This blog is dedicated to the rich distance running history at Thomas Downey High School. From the school's founding in 1950-51, there have been many superior runners. Ray Hale, Ron Whitney, and Mike Olbranz were the heros of the first decade. The 1960s belonged to Jim Seghrue and Andy Vollmer. The 1970s saw the emergence of Tim Holmes and Laurie Crisp, and Charleen Chituras. The 1980s seemed to be the low point for Downey distance running, but the 1990s would make up for that with Eric Elwess, JoAnna Cerri, and Carrie Tacheria. Since 2000 the program's brightest star was Monica Frailing. This site and associated pages pays tribute to the "fore fathers" of Downey distance running. Perhaps the spirit and success of these stars of the past will guide the Downey distance running stars of the future.

1950-59 (HALE and WHITNEY)

1955 TDHS XC team
The first decade of Downey distance running belonged to Ron Whitney and Gar May in the 800/880 and Ray Hale in the 1600/mile. It is amazing that even after over 50 years of athletes running the track and trails for Downey Whitney and May rank #2 and # 3 in the 800 and Hale is #3 in the 1600. But these are track runners and track times. Cross-country was in its infancy as a sport in California and at Downey. The 1958 Downey "B" team (junoirs) would win the section title and lay the foundation for some outstanding Downey XC teams in the early 1960s






RAY HALE
Ray Hale was Downey's first distance super-star. In 1953 in 10th grade he ran 4:31.4 for the mile. He would go on to finish second in the state meet in the mile both his junior and senior years. He'd break the previous state record his senior year in the losing 4:21.2 effort.

 
1953 10th grade TDHS 4:31.5 mile
1954 11th grade TDHS 3:13.4 1320 yds
1954 11th grade TDHS 1st place VOL 4:29.9 mile; 2nd place Calif State Meet 4:25.4; 1st place Pacific Association AAU 4:24.8 mile
1955 12th grade TDHS 1st SJS mile; 2nd place Calif State Meet 4:21.2 mile (still #3 on TDHS all-time list)

GAR MAY
1958 ? grade TDHS 1:55.8 800m (still ranks as #3 on the all-time list)


Ron Whitney

RON WHITNEY
Ron was without a doubt (even after over 50 years) the best all-around track athlete ever to run in a Downey uniform!

1958 11th grade 8th place SJS "A" XC
1959 11th grade TDHS 1:57.4 880 yds
1960 12th grade TDHS 1st place 880 SJS; 4th place Calif State Meet 1:52.7 880yds (1:52.0 800m)
1960 12th grade TDHS 1st place 180HH SJS
1960 12th grade TDHS 1:52.7 880yds (1:52.0 800m) still #2 on the Downey all-time list
1960 12th grade TDHS 11.0 100m (#10 all-time); 21.9 200m (#2 all-time); 48.7 400m (#2 all-time); 14.4 110HH (#1 all-time)


1956 TDHS XC team
1957 TDHS XC team

THE 1958 TDHS "B" XC TEAM
The 1958 "B" team (juniors) would become Downey's first section championship distance team (Bill Brockman, Doug Leeper, Mike Olbrantz, Brian May). Mike Olbrantz would be the next Downey super-star (in the early 1960s). This team laid the foundation for Downey's great XC teams of 1960, 1963, and 1964.
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