Deneen, too.

[coachlj65]

Then you probably remember Dale Carico, Bobby Parsely, and Scot Smith. Perhaps Walter Deneen, too.

 

Ha, Walter and I went to elementary school together until my family moved out of Johnson City. Visited off and on for a couple of years then went several years without seeing him until we lined up beside each other at a freshman track meet. Bob was a year behind me but he was close with my teammates and myself. Beat me by 1 second at 81 state. Remember Scot as well. Our senior year KD-B had Mike, Scot and Meechy Long. I ran 15:40 my junior year at state (4th on our team) but was probably still behind you.

[AEtheridge]

In the "small world category": Scot is the librarian at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge.

 

I ran 15:53 in '82 and 15:05 in '83. Bobby beat me by a few seconds that year when he took 3rd. I still have a picture somewhere of us all lined up in the chute.

[coachlj65]

In the "small world category": Scot is the librarian at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge.

 

I ran 15:53 in '82 and 15:05 in '83. Bobby beat me by a few seconds that year when he took 3rd. I still have a picture somewhere of us all lined up in the chute.

 

Funny, I ran 15:56 in 82 after missing the week between regions and state with the flu. Saw Mike last year at state (he was coaching at Volunteer). I've been in middle tenn for 16 years now and don't get to see very many anymore. Not even sure if Scot remembers me.

[AEtheridge]

Where are you coaching?

 

Scot can't run any longer--his knees have packed it in. Now he walks around quietly, looking like a Renaissance version of Jesus. Now and again he volunteers at middle school track meets. Really nice guy.

[coachlj65]

Where are you coaching?

 

Scot can't run any longer--his knees have packed it in. Now he walks around quietly, looking like a Renaissance version of Jesus. Now and again he volunteers at middle school track meets. Really nice guy.

 

I'm at Columbia Central. Scot always was a nice guy but much quieter than Mike.

[stealthccrunner3200]

rename this the trip down memory lane