Clifford Larkins Competes for H.P. in the 50 Yard Dash, 1962
Like Coach Ranvir Singh,
my college triple jump mentor, Coach Kenneth Mapp, my junior high school mentor
was also instrumental in helping me to later set college records and attain
All American status in the triple jump. Coach Mapp is the person who got it all started.
In the summer of 1962 I attended one of our city’s summer recreation programs at
Francis E. Willard
This is Francis E Willard in Highland Park, Michigan, the elementary school
I attended. Its playground was large enough to include a baseball field,
a basketball court, as well as play equipment for elementary school children.
The school also housed a large indoor swimming pool.
elementary school in Highland Park, Michigan. Similar programs were started on
playgrounds across the country in response to many American’s fear that
“our young are growing overweight and out of shape.” In response to
president Dwight D. Eisenhower’s
president Dwight D. Eisenhower’s
“President's Council on Youth Fitness”, which never gain traction, president
J. F. Kennedy’s administration retitled it the
“President's
Council on Youth Fitness and Sport” and set the program in motion in communities
and schools across the nation.
The man in charge of the sports component for our playground recreation program was Mr. Kenneth Mapp.
He announced in early June that in late July, the state of Michigan would host a "track and field" meet and
he wanted to field a team. We would compete against other kids in our age group from 40 other cities across
the Detroit metropolitan area.
In spite of being small and frail looking, I was the fastest kid on my block and I wanted to show the city of
Highland Park and state of Michigan how fast I was, so I asked to compete in the 50 yard dash.
After testing me in a few time trails, Mr. Mapp allowed me to train for the 50 yard dash.
However, in order to qualify for the metropolitan cities competition, I first had to win Highland Park's city wide
competition, competing against competitors from other playgrounds across the city. I had been well trained
under Mr. Mapp’s supervision, and I ran away with the city wide competition.
Fortunately, we were given a beautiful July day for the metropolitan cities competition. However, for some reason
Mr. Mapp did not travel with us, and I was only told that he was not free to come that day. This made no sense to me.
Why hadn’t he told me he could not attend? Not having his support and guidance troubled and frightened me.
In spite of my frayed nerves and fear, he had done his job well and I was ready to run. The competition brought in
kids from 40 Michigan cities. Various events were placed within one large grassy area of beautiful Metropolitan Park
and we were required to compete in gym shoes on the grass “track”. Each lane of the 6 lane grass “track” was
demarcated by ropes that stretched for 50 yards.
I won both my qualifying heats to make it to the finals. However, when I approached the starting line of the finals,
I could see that I would have some very tough competition. The 12 and 13 year old boys who lined up with me were
very big and they were very muscular for their age. My fear emerged again and my heart sank. I can remember
nothing about the race after the starting pistol went off. The six or seven seconds of the race seemed to happen
in a blur. I can only remember crossing the finish line and knowing that I did not win.
Announcing the winners was delayed as the judges huddled up to discuss the finish. Finally, they announced
the place finishes. Apparently there had been some discussion about the third place finisher because one of the
judges walked over to me at told me, “don't worry, you were 3rd.” While standing on the podium to receive my
3rd place medal I can only remember thinking, "being on the podium is nice, but I don’t ever want to finish third again.
I want the gold medal! Next year when I am 13 I will be bigger and stronger and faster. I will win!"