Ralph Gamez (Berkeley) a jr. wins the first 2M (9:12.9) (Above).

'67-Pete Romero (Reedley) moves up to win in 9:00.5, a new state meet record.

Romero, runs 15 miles every morning through the vineyards of northern CA... Pete started the season with an amazing triple: 8:53.0 /1:56.6 /4:15.0 (2M/880y/Mile) -in that order - within one-hour and 40 minutes!!!

'68-Ruben Chappins (Excelsior, Norwalk) wins by .3 as a jr. (9:05.7).

'69-Chappins burns a 55.9 last lap to lead 3 under the meet record and going <9 with his 8:57.0 win !! (Ron Johnson (West Torrance) is second in 8:59.0.

'71-Dale Fleet (Clairemont, SD) cruised a 61.2 final lap to finish in a new meet record - 8:53.8.

Dale was never below 9:30 for 2M until he ran 9:11.2 outdoors to qualify for the San Diego Invite. where he ran a then 3rd fastest indoor 2M in history with a 8:56.8 (above photo).

'72-Curtis Beck (Santa Monica) a jr., wins state and lowers the meet record to 8:52.3!!

*(Above) Beck enroute to a then Jr class record and moved to 3rd on the all-time 2M list with an 8:48.8 in the Southern CIF meet ('72)! (L-R, Williams, Innes (Upland), Marc Genet (Santa Ana).

'08-German Fernandez (Riverbank) reduces the meet record to 8:34.23 = (8:37.43/2M).

Pete Romero was the subject of a 1967 Sports Illustrated Article (June 26, 1967) issue.

After winning state, Pete won the Golden West Invite 2M (above).

July 7, 2012, Pete Romero with a framed Sports Illustrated issue displaying his article and full-page color photo.

Photo: Rebecca Smith-Serna

June 5, 1971 - CA State Meet

Dale Fleet (Clairemont, SD) sets the meet record-8:53.8. L-R-Gordon Innes (Upland)2^nd-8:54.4, Ed Mendoza (Helix)-5^th-9:00.8, Jose Amaya (Wilson)-3^rd-8:54.4. (The top 3 finishers broke the old Meet mark of 8:55.6).

June 2, 1984 - CA State Meet

Los Angeles Coliseum

Roman Gomez, a junior, wins the 1600 (above) after taking the 2M 80 minutes earlier -completing the tough 1600-3200 double for only the second time in Meet history (Rich Kimball in 1974).

Promising soph, Earl Lockhart (Sacramento HS) ran a 4:52 mile in 1921.

As a Jr, Earl would place 5^th in the CA state meet mile ('22) before taking TWO CA State Title’s in 1923. Lockhart won & lowered the 880 record by ²⁄₁₀, clocking a swift 1:59.0, then coming back to win the mile with a 4:31.6. Earl became the second (and last) successful 880-mile doubler, duplicating Gerald Blankenship's (Visalia) 1915 feat!!

May 26, 1934 -CA State Meet-Edwards Stadium, Berkeley

*Louie "Iron Man" Zamperini (Torrance) set CA state meet record for the Mile with 4:27.8.

Torrance HS did not participate in the state meet in '35. Zamperini would not be there to defend his title.

(L) The previous week (5/19), Southern Section Finals at the L.A. Coliseum.

Louis set a world interscholastic record in the mile, clocking in at 4 minutes and 21.2 seconds... Gaylord Mercer (Hoover) is second at 4:23.4 & two-time defending state champion Virgil Hooper (Antelope Valley) was a DNF....
... Zamperini's record would last for 19 years!

(Below) Zamperini qualifies for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

July 13, 1936
Olympic Trials 5000m
At Randall Island, NY.

(R) Louis Zamperini is in the middle of the pack.

Photo from the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

Don Lash leads.

Photo from the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

The Chase pack (L-R) Barney Gedwillas, Norman Bright, Louis Zamperini and Thomas Deckard in the 5000 meter race.

Photo from the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

(L) In the end, Zamperini of Torrance, CA & Don Lash of Indiana University finish in a dead heat -15:04.2 for both.

3^rd Thomas Deckard (Indiana) 15:06.5 completed the Olympic 5k team.

Woody Covington (Compton) 1958 CA State Mile Champ in 4:23.7

Dale Story (Orange) '59 CA State Mile Champion (5/29/59) HSR 4:11.0 (62.6, 62.6, 66.1, 59.7)

At Oregon State, Story would win the Individual NCAA XC title...
Barefoot in 32° icy 20-mile an hour wind!!

*Bruce Bess (La Habra) 1961 CA State Mile Champ - 4:14.8

Bess made 3 state meets: 5^th as a soph, won as a JR & 2^nd as a senior!

Dennis Carr (Lowell HS, Whittier)

Class of '63

After winning the CA State mile in a NR & fastest 16-yr-old in history with a 4:08.7, as a junior (6/2/62), Dennis Carr dropped down in distance...

(Above R, 6/1/63) As a senior, Dennis Carr (Lowell) won CA state meet at the 880 with a NR -1:50.9 (53.9, 57.0).

