|
By Elliott Denman
Two-time USA Olympian (1976-80) Clark Todd Scully Jr. died tragically in a trailer-truck accident in Big Island, Bedford County, Va. on Sept. 6th, 2021, a week shy of his 73rd birthday. One of America's greatest stars in the racewalking discipline of track and field, Todd Scully - as he was known to all in his sport - excelled at all distances from 1 mile to 50 kilometers (31.1 miles) but is often best recognized as "the Roger Bannister of racewalking,"for his historic feat of walking one mile in 5:55.8 at the 1979 Millrose Games at New York's Madison Square Garden. Just as no runner had ever broken the "four-minute barrier" before Britain's Dr. Bannister ran 3:59.4 at Oxford in 1954, no racewalker had ever covered the mile in official circumstances under 6 minutes before Scully did it that epic night at "the Garden." And he did this shod in his famed trademark "Hush Puppies," ultra-light street shoes. Todd's greatest racewalking successes were at these "sprints" but he went on to place 29tth in the 20K walk at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games (after staying up with the lead pack much of the way) and then be named to the 20K team at the 1980 Trials but then sit out the Moscow Games in that boycott year. Todd was born in Princeton, NJ, Sept. 13, 1948 and went on Somerville, NJ High School and Lynchburg College in Virginia. He joined the Shore Athletic Club of NJ in his high school days - first competing in the club's famed Lake Takanassee Summer Series - and remained a lotyal member of the club - which has produced an array of other Olympians - for the balance of his competitive career. He also competed for the All-Army team and for Team USA in multiple international events. He earned National AAU individual gold medals eight times, at distances from 1 mile to 40 kilometers Twice a competitor in the Pan American Games, he placed fifth at the Mexico City 20K in 1975 and third at 20K at San Juan in 1979. Beyond all that, he represented his nation at five editions of racewalking's World Cup global team championship event. After his competition days, Scully was a highly successful coach at Virginia Tech University. In his latter years, he worked the Big Island farm he'd acquired four decades earlier. For many years, too, Shore AC hosted the Reilly-Scully Day Road Races in Long Branch, NJ, honoring both Scully and Bill Reilly, the Long Branch High School alumnus and 1968 USA 3,000-meter steeplechase Olympian. "To be certain, Todd was one of the greatest of Shore AC athletes, and we've had a lot of great ones, in all branches of track and field," said Ray Funkhouser, the former Shore AC president and himself a national champion racewalker. "We've been totally saddened to hear of his passing," "Rest in peace, dear teammate Todd."
1 Comment
BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK DONE BY MARY BETH MCDONNELL OF AJEE' WILSON. WELL DONE, MARY BETH. MANY THANKS.  By Elliott Denman Check it out, Shore AC teammates, fans and friends, check it out, the USATF.org national website... Click on news... And first thing you see is smiling and sensational Shore AC stalwart Roberta Groner, hands raised in the victory salute, about to cross the the finish line in record time, as one of the many brilliant Shore AC team and indivdual performances in the USATF Masters National Championship 12K road race last Sunday at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook. And keep on scrolling for full details of the entire Shore AC's magnificent day running to a tremendous day on the national stage!! Truly well done, one and all!!! But scroll down a bit and you'll see the tragic story of Shore AC Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian Todd Scully's oh-so-very-sad death at age 72 in a trailer truck accident in Big Island, VA, With all he achieved in his magnificent career, Todd is still perhaps best known for his 5:55.8. victory in the mile walk at the 1979 Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden, thus making Todd "the Roger Bannister of racewalking" as the first man to officially walk a mile in less than six minutes. One newsbite so brilliant, one more the oh-so-sad goodbye to a brilliant Shore AC teammate. Hello to new glories, farewell to a glorious guy, Most sincerely, Elliott Denman [email protected] Click Here to Read the USATF Article  To All Our Illustrious Shore AC Teammates: It was my huge pleasure this morning to be at Gateway National Recreation Area/Sandy Hook in the capacity of Shore AC cheerleader!! Let me say that all of you, one and all, guys and gals, all age brackets, were simply treeeee-mendous !!! The parade of smartly-attired, smiling, super-enthused teammates as they completed the National Masters 12K race was a marvelous sight to behold!! You were all just amazing!! Scoring as both individuals and in the several team categories, you were truly sensational... I've seen a lot of great things by our Shore AC teammates over the past half-century-plus - everything from the Olympic Games and World Championships to kids races at Lake Tak and Holmdel Park, etc.etc etc - but this day surely ranked right up there with all those