July 2007

President’s Column – July 2007 Local Sports Heroes… The Rochester running (and track) community is blessed to have a number of nationally ranked athletes in our midst.  All GRTC members are probably aware that Rochester runners Norm Frank and Don McNelly have run an extraordinary number of marathons and probably know that both men have been locally prominent enough to be members of the GRTC Hall of Fame.  Perhaps only a minority of us is aware of just how well respected these men are among marathoners, not just in the US but also internationally.  Norm Frank.  At 75, Norm is the younger of our two mega-marathoners.  He continues to add to his American record for completed marathons and ultra-marathons.  Worldwide, he is ranked third behind a German and a Japanese runner.  Norm hopes to reach his long-term goal of 1000 at the 2008 Rochester Preferred Care Marathon. Don McNelly.   One of Don’s most remarkable accomplishments is that he has finished more than 125 marathons since turning 80.  Now 86 and ranked third in America with 724 marathons and ultra-marathons, Don has some interesting races planned for the fall.  He is entered in the October 7th Portland Marathon; friends Wally Herman (first among Canadian marathoners), Horst Priesler from Germany (first in the world) and Pierre Honre (first in Denmark) will join him for the race.  Then Don will do the Harrisburg Marathon to celebrate his 87th birthday on November 11th.  A week later Don will fly to Japan for a marathon and the 20th anniversary meeting of the Japanese running club, Full Hyaku (to join you must have completed 100 marathons).  This will be Don’s seventh run in Japan. Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”  The running careers of Norm Frank and Don McNelly are proof positive of the power of continuing to show up.  Neither man set record times or won many races in their careers, yet by just showing up (and finishing) they continue to add to life-time records that their fellow runners understand and admire.  And beyond the sheer numbers, both men set inspiring examples by continuing in the sport long after conventional wisdom says you should expect to retire to the La-Z-Boy. Jenn Stuczynski.  GRTC members may be less aware of the recent and rapid climb of Jenn Stuczynski to American and International prominence in the pole vault.  Jenn was born and raised in Fredonia where in high school she starred on the basketball and track teams… in 2000 she won the state pentathlon title.  At Roberts Wesleyan, she broke the school’s all-time women’s basketball scoring record and also four school records in individual track events and two as a member of relay teams… all good marks but nothing that would bring a professional contract or shoe company sponsorship.  That began to change when Rick Suhr, the Roberts Wesleyan assistant track coach, finally convinced Jenn to try pole vaulting.  She gave it a try after the 2004 basketball season, clearing 12 feet by the summer.  In 2005, her first year competing, she won five meets, including a shocking first-place finish at the National Indoor Championship and first cleared 15 feet at the Rochester Holiday Indoor Classic.  In the summer of 2005 she dropped out of a masters program in school psychology to become a full-time pole vaulter.  Jenn worked eight-hour shifts at her father’s grocery store in Fredonia and then drove nearly two hours to Suhr’s practice facility in Churchville to train.  In 2006, she won seven meets, including the National Outdoor Championship and took part in her first European tour.  She became the top-ranked vaulter in the country and number six in the world with a best vault of 15 feet 4 & ¼ inches. The rapid progress has not slowed.  In May, Jenn broke Stacy Dragila’s three-year-old American recond at the Adidas Track Classic, vaulting 15 feet, 10 & 1/2 inches.  And, at the Reebox Grand Prix on June 2nd, Jenn became the first American and only the third woman to vault 16 feet.  Now under contract with Adidas, she no longer has to stock shelves. Juma Ikangaa (2:08 marathoner from Tanzania) is well known for the quote:  “The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.”   Jenn is still coached by Rick Suhr at his self-built practice facility in Churchville.  Under his tutelage, Jenn has progressed faster in this highly technical event than anyone thought possible.  She is our area’s best bet to make the 2008 Olympic Team.  And, if she continues to progress in the event, she has a real shot at both the world record and a gold metal. Good running to you.  May we all find the will to prepare and keep showing up. Tom Perry July 2007