Weekend of Champions
Southern Track & Field Championships
(April 13-15, 2012)

Track & Field coach Bill Cason wants to bring the fun back to track and field. With help from others, notable the Durham County Memorial Stadium staff, the city of Durham and Coach Frank Davis of the Durham Striders, Cason is helping organize and promote a weekend in April that would bring 2,500 to 3,500 athletes from the highschool, college and masters levels to Durham, NC.

Speaking for the first time at the same event are Olympic Gold Medalist, Billy Mills and Olympic Silver Medalist, Jim Ryun.  It is a great honor to have such outstanding athletes that have done so much for our sport be part of our panel to assist area coaches.

Purchase your tickets now to have dinner and listen to the motivational speeches from our special guest.  [click here].

 

 

Billy Mills – Olympic Gold Medalist

“Billy” Mills (born June 30, 1938), is the second Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. He accomplished this feat in the 10,000 meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the only American ever to win the Olympic gold in this event. His 1964 victory is considered one of the greatest of Olympic upsets. A former United States Marine, Billy Mills is now a professional speaker. 

At the age of 12,  Billy turned to sports as a positive focus in his life and took up running while attending the Haskell Institute, an Indian boarding school in Lawrence, Kansas. Billy discovered that he had a talent for distance running and he broke a number of high school track records. In the late 1950s he attended the University of Kansas on an athletic scholarship.

At the University of Kansas Billy continued to improve as a distance runner. He was named a NCAA All-America cross country runner three times and in 1960 he won the individual title in the Big Eight cross country championship. The University of Kansas track team, coached by Bill Easton, won the 1959 and 1960 outdoor national championships. Billy graduated with a B.S. in physical education.

After graduation Billy was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He focused on military life and did not train for a brief period, but soon he returned to running and posted times good enough to qualify for the 1964 Olympics. After training for 18 months Billy made the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team in the 10,000 meters and the marathon.

Watch video of Billy winning the Gold…

 

Jim Ryun – Olympic Silver Medalist

Jim Ryun grew up in Wichita, Kansas, achieving national acclaim as a High School track and field star. Jim set the male High School Mile Record at 3:55.3 in 1963. He also participated in the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the 1500 meter run in 1968 and held the World Record in the mile, 1500 meters, and 880 yards.

Jim is the founder and president of Jim Ryun Sports, Inc., a public relations company. Through this business, Jim has been a product development consultant, marketing products and promoting awareness of various charities. His most recent partnership was with the ReSound Hearing Aid Company, creating his own program “Sounds of Success,” aimed at helping hearing impaired children reach their potential. 

Jim served 10 years as the Congressman for the 2nd Congressional District of Kansas. He brought forth a message of economic relief for the families of the Second District and worked to ease the tax burden and eliminate unnecessary governmental regulations. As a citizen-statesman, Jim continues to serve the people with a commitment to honesty and integrity. 

Jim and Anne married in January of 1969 and make their home in Lawrence, Kansas. 

 

Read more… about the Weekend of Champions