earlier glory days.. It was a sight to behold. It added up to one of the brightest days in Shore AC history, and that history dates back to 1934 !!! Wonderful-wonderful-wonderful, everybody!! And best of all, we all know that even better things are just ahead... With infinite pride, Elliott Denman... By Murial Smith via Veni Vidi Scripto SANDY HOOK – The Shore Athletic Club is inviting local businesses, restaurants, professionals and Highlands residents to join their sponsorship program for the Jersey Shore Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday Oct. 3 on Sandy Hook. The Half Marathon is one of more than two dozen events hosted annually by the Shore Athletic Club, a more than 75-year old non-profit organization based in Monmouth County and designed to support running, walking, recreational and wellness events for youth through open and masters’ athletes. David Friedman of Freehold, Erin O’Neill of Port Monmouth and Coach Joe Compagni of Highlands are the event directors for the race. They have invited local business from Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright to take advantage of the sponsorship offer and partner with the Club in presenting the event, which includes more than 700 athletes and spectators, as well as families and volunteers from the Sandy Hook area and beyond. “This event draws athletes and spectators from throughout New Jersey as well as out of state,” said Compagni. “As a Highlands resident for more than 25 years, I know that our local businesses who are sponsors can benefit from the number of visitors who will be here that weekend looking for places to dine and relax. I’m sure they will appreciate an introduction to all the area offers in terms of business and professional services.” Our communities have always been generous to our non-profit organization and to the programs we offer for youth in particular, the coach continued, so offering them a sponsorship of this major event is a way of saying thanks to them for their continued support. The Short Athletic Club offers three levels of sponsorship ranging from $75 to $250 or more in gift certificates or merchandise. In return, the Shore A.C. will promote the contributing sponsors in their event flyers, e-mails, and social media posts which are seen by participants, club members throughout the Northeast, and event volunteers. Some sponsorships also enable the sponsor to set up a vendor table the day of the race (within Sandy Hook guidelines), and receive a free race entry, among other benefits. “We want to let those outside the area know that our towns and the Sandy Hook area are not simply a great place to go in the summer,“ Compagni said. “Keeping visitors aware of the variety and plethora of businesses we have, we can extend the season for our local companies and let our visitors know of some of the events and activities that keep people coming back here throughout the year.” Founded in 1934, the Shore A.C. has been overseen and directed for decades by Lifetime Trustee Elliott Denman, a 1956 Olympian and highly respected journalist with the Asbury Park Press. The Shore A.C. is dedicated to the vision of track and field as a lifetime sport and prides itself on being a club for all athletes and all seasons, with varsity and local men’s and women’s teams competing in every event within the sport and at every level from youth to Masters. Members have achieved in numerous levels, including Olympians and National and World Champions. The Club achieved numerous accolades during its first 30 years, and emerged as a larger and more vibrant club as it grew until today when there are more than 500 members. The Jersey Shore Half Marathon on Sandy Hook is one of the club’s signature events, the others being the popular George Sheehan Classic 5K the well-known Polar Bear Races, both in Asbury Park.  The Shore A.C. also supports training athletes to compete in certified USATF events and Long Distance Races nationally and internationally throughout the year. They have been recognized for their competitive and strong presence at the Millrose Games, Penn Relays, and National & State championship events. This past summer, the Shore A.C. was represented by 11 athletes at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Oregon. In 2016, the club sent 19 athletes to the Olympic Trials.
For more information on how to become a sponsor of the Jersey Shore Half Marathon, contact Compagni at [email protected] or 908-616-0119. MAJOR CHEERS FOR MR. ELLIOTT GINDI, FOR HIS BRILLIANT 4:11 CLOCKING AT THE FAMED FIFTH AVENUE MILE, 9/12/21. and FURTHER CHEERS FOR THE FIVE STALWART RUNNERS WHO REPRESENTED SHORE AC "on the avenue, Fifth Avenue." with THE FAMED HARRY NOLAN RUNNING 6;54 AT AGE 74 AND ONCE AGAIN STARRING IN THE DR. GEORGE SHEEHAN MASTERS MILE, THE EVENT NAMED FOR THE LATE, GREAT AND GLOBALLY RENOWNED SHORE AC HALL OF FAMER. THEY FINISHED AS FOLLOWS:      |
AuthorShore AC Archives
September 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
|
Connect with us on Social!   The Shore A.C.
P.O. Box 74 Belford, NJ 07718-9998 |
|
© 2023 Shore Athletic Club. All Rights Reserved
|
Website Developed by White Custom Marketing
|