Dr. Woodhall Alumni Update (May 09)

AND THE BEAT GOES ON
It is not uncommon to have former grads send their children back to EIU...it happens quite often.  The latest in the “recycling” process is David McKinney, son of Joel and Suzy McKinney.  Joel, now a principal at an Indianapolis school was a CC and track athlete at EIU (1979-84).  David is also a good runner and hopes to contribute at EIU .  A year from now, Janelle James (daughter of Bill James..’79) will be studying to be a teacher at the best Teacher Prep College in Illinois...EIU.  In preparation, Bill (now Superintendent of Schools at Graymont, IL ..still lives in Gridley...near Bloomington, brought Jacy HS Soph and Janelle for a campus visit.  Two other daughters..Justin is already in college at Illinois State and Julie (ran 5:15 mile as a 7th grader) were unable to make the trip.  Interestingly, all the girls have the initials J. J. and even their dog name begins with J.  If they had just had a son named Michael...  Other former runners who will have their children at EIU next fall are Mike Viano (daughter) and Ken Englert (daughter)

Bill, Jacy and Janelle pose in the Woodall home after an April 10th visit.


CHILDREN OF FORMER STUDENTS ARE ON THE MOVE..AROUND THE WORLD.
Some of our former grads have children who have gone on to college and are now out in the world doing their thing.  One such dad is Dike Stirrett (70) ...former runner and 30+ years as coach...Champaign Central HS)  Their son, Nick, is a graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, recently completed his MS degree at Queens College in Belfast, Ireland.  Just a few days ago, he learned that he was chosen from a high powered list of candidates (Ivy League..Berkeley etc)  for a teaching and writer in resident position at a Prep School in South Africa.  

THE BABY BEAT GOES ON    New mother, Dena Block (99 ) is  running 6 miles a day while Carey Dunker Rossi (98) presents her second child -Max Warren (4-30-09)   Ashleigh Graff (05)  and husband Travis already know it is a boy...ETA.. September.  Nicole Ktistou Baron (00) keeps


 
sending pictures of her son, Justin.  He is now 23 months old and there is no sign of the beautiful curly hair that Nicole had when she was an athlete and student at EIU a decade ago.  Oh well, it would be hard for an active boy to manage all that hair....right?




Dr. Jake and Lisa Emmett pose with Ben (their son) and his new bride at their recent wedding in Utah.  What a handsome foursome.  Dr. Emmett has taught in the Exercise Sciences at EIU since 1990 and he has run 20 or more marathons.



RUNNING STUFF
Illinois Marathon  There were a couple dozen former EIU students/faculty who ran in the 1/2 or full marathons in Champaign.  Former runners (Jonitis...2003) and Dirks (2002) respectively finshed first in the 1/2 = 1:11 (5:28)   and 6th in the full - 2:35

Boston Marathon   Kyle O’Brien ( 02) finished in 2:20:55..6th American and 19th overall  Though many other alums probably ran, the only one I know for sure was Joe Vida (94) who kept his streak of 12 consecutive Boston’s alive with 3:11:53 (7:46)   Dave Walters, now age 53 and former U of IL nemesis, ran 2:44.

Note: All EIU Track events are nicely covered in www.eiurunning.com
Drake Relays  EIU teams ran very well, placing high and recording two new school records (Men = 7:28.11 in 4 x 800 and 40.69 in 4 x 100)  Men’s Sprint Medley finished 3rd with 3:22.73  Zye Boey was 2nd in 100m with 10.38.  Women ran 3rd fastest 4 x 100 in school history with 46.39

Ohio Valley Conference  Both men and women WON the Conference Title (2nd time in last three years)...great individual performances and team depth.  Men and Women went 1-2 in the 100m, 200m and won both relays (4 x 100) and (4 x 400)  Brad Butler won the 10K and Zye Boey continued to domisteepleweb the sprints (10.30 record in 100m).  Women won the 100 and 400 m hurdles and the men to 2-3-4-5 in the 400 hurdles.  They also went 1 –2 in TJ and HJ and 1-2-3 in the PV.
ever

Other
The EIU Women’s 4 x 100 Relay Team broke the School Record on May 11th at the Billy Hayes invite...Indiana  (:45.5)

EIU will again host the Girls and Boys State Track Meets here (May 21-23 and  May 28-30) respectively.  Riley McInerney 8th grader (John and Peg’s son) ran 4:55 for the mile the other night and on July 4th, the EIU Panther Distance Camp will conclude by running in the City sponsored Four on the Fourth (4 miles through Charleston)

