Anybody remember Jerry Smartt?

[LynnRunner]

As a high school distance runner in southern California, 1959-63, I met and got to know Jerry Smartt. He taught at one of the local Jr. high schools--a native Texan, relocated to California. Jerry encouraged and mentored me...we ran many a workouts together. I know he was close to being an Olympian with the 10,000m his best event. Anyone out there know what his record was and his best times?

[oneill]

I can't help you on the details, but I do know that Jerry is somewhere back in Texas. I spoke to him on the telephone about six months ago - same ol' Jerry, and I'm sure that he'll be happy to tell you all about his running, then and now -He's competing in Masters, may have gone to Hawaii - I never went into the detail of that meet.

[jhc68]

Hey, Lynn... how ya doing? I certainly remember Smartt. Seems like he was everywhere there was a track meet for several years when we were kids.

[louise tricard]

hey...i'll get in touch now with jerry...he can answer all your questions today....

[Smartty]

Hey, Lynn, The J-man is alive and well in, of all places, Missouri. Rugged hills for training. Getting ready for the Chicago Marathon at 70-90 miles a week. My 5K time is down to 22:29. Not too bad for age 74. I'll be sub 22 next spring. Still have my age 43 American track record at 15:30(1975). Am I speaking to Lynn"C-man"Cannon?
Pen me direct. Jerry

[Smartty]

Lynn, pen me at j9s1131@iland.net

[ppalmer]

I certainly remember Jerry Smartt. I met him at the NCAA cross country meet at Michigan State U. in 1958 (maybe 1957). As high school kids from nearby, we were allowed to leave school to watch the meet. Jerry Smartt talked to me and a friend about the race and beating one of our MSU heros. A really nice guy. (I think he ended up 4th in that race.)

Then after that I was in college myself and saw him from time to time at National AAU meets.

Pat Palmer

[LynnRunner]

Thanks all for your responses...Especially The J-man himself! I am now e-mailing with Jerry, enjoying it and plan to visit him at his central Missouri home next summer.

[ltricard]

great...this is why usatf has formed an alumni association...we need to keep e-mails when athletes retire and disappear.....if you know any athletes (who competeted in national champs) and want to be a part of it, let me know...ltricard@aol.com

[Kenny]

Back in 1963 I used to work out at Santa Ana JC, Calif.. I met Jerry there a few times when our training workouts overlapped. The school had a GrassTech (?) artificial track, the first one I’d ever seen or run on. I was from the East coast. He loved it and so did I since we both were demonstrating to ourselves the efficacy of the new surface for both leg comfort and improved times over what we had always experienced in the old cinder environment. I was a sprinter, though, and I remember well watching him do his (to me) amazing interval training as he’d knock off 35 or so laps in 65 seconds each while walking or lightly jogging a 220 between each. He’d talk about the world of strength he felt he was developing… I thought he was surely super human. It sure paid off for him.

[Conor Dary]

Hey, Lynn, The J-man is alive and well in, of all places, Missouri. Rugged hills for training. Getting ready for the Chicago Marathon at 70-90 miles a week. My 5K time is down to 22:29. Not too bad for age 74. I'll be sub 22 next spring. Still have my age 43 American track record at 15:30(1975). Am I speaking to Lynn"C-man"Cannon?
Pen me direct. Jerry

Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but 15:30, while an excellent time, doesn't seem particularly fast to be the record for 43. I guess few 43 year olds run 5ks on the track.