THE OLIVET COLLEGE TRACK NEWSLETTER
by Coach Clifford Larkins, MAY 23, 1978

400 M Dash 48.31 Smith (Alma)
This was billed to be one of the most exciting races of the day and it certainly proved to be so. The dual was between freshman sensation Fred Williams and senior Bob Smith from Alma. Fred had beaten Bob in a dual meet earlier in the season 49.45 to 49.50, a come-from-behind victory for Fred. However, the shorter 400 Meters proved costly for Fred as Bob out leaned him at the tape just as Fred was about to overtake him. Fred's time was an excellent 48.34 = 48.8 in yards. This time qualifies Fred for the National Championships to be held at Calvin College in Grand Rapids May 25 - 27.

200 M Dash
... Also placing in the 200 M for the Comets was - you guessed it - Fred Williams. Fred placed 3rd with a time of 22.03, and that was after he ran 48.34 in the 400 M.

Mile Relay 3:20.74 (Olivet)
The Comets went into this event as the favorites by right of their undefeated dual meet record. Also their 3:21.9 victory at the Hillsdale Relays the week before just about put them out of range of any other MIAA school.

However, strange things do happen in league meets. After his disastrous 800 M, Kelvin Lewis was too exhausted to run his leg on the Mile Relay. At the spur of the moment Pat Peregoy - who had already started celebrating his "big double" - was summoned by Coach Larkins. With little warm-up, Pat rose to the task and ran a beautiful lead-off leg. When Pat passed the baton, the Comets were in second place and battling for first. In the second leg, sophomore Tim Hendrick finally showed the form he had been noted for in his freshman year and sprinted past Albion to put the Comets out front. However, Darrell Jenkins faltered somewhat in the third leg, and Albion regained the lead. When anchor man Fred Williams took the baton he was five yards behind. But at this point there was no question who the winning team would be. The Comet Mile Relay quartet has never lost a race when Fred was within 10 yards of the man he was chasing. Fred overtook the Albion runner as they raced down the final back stretch and Olivet was victorious with a time of 3:20.74.