If you are looking for a real endurance challenge, talk to Traci Reindle (94) about the Bataan Death March  (better yet, “Google”  it  WW II  Philippines 1942 so as to get a better understanding).   Now a Physical Therapist, living in La Luz, NM, she and a friend took part in the March 29th, Bataan Death March Event (26 miles in high altitude desert terrain...to honor those, especially the many military men from New Mexico who defended the Philippines.   Abused, starved and beaten, some 10,000 men began the 70+ mile march, only 7,000 arrived alive.   Fortusteeplewebly, this commemorative event was not as brutal, and nearly 2000 people took part in the rugged event.    Traci’s  time of 7 hours and 16 minutes  placed her in the top 40% of all women finishers.  

Bill Lair, 60 year old Editor for the Mattoon Journal Gazette and Charleston Times Courier Newspapers, has run several marathons.  He experienced the terrible heat in the Chicago race (2007) so he decided to try the Nashville, TN half-marathon...in the “Spring”.  It was 86 degrees...it snowed in Charleston four days prior to the event.  Though times really are a secondary consideration when celebrating fitness as we age, Bill did finish 61st of 220 men in his age bracket.  Anyone know about races in Alaska?  


 
EVEN IN MISSOURI, IT IS A SMALL WORLD  
Former EIU runner/student/faculty member, Ben Timson (74) continues to teach at what used to be called Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO) and is excited about working with his Ph.D. seeking daughter in Alzheimer’s Research in St. Louis.  In addition, he still coaches high school soccer (he has done it for 12 years at Springfield Catholic HS).  His team is currently ranked #1 in Missouri (Class A).   Long time EIU faculty member Gene McFarland, (recently retired)  traveled to Rolla, MO a few weeks ago to watch his granddaughter play.  He brought back the above report about Ben.


ON THE DIAMOND  EIU Baseball is now 34 – 10 and clinched the OVC Title today (Sunday) May 10th


FROM THE BIG APPLE
Morrie Reece graduated from EIU in 1972...he loved music...played guitar and was active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  As his advisor, I wrote a recommendation letter for him to obtain a graduate assistantship in Physical Education at the University of Illinois.   He took the assistantship, but elected one course in computers.  That course changed his life.   He now has a 33 year career with Apple Computers and a very high position in their Education division.   He was selected to receive an Honorary Degree from EIU  and invited back to campus for that ceremony....and to give the commencement talk May 9, 2009.    Here he poses with his wife, Sue (they both are originally from Tuscola and recently married after each had lost their own spouses of many years).   In visiting, Morrie’s recalled a very special moment that occurred when he was in the Navy and a member of the Naval Choir.  He was a soloist with the group and at the funeral of JFK, accompanied by the chorus, he sang a solo verse....with Jackie Kennedy and young sons sitting some 15 feet away.   It may have been a mistake for Morrie to tell the story, because I immediately invited him outside the north doors of Old Main, to sing a short trio with Marge and me.   Being a bit unsure of the words, he promptly pulled out his I Phone (Apple product of course)  hooked up to the internet and downloaded the words.  He sang, holding the phone in front of him as he read the words.  If you’d like his email address, I’ll provide it.....for sure you will want to buy Apple stuff after that.



FROM SEATTLE    Juantorena Crawford, (son of now deceased well known EIU distance runner...Walter Crawford ‘74)  recently returned from Seattle for an EIU visit.  He is 31 years old and had not be back in Charleston for at least 25 years.  He visited people who knew his father, was introduced to the EIU Track Team and  two special runners ....Ryan Hoklas (Crystal Lake – Prairie Ridge) and Brad La Rocque (Oak Forest – Sandberg).  Both are Sophs and will share in the Walter Crawford Memorial Distance Runner Scholarship next year.



Before returning to the great Northwest,  we stopped at the top of the Lynch Hill (all EIU runners know how this tough 200 meter up hill training route helped make really good runners).  Of course Walt loved it so much that when his parents brought his cremated remains to the EIU campus, we sprinkled some of the ashes right here at the old fence....the very one EIU runners have hung their sweat clothes on since 1965.   It was raining, but it seemed special for Juantorena to know about this spot.   Walter’s parents were here two and a half years ago when we made the original memorial gesture.


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