6/7 At the Compton Invite, Carr ran the fastest HS time ever - 1:49.2!!

6/22, Carr would also win the Golden West Inv. in 1:50.8.

*Dennis Carr (Lowell, CA) 1962 CA State Mile Champ 4:08.7 NR
(62.6, 62.9, 64.2, 59-flat.)

Carr not only broke the jr class record (mile), he set the NR as well. His 4:08.7 at 16 yrs 7 months made him the youngest record holder and fastest 16-yr-old miler in history.

Tracy Smith (Arcadia) 1963 CA State Mile Champ - 4:14.4

Smith ran 9:11.6 to set HSR for 2M @ Eugene 8/2/63

Tim Danielson (Chula Vista) two-time CA State meet mile Champ ('65-66) & lowered the State record both times 4:08.0 (65) to 4:07.0 (66).

Tim Danielson (Chula Vista) raced two 2M. He won them both. Golden West and shown here with Otis Martin (Lincoln, SD) at the South Bay Relays at Sweetwater High School in 1966. Danielson won in 9:04.8. Martin ran 9:13.6. Martin qualified for two state meet 2M (junior '66, & senior '67) placing 5^th in both races.

Brent Tubb (Cleveland) is a two-time CA State meet mile Champion.

As junior (1970), Tubb won CA state Mile at 4:12.9, & was the top Jr. with a 4:09.2 seasonal best.

'71, Tubb repeated as state champ (4:09.6, above) & led the nation's half-milers with a fine 1:50.1!!

June 1, 1973, Woodland, CIF State Track Meet, Community Stadium
Lompoc HS - 2^nd Place Team **All those points came from two men in the long distance events!!**

Mile-Run - Alvin Gilmore of distance-rich Lompoc HS came to the CIF meet with the second best (CA) mile time but came out the winner in convincing fashion. Not considering himself a "kicker," Gilmore sprinted away on the third lap. With one lap to go, Gilmore had a 15 yard lead... it proved to be enough; his lead withstood the strong finishing kicks -one half-second up on his challengers.

1) Alvin Gilmore (Lompoc) ..... 4:11.4
2) Steve Crowley (Gunn) ........ 4:11.9
3) Bob O'Brien (Bellflower) .... 4:11.9
......
7) Ralph Serna (Loara) ........... 4:16.3

Two-Mile -Four returnees, who occupied the first six spots as juniors, took the first four places.... But in a slightly different order....

Terry Williams (Lompoc) placed only 6^th last year, losing to rival Curtis Beck (Santa Monica), dominated the '73 race with an 8:54.8 to win by 5.4 seconds over last year's runner-up, Dave Taylor (Merced).

Last year's time (8:53.5) for Dave Taylor (R, Merced), would have won this year!!

1) Terry Williams (Lompoc) ........... 8:54.8
2) Dave Taylor (Merced) ............... 9:00.2
......
4) Curtis Beck (Santa Monica) ...... 9:02.8
6) Rich Kimball (De La Salle) ........ 9:08.7
8) Mitch Kingery (San Carlos) ....... 9:14.3
9) Eric Hulst (Frosh, Laguna Bch) .. 9:16.1

Coming off the final turn it's Jim Arriola (Gahr) leading the charge for home...

L) Third lap...

R) One lap to go...

Mile Results:
1) Mark Stillman (Willow Glen) ........ 4:06.9
2) Mark Fricker (Hemet) ................... 4:07.9
3) Charlie Christensen (Edison) ......... 4:08.5
4) Ron Cornell (San Pedro) .............. 4:10.0
5) Larry Greer (Paradise)....................4:10.7

(R)

2 Mile: (L-R) Felix Elieff (Highland), Rod Berry, Tim Holmes (Downey) Chuck & Frank Assumma, Dave Daniels (San Gorgonio), Steve Ortiz (Kennedy), Steve Alvarez (Coachella Valley).

The Finish...

2Mile Results:
1) Frank Assumma (Eisenhower) ........... 8:52.89 **First Sophomore to win state two-mile title!!
2) Rod Berry (Redwood) ....................... 8:53.4
3) Felix Elieff (Highland) ....................... 8:55.7
4) Steve Alvarez (Coachella Valley) ....... 8:56.4
5) Steve Ortiz (Kennedy) ....................... 8:57.8
6) Chuck Assumma (Eisenhower) .......... 9:01.5 **Sophomore - ran 8:55.4 at the sectionals!
7) Dave Daniels (San Gorgonio) ............. 9:04.0

(L) Dave Kingsland (El Modena) sped a 52.0 first lap...

880y Results:
1) Jim Walters (R, Estancia) ........... 1:49.4
2) Dave Kingsland (El Modena) ..... 1:50.0
3) Mike White (Richmond) ............. 1:51.8
4) Dan Navarro(Oakmont) ............. 1:51.9
5) Vernon Sallez (San Leandro) ...... 1:52.6

L) Ann Regan (Camden) won the 880y over Linda Goen (North Bakersfield) 2:08.0 to 2:08.3...

R) Linda Goen came back to win the mile with a 4:47.8!

