Go Get ‘em Byrnsie!
With those words, the first-ever high school recruiting drive got underway. This was my charge from Tracy Sundlun in 1984, the first year for what has become the NIKE INDOOR NATIONALS. Back then, it was known as the Pathmark Classic due to financial support from that Eastern grocery chain.
As you probably know, the idea for a 'national-class' meet had been spawned a year earlier when co-meet founder Jim Spier had put together his "Assault on the Records" meet at Yale University.
The idea seemed a good one, nay, a GREAT one. However, we were quite unsure as to how successful the meet would be. A few years ago, Track & Field News had this message on their cover; "WHAT IF THEY HAD A TRACK MEET AND NOBODY CAME?" We had the same thoughts although ours were centered on 'athletes.'
My task was to serve as the recruiter for the meet. We felt we had to have a national presence if we wanted to be a national class meet. Jim selected five athletes, we agreed upon them and Tracy uttered the above. Thus began my years as the recruiter for what has become the nation's finest indoor competition.
But it wasn't easy. Some of the recruiting tactics were, to say the least, unusual… and that's being kind. Here are a few examples of what it took to make this the meet it has become.
ED MANDERSON was the nation's leading horizontal jumper with bests of 24+ along with about 50' in the triple. We wanted him badly, very badly. The problem was the Naval Academy prep school he was attending in Florida. Despite my best efforts, they were adamant in their refusal to release him from classes. Clearly, a more powerful voice was needed. Enter ADMIRAL BYRNES!
With Jim looking on in rather stunned silence, I put through a call to the school. The call was made late in the evening, about 10 o'clock as I recall. This to ensure no adult staff would be on hand to question Admiral Byrnes identity, as we knew none would be present that late. When a voice answered, I demanded to know the identity of the responder. When a young voice answered, rather timidly, I stately firmly, "This is Admiral Byrnes of the 4th Naval District in Washington. The United States Navy has a problem and it has to be solved NOW, do you understand?"
Soon another voice spoke to the 'Admiral'; "What's the problem sir?" Quickly I explained a national class track meet wanted Cadet Manderson at their competition and was offering to provide adequate financial support. His winning a national championship would greatly enhance the reputation of the USNA and I demanded to know why was his transportation being held up? I stated that the USN EXPECTED Cadet Manderson to be on an early morning flight to New Haven, Connecticut. If he weren't, there would be dire consequences for someone. The following day about noon Cadet Manderson walked into meet HQ. He merely asked, "How did you get me released? They said "No." I smiled and answered, "You don't argue with an Admiral."
LISA BERNHAGEN hailed from Idaho and had just set a national high school record in the high jump that still stands today, 6'3. This was the first year of the meet and she was a "must-have." However, the Idaho HSAA disagreed with the basic concept of a national meet and refused permission to compete. Lisa desperately wanted to attend but without the state's permission, it was a lost cause. What to do? CALL THE GOVERNOR!
A call was placed and someone responded, "This is the Governor, how can I help you?" I was speechless, something that rarely happens. Governors do not answer their own phones, secretaries do that. Recovering quickly I explained the situation being careful to point out the trip would be made at no expense to her school nor her family. Further, she was a superb athlete who was eager to make her school and her state proud by winning the first-ever national championship. The governor was given the Berhagen's phone number and the conversation ended. About an hour later, we had a call from a rather exasperated IHSAA official. "I don't know who you are or how you did it, but we've given Miss Bernhagen permission to attend your meet." We had our first big name kid.
SUZY FAVOR was an absolutely great miler from Stephen's Point HS in Wisconsin. Despite her greatness, she had never been out of the state to compete. Initial calls to her family were fruitless. In addition, to have to go through New York City was totally out of the question. I persisted. Tracy gave the OK to bring her mother along at our expense. A crack in the dyke appeared. They would give it some thought. Another call, will you also bring in her coach, also at our expense? Again, Tracy, the man in charge of the purse strings, gave the OK. What about her Dad? We had to draw the line. Two adults and one Suzy, that is it. A day or so later, she'd love to compete! And she came with her Mom and no one else. She set a meet record that lasted for almost 20 years until broken by Katelyn Kaltenbach in 2004. Suzy went on to become an Olympian, set many national records and we are very proud that she made our meet her 'Coming Out' party.
MARION JONES is a legend. However, when she was in the 9th grade very few had heard of her. Doug Speck, a legend in his own right, gave me a call, "There's a kid out her you have to get." He went on to give her credentials. Knowing Speck's reputation there was no question about extending an invitation. Her Mother had some doubts about having someone that young travel across the country for any reason much less a track meet. I explained, cajoled, begged ("The more difficult the struggle, the more glorious the triumph, " Winston Churchill) and finally prevailed. Thus, the saga of greatness began.
ARNOLD CAMPBELL called Bossier City, Louisiana home. He was a 72' shot putter and his presence in our first meet would be a real coup. A call was made. His Dad answered. He told me Arnold was at the gym working out but he'd have him call me when he got home. He did. To get things on the right track I asked how the workout went. "Pretty good, I set a new record in my bench press." Knowing little or nothing about such matters, I still had to ask "How much?" His answer stunned even a dope like me, "575', he replied. That's like lifting a Volkswagen I thought. There was no question, he was another 'must have.' I asked if he'd like to compete for the national championship and, without hesitation he said, "I'll be there." As I recall, he threw about 72'+ and one more step to making the meet what it is today had been taken.
There are still more of these stories but space demands I stop now. Perhaps in a later piece I'll go into some of those. Well, OK, one more.
MUIR HS and OBIE MOORE were already famous. For example, at the Arcadia meet their "A" team in the 4x100mR ran the FASTEST TIME IN THE WORLD for Junior (19 and under) relays teams. To me, the more impressive team was Muir's "B" team who, in the same race, ran the 19th fastest time IN THE WORLD for that year!!
They were a 'must have." But, they had no money. We would have to supply FOUR full fare tickets, something we had never done. The coach wanted his way paid but we'd adopted a policy to support athletes only, a policy still adhered to today, and he relented. Tracy was called. I was given carte blanche in my recruiting and Jim supplied the names and Tracy the funding. But this was different, four tickets. At the time, close to $2000. With no question Tracy said, "That's your call, if you think they're worth it, go for it." I did, they accepted and, perhaps high schools greatest indoor relay teams as well as one of the top four high school 400 m runners of all time made their appearance. They won every race, set meet records in every race, Obie won and the capacity crowd was in awe of these kids from California. So were we.
Now that's it! No more encores. Stay tuned, there's more coming.
