Indoor Track Runners Conditions For Spring

by Steve Vedder, Olivet Echo, February 22, 1978

Right now in the middle of February college students thoughts are turned to the last few games of the basketball season, mid-terms, the wind-up of pledging and track. Track? Yes, believe it or not, the track season is underway already. For eight runners of the Olivet track team the season started January 21.

"I prefer to start in mid-January," states Coach Cliff Larkins. "But we have had some guys who have been working out since October."

How important is the indoor track season to college runners? "Indoor track is essential to outdoor track. It takes at least four months to get in condition before competing," says Larkins.

Coach Larkins admits it's hard, for runners to psych themselves so early in the season. "It's harder to get them up but competition gets our people up. Also it's hard to train because of the facilities here. I have to know what each kid needs," Larkins says.

As far as comparing this season's start to last Larkins says, "We are way ahead of last year's pace, I compare last year's times to this year's times to gage the progress. So far, the progress has been excellent.

There are a several runners who Larkins is pinning his hopes on. Freshman Fred Williams and Kelvin Lewis both "are knocking people's eyes out," says Larkins. Williams is running even better now than he did in high school, Larkins believes.

As for Lewis, Larkins says he has all ready broken Olivet College's record time for the indoor mile.

Other key contributors are Pat Peregoy, Tom Bush, Darrell Jenkins, and Lloyd Damon.

"We don't have enough people to cover all the events," Larkins says. As a result Olivet is going to find the going rough in dual meets. "At this point I prefer to have a small, motivated group. Hopefully we can build on that."

Right now there are 15 people out for track. Larkins believes that 30 people would be an ideal number. The coach concedes that most MIAA schools, "have more than we do."

One problem with indoor track is that MIAA schools can't run as teams. Instead they run as clubs. So the team doesn't get to as many meets as it should and as a result this hurts in recruiting. "It's a dumb rule," states Larkins. "It has hampered the track progress at MIAA schools. It's got to be changed or track will fade away.

Comets Keep Track of Meet Action

by Albert C. Jones, Olivet College Echo — May 3, 1978

"Everything is right on schedule," mused Clifford Larkins, the enthusiastic Olivet College track coach.

You might say that this year's track team is experiencing a renaissance. It is a program that has been revitalized by bringing in some top-notch recruits and persistent training.

"Whenever I do anything," commented Larkins, beaming behind his neatly arranged desk in an office that he shares with coach Jare Klein in the old McKay Gymnasium, "I do it on a long range basis. From my time schedule, I think things are right on time."

One of this year's mainstays is Patrick "Pat" Peregoy, a sophomore from Menominee. Peregoy, a six-footer who weighs in around 170, has been a steady performer, and he is quick to give credit where credit is due: "He's (Larkins) helped me so much," he said. "Last year I could only run 10.5, and he's worked with me and gotten me down to a 9.8."

Thus far, Peregoy remains undefeated in the MIAA in the 100 and 220-yard dashes. Against Hope College on April 12, Peregoy was all over the track; he was responsible, directly or indirectly, for 34 and a half points. He won the 100 and 220-yard dashes, placed first in the long jump, ran a leg of the- 440-yard relay and coasted a quarter mile in the mile relay. "I was pretty excited," he said with a wide grin. "I was really fired up."

If dedication and perseverance means anything, and it does, it is not surprising for an athlete to rise to the top of his endeavor. Fred "Smooth Daddy" Williams, a 165 pounder who stands 6-foot and is a freshman from Ypsilanti who has yielded early dividends, is an excellent example of this.

"I think a lot of Fred's success has to do with his training," said Larkins. "He's training seriously now; he started in October."

Williams remains undefeated in his main event, the quarter-mile. He is quickly approaching the school record for this event, which is held by Bob Condon with a time of 48.5. Williams has run 49.4 thus far.

To look back, quickly, at the indoor season, it was Williams who turned in a 32.3 in the 300-yard dash, a 60.0 in the 500-yard and a 1.14 in the 600. All these are school records, and the 32.3 was fast enough to rank Williams number one in NCAA division III.

As part of his, should we say, "rebuilding program," Larkins has been given a big assist from Bob Glenn, an Olivet graduate and track man. Three years ago Glenn, as track coach at Detroit's Cooley High, directed Darrell Jenkins, the half miler, to Olivet. This year's gift from Glenn is Kelvin "West Holly wood" Lewis, a slender half miler who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 140 pounds.

"The nucleus that I’m building around are consistent each week," says Larkins.

Lewis is right in the center of this "nucleus" that Larkins refers to frequently. A member of the tenacious mile relay tandem. Lewis has been clocked at a 50.7 split; however, Lewis' specialty is the half mile, and he has been clocked doing 1:55.7, barely two seconds off the school record.

"I try to go out fast in the first lap," said the once beaten in the MIAA Lewis. "In the second lap I give it all I’ve got."

He goes on and explains his on the track finesse: "I listen for those approaching, and if they get too close I speed up and they get tired. On the back stretch, you can see the shadows of those approaching."

Tim Hendrick, a sophomore from Olivet and Jenkins, the junior from Detroit, are the other two links in the fine mile relay team that has a best time of 3:18.7. Hendricks, also a quarter miler, is usually on the heels of Williams at the tape.

A crop of veterans anchor down the long distance races, Lloyd Damon, the Mount Clemens senior and Mike Woolsey, a senior from Jackson, are the mile and three milers on the team. More-over, Larkins is quick to give praise to Ed Cook, a Grand Rapids senior, as "a stabilizing force on the team."

In the field events, the Comets have Paul Van Gessel throwing the javelin, Scottie Williams long and triple jumping, and James Gailbraith, also a javelin thrower.

The Comet thinclads will round out their campaign, which is according to Lewis "too short, much too short," on May 4 and 5, at the MIAA league meet that will be held at Calvin College.

"We're hoping to place either first or second in the league meet," said Larkins. And with his consistent nucleus, this is not unforeseeable with the likes of Peregoy, a 9.8 sprinter, and company.