** Regan & Goen are both Sophomores!!

Harold Kuphaldt (Bella Vista) was 5^th at CA state meet at 3200 (8:54.78), as a junior in '81 @ Cerritos College , Norwalk.

June 5, '82, CA state meet @ Hughes Stadium, Sacramento, (R), Kuphaldt, the top returnee, won the state 3200 title (8:51.99) over junior Eric Reynolds of Camarillo (8:52.92).

'81 Foot Locker CC Nat'l Finals, Reynolds, junior, was 3^rd -3 seconds behind Kuphaldt's 2^nd (Charles Alexander won @ Fla).

'82 Foot Locker CC Nationals, Eric Reynolds ran away from the field enroute to setting a CR with a 14:35 @ Fla.

June 3-4, 1988 @ Cerritos College, Norwalk

Reggie Williams (River City, class of 1988) was the CA State's only double winner (4:08.78/8:59.61) that year.

As a junior, Eric Mastalir (Jesuit) was third at the CA State 3200 in '85.
As a senior, Eric (L) moved up to win the state 3200 in 8:44.95 (6/7/86) then...

6/14 -Golden West - 3000m
1) 8:07.60

6/21 -International Prep - Mile (R)
1) 4:06.87

Paul Medvin & Chuck Assumma

duel at two-miles. Also in the race Australian Marcus Clarke, son of former distance great Ron Clarke -racing barefoot.

Finish:

1) Assumma - 9:03.0
2) Medvin - 9:03.1

(Above)-Dale Fleet (Clairemont, SD) cruised a 61.2 final lap to win & finish in a new CA state meet 2M record - 8:53.8 ('71).

CA state 2M Champ Dale Fleet was never below 9:30 for 2M until he ran 9:11.2 outdoors to qualify for the San Diego Inv. where he ran a then 3rd fastest indoor 2M in history with a 8:56.8.

June 6, '09 Clovis

Mac Fleet (University City, San Diego) won the CA state 1600 title in 4:05.33. Mac raced a 1:58 over the final 800 to secure the win.

Fleet burst onto the Nat'l scene as a soph with a 3:50.48 / 1500 (= 4:06.5 / Mile).

CA State 1600: Mac finished second as a soph, and third last year while recovering from a foot injury.

Fleet enrolled at Oregon.

FULLERTON, Calif. (July 7, 2012) – 1971 Golden State 2-mile champion DALE FLEET (Clairemont ’71) and 2009 CA state 1600m champ, sibling MAC FLEET (University City ’09).

The father and son state champions, Dale in the 2-mile and Mac the 1600, with commemorative framed photographs of their respective state meet finishes.

At Oregon, Mac Fleet picked up where he left off at University City HS...
Feb. 13, Mac promptly broke Galen Rupp’s school record in the indoor mile racing 3:57.70 (Husky Classic).
Fleet ended a solid freshman season at the NCAA West Regional, clocking a 3:45.08 in the opening round of the 1,500.  Advancing to the quarterfinals, Fleet  placed 15^th (3:44.13, less than a second off his PR)....

During the 2010 outdoor season, an old high school foot injury (navicular stress fracture) returned and worsened (Mac kept running on it). Fleet underwent surgery that summer. He was a redshirt during the 2010 cross country season... Mac was rounding into shape for his 2011 indoors, but then fell victim to a severe case of plantar fasciitis. Mac didn’t run a single race during the 2011–2012 academic year.

IT WAS A TOUGH TWO YEARS. During that time, not knowing what his body was going to respond to, Mac tried different techniques to recover –Always keeping a positive attitude. He never stopped trying to get better. Mac watched from the sidelines whilst his friends and teammates worked out every day. At the same time, Fleet continued his lengthy stage of rehabilitation.

With constant thoughts of letting the sport go and moving onto something different, Fleet’s outstanding short career could have ended there, with unrealized potential...

But...

2012-13: Season -Often discouraged but never giving up hope, Fleet and his Oregon coach, Andy Powell, were encouraged in the fall when Fleet was able to gradually increase his mileage and regain fitness. The foot at long last cooperated... Mac's first race of the season was at the NCAA XC Championships. He finished 220^th with a time of 32:04.8 (10,000 meters).

Arizona's Lawi Lalang, 2013 NCAA Champion (5K, 10K), who won last night’s historic 5,000 final for the second-straight year, now eight-time NCAA Champion... And aiming for number nine & vying to become the first man to pull off the 1,500/5k double.

(L) Mac Fleet pulled ahead down the stretch and bore down for the final 50 meters, his big lean at the end ensured victory in a personal-best 3 minutes, 39.09 seconds, with Lalang close behind in 3:39.13.
Before the Oregon crowd, Mac Fleet Repeats as 1,500 Champion that denies Lawi Lalang, by .04, of the Historic 1,500/5k Double.

 Fleet became the first repeat champion since Arkansas’ Seneca Lassiter in 1997-98, as Lalang had to settle for second in his final NCAA race. Fleet's victory helped push the Oregon men, and set a meet record of 88 points, to the team's first outdoor national title since 1984.