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.

1970-79 (HOLMES and CRISP)


Swift, Holmes, and Soto

The 1970s were a decade of some phenomenal runners at Downey. Tim Holmes and Laurie Crisp lead the list, but there were several others of note who were quality athletes in there own right. Also it was during the mid-seventies that enacting of Title 9 led to the initiating of the girls track and XC programs at Downey. Crisp would soon become the first female distance running super-star at Downey.


Olivia Holloway

OLIVIA HOLLOWAY
In 1974 Olivia was the first female to run XC for Downey. She would lay the ground work for all female Downey distance runners to follow.

Tim Holmes

TIM HOLMES
Tim Holmes is without a doubt the most successful male runner ever to wear a Downey uniform. It has been over 30 years since he graduated and his mile and two mile times still stand as the school records by a wide margin. Beyond Downey he had outstanding distance seasons at MJC and then Fresno State.

1973 9th grade TDHS Nor-Cal Oustanding Frosh XC; 1973 Honarable Mention All Nor-Cal XC

1973 9th grade TDHS Age group (14 yr old) world record 15:10.8 3 mi
1974 10th grade TDHS 1st SJS Junior Div XC
1974 10th grade TDHS 1st team All Nor-Cal XC; 1976 Nor-Cal Outstanding Soph XC, 9:08.9 2mi

1975  10th grade TDHS 1st place 9:06.5 2mi SJS; qualified for the State meet track
1975 11th grade TDHS 1st place Conference and SJS XC
1975 11th grade TDHS 1st team All Nor-Cal XC, 1975 Nor-Cal Outstanding Junior XC, 1975 Nor-Cal Runner of the Year XC, 9:10.6 2mi, finished #3 on Nat'l Postal 3mi 14:12.2


1976 11th grade TDHS 1st place 2mi 9:13.1 SJS; 4th place 2mi Calif State Meet 9:02.3 track
1976 12th grade TDHS 1st place Conference and SJS XC
1976 12th grade TDHS 1st team All Nor-Cal XC, 1976 Nor-Cal Oustanding Senior XC, 1976 Nor-Cal Runner of the Year XC, HS All-American, 13:59.9 3mi


1977 12th grade TDHS 1st place SJS (1600 and 3200); best marks 4:12.5 1600m, 8:52.1 3200 (8:55.3 2mi) track


1977 12th grade TDHS SOS Club "HS Athlete of the Year"
1977 MJC Northern Calif and State JC XC Champion 19:18 4mi XC


1978 MJC #2 on all-time list 5000m 14:35.88 track
1979 FSU #10 on all-time list 4mi 19:32 XC
1979 FSU 1st place Big West Conference XC
1980 FSU #8 on all-time list 10K 30:36 XC
1980 FSU 1st place Big West Conference XC
1990 inducted into Downey Athletic Hall of Fame






LAURIE CRISP
Laurie Crisp was Downey's first female distance running super-star. She still ranks as #3 on Downey's all-time list for the 800 and 1600. More than 30 years after the fact, her 3200 still ranks as the top Downey mark by over 15 seconds. After leaving Downey she was successful at MJC and then at San Diego State. Later she would rank as one of the top US marathoners.

1977 10th grade TDHS 3rd place 2mi 11:11.0 SJS track
1977 11th grade TDHS finished #2 on Nat'l Postal 2mi 11:01.6 XC
1977 11th grade TDHS 1st SJS XC
1977 11th grade 1TDHS st team All Nor-Cal XC
1977 11th grade TDHS ranked #6 on All-American list XC
1978 11th grade TDHS 1st place SJS 11:00.2 2 mi
1978 11th grade TDHS Calif State Meet 6th place 10:53.4 2mi track(10:50.0 3200m current Downey school record)
1978 11th grade 2:23.4 800m #3 Downey all-time list; 5:10.0 1600m #3 Downey all-time list
1981 MJC #1 on all-time list 1500m 4:40.14 track
1981 MJC #1 on all-time list 3000m 9:53.44 track
1982 MJC #1 on all-time list 5000m 17:35.64 track
1982 SDSU 17:09.00 5K XC
1983 SDSU 16:58 5000m track
1983 SDSU 36:01 10K track
1987 NYC marathon 7th place 2:36:01
1987 ranked 8th in US for marathon
1988 US Olympic Marathon Trials 11th place 2:35:23








DORA NAYARES
1976 10th grade TDHS 5th place SJS sus-section
1977 11th grade TDHS Honorable Mention All Nor-Cal XC
1977 11th grade TDHS finished #6 on Nat'l Postal 2mi 11:54.0 #4 on Downey all-time list










Tim Trail
TIM TRAIL
1973 TDHS track 1:56.8  800m #5 on Downey all-time list


ALFRED SOTO
1974 11th grade TDHS Honorable Mention All Nor-Cal XC
1975 11th grade TDHS 4th place 4:24.8 mile SJS (4:22.3 1600m  #8 on Downey All-Time list)
1975 12th grade TDHS finished 16th on Nat'l Postal 3mi 14:59


JOHN SWIFT
1975 12th grade TDHS 9:45 2mi; finished 27th on Nat'l Postal 3mi 15:13
1976 12th grade TDHS 9:43.8 2mi (9:40.4 3200m #3 on Downey All-time list)




Teri Gavino


TERESA "TERI" GAVINO

Jose Lopez

1977 TDHS Honorable Mention All Nor-Cal XC


JOSE LOPEZ
1979 9th grade TDHS Outstanding Freshman All Nor-Cal XC





CHARLEEN CHITURAS
1979 10th grade TDHS 7th place SJS XC
1979 10th grade TDHS TDHS Honorable Mention All Nor-Cal


 left: Charleen Chituras
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