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Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 10:44 am
by CameronBornAndBred
Duke hosted its (probable) last track meet in Wallace Wade this weekend. The stadium has been home to 80 years of track and field history, including one of (if not the) first integrated sports events when Al Buehler and Leroy Walker both used it for Duke's and NCCU's practices.
While reading I learned that football's Austin Gamble also participates in the discus, he walked away a champion on Sunday, breaking his own school record in the process. Here are some links to the meet and a bit of history.
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... EM_ID=4200
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... =207500261
The stadium records alone include the names of eight Olympic champions including Michael Johnson, Shawn Crawford, Dennis Mitchell, Edwin Moses Charles Austin and Michael Conley on the men’s side and Gwen Torrence, Maria Mutola and Faina Melnik on the women’s side. The group of record holders also own over 60 collective Olympic appearances.
Aside from the spotlight of competition, Wallace Wade track also served as the backdrop for integration in the 1950’s when Duke head coach Al Buehler and North Carolina Central coach, the late Dr. LeRoy Walker, joined forces to train their athletes together, regardless of their race. This took place prior to Duke University enrolling its first African-American students in 1963.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 11:08 am
by Bob Green
Removing the track is good for football, but a lot of history is going away with the move. I attended a professional track and field event in the mid-seventies at Wallace Wade and Bob Hayes came and sat down right behind me all afternoon. As a big Dallas Cowboys fan, that was exciting.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 11:12 am
by CathyCA
We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 2:12 pm
by devildeac
CathyCA wrote:We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
Ozzie, you didn't tell us about THAT one! Shame on you. Oh, wait, Cathy stated "that guy could run."
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 2:24 pm
by DevilWearsPrada2.0
devildeac wrote:CathyCA wrote:We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
Ozzie, you didn't tell us about THAT one! Shame on you. Oh, wait, Cathy stated "that guy could run."
Ozzie could probably RUN back in the day!!! lol
Moving the Track, will enhance FOOTBALL!!!!
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 2:47 pm
by CameronBornAndBred
CathyCA wrote:We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
I remember that, I was fascinated by the pole vaulters. I still am.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 3:03 pm
by DukieInKansas
CameronBornAndBred wrote:CathyCA wrote:We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
I remember that, I was fascinated by the pole vaulters. I still am.
Oh, my! The inappropriate comments that come to mind.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 3:50 pm
by OZZIE4DUKE
DevilWearsPrada2.0 wrote:devildeac wrote:CathyCA wrote:We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
Ozzie, you didn't tell us about THAT one! Shame on you. Oh, wait, Cathy stated "that guy could run."
Ozzie could probably RUN back in the day!!! lol
Moving the Track, will enhance FOOTBALL!!!!
Contrary to devildeac's comment, I did not participate in that streak. The two at the end of February 1974 on the main quad and Hanes House, yes!
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 4:45 pm
by Lavabe
So, I hate to ask but...
is fda somewhere doing a happy dance?
Oh yeah, and where will track run? Did I miss some notification about a new dedicated track stadium?
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 6:59 pm
by ArkieDukie
DukieInKansas wrote:CameronBornAndBred wrote:CathyCA wrote:We attended the USA-USSR Track Meet at Wally Wade in the summer of 1974. That was a HUGE deal back then. Most of us had never seen Soviets/Communists, and there they were: running all over Wallace Wade, just like the Americans. Interesting how sports competitions serve to bring us all together by breaking down barriers of misunderstanding.
The most memorable part was seeing a streaker emerge from the stadium and trot across the field. The campus police eventually tackled him and covered him with a blanket, but boy, that guy could run!
I remember that, I was fascinated by the pole vaulters. I still am.
Oh, my! The inappropriate comments that come to mind.
It wasn't just me, then!
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 10:41 pm
by DukieInKansas
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 7th, 2013, 7:51 am
by OZZIE4DUKE
Lavabe wrote:So, I hate to ask but...
is fda somewhere doing a happy dance?
Oh yeah, and where will track run? Did I miss some notification about a new dedicated track stadium?
One would think so...
As for the new track, I think it's going to be on the other side of Koskinen Stadium, but I'm not sure where.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 7th, 2013, 10:05 am
by Bob Green
Lavabe wrote:So, I hate to ask but...
is fda somewhere doing a happy dance?
You can look for him over at The Devils Den: southfloridadevil = Former Duke Athlete. He is whining away about Wallace Wade Stadium and recruiting.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 7th, 2013, 10:29 am
by CameronBornAndBred
Bob Green wrote:Lavabe wrote:So, I hate to ask but...
is fda somewhere doing a happy dance?
You can look for him over at The Devils Den: southfloridadevil = Former Duke Athlete. He is whining away about Wallace Wade Stadium and recruiting.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 7th, 2013, 2:03 pm
by OZZIE4DUKE
Bob Green wrote:Lavabe wrote:So, I hate to ask but...
is fda somewhere doing a happy dance?
You can look for him over at The Devils Den: southfloridadevil = Former Duke Athlete. He is whining away about Wallace Wade Stadium and recruiting.
Umm, no. I don't think so.
Re: Good bye to the track
Posted: May 7th, 2013, 3:54 pm
by Bob Green
OZZIE4DUKE wrote:Umm, no. I don't think so.
I stand corrected.
