Hey,
I recently spoke with the new women’s track coach at San Jose State University, former Harding High track standout Ron Davis. In May of 1959 Davis set the state record in the mile run with a time of 4:23 and later that month at the New England meet at Brown University, he timed out a 4:20.1 — the sixth fastest clocking in the country at that time.
Is there anyone out there that knew Ron well or went to Harding with him? If so, I’d love to talk with you about him. Drop me an e-mail at celsberry@ctpost.com or respond to this blog post. Thanks!
My Two Cents
Talking Connecticut sports with Chris Elsberry
Thanks Chris- good point on the historical perspective. By the way, I enjoy your articles. You’ve been doing this a long time, but you still always come up with refreshing and unique perspectives. I also appreciate that you took the time to write an article about an old-time track runner. If you look at the record books, with a few exceptions, Bridgeport really hasn’t produced many dominating track athletes since the early 1980′s, particularly in middle and long distance. It’s a shame, because I’m sure the talent is out there.
Any time we can raise awareness to the sport it can only help.
Thanks
Mike
Mike, congrats on the great time. I have to point out that in 1959, Davis ran his 4:20.8 (or 4:20.1, that’s what he told me). 20 years later, you were only able to beat that time by 1-100th of a second, 4:20.7. Yes, its a great time but if Davis had been running in 1979, i’m guessing that his times might have been close to 4:00 or even under.
Hi Chris- I very much enjoyed your article on Ron Davis. I had heard of him as a young runner and it is always nice to see sports articles on track athletes, especially from the Bridgeport area. I am a 1979 graduate of Central HS where I was the CT State LL mile champion that year. I ran a time of 4:20.7 (http://bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=9579). When I ran that time, I was told it was the fastest HS time ever run by a BPT native. In your article about Ron, it listed a time of 4:20.1, so I researched his times. The attached website listed his best HS mile time as 4:20.8 (http://www20.csueastbay.edu/news/2011/08/athletics-rondavishiring-083011.html). Still very, very good, but 1/10 of sec off the time I ran.
For background, I went to college at the University of New Haven where I ran track and majored in engineering. After UNH I got my masters in engineering at MIT. I am currently a Vice-President in Engineering at Sikorsky and I owe much of what I accomplished in my life and career to my experiences at Central and my track coach Nick Giaquinto. He was mentor and coach for several generations of track athletes in the Bridgeport area and was a great runner himself.
Mike Ambrose