Masters sprinter/marathoner Louise Tricard hospitalized
Track historian Louise Mead Tricard, a masters sprinter in her early 70s who also has run the New York City Marathon, is hospitalized in Florida and battling cancer. She has Internet access but has been very brief in her notes. Sunday morning, after I alerted her to a women's decathlon debate on the Track & Field News message board, she wrote me: "in hospital/cancer surgery." Later, I asked for a status report, and she replied today to the effect that she's still in the hospital after having spent 14 days in a New York City hospital for "major surgery." She said she came home to Cape Canaveral, "blood wacko -- electrolytes not capable of sustaining life." She required 4 units of blood, magnesium, potassium, etc and "things (are) better. Won't be out of here for a few more days at least."
Louise, whom I've known for about 12 years, is the author of two books on the history of American women's track and field. She's a regular presence at USATF conventions and led a successful petition drive to scrap the no-false-start rule in USATF some years back.
She's posted nearly 470 message on the T&FN message board, including many dealing with the sale of her voluminous stockpile of track books and literature. She competed in the Pan Am Games and in the 1950s set an American record in the indoor 440-yard dash. She also knows every major American female track star of the past half-century.
Please join me in wishing her a speedy recovery. She's a national treasure.
Here is Louise listening to Gerry Lindgren at 2005 Hawaii masters nationals:
Comments
get well, Louise, so you can come see the brand new Vassar College track--- but you'll have to climb the fence to get in :-)
I'm thinking of you, and all the inspiration and excitement for the sport of track and field you gave me, ever since the planning of ESG in 1977....
Posted by: peter van aken | April 30, 2008 2:12 PM
Louise, all the best, Ivan Stanko (you may know me from the T&FN message board as Pego).
Posted by: Ivan Stanko | April 30, 2008 4:32 PM
God Bless, have a speedy recovery
Posted by: james broun | April 30, 2008 5:37 PM
Louise, hang in there gal.
You are a treasure.
With much affection,
Barry
Posted by: Barry Irwin | April 30, 2008 9:31 PM
God Bless, have a speedy recovery. Much love from the Clark family.
Posted by: Jearl Clark | May 1, 2008 8:03 AM
Godspeed your recovery Louise my prayers and thoughts are with you.
Much love
Tom
Posted by: Tom Hyland | May 1, 2008 11:26 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Get well.
Love,
Alisa
Posted by: Alisa Harvey | May 2, 2008 5:31 AM
Louise - Best wishes for a full (and as pain-free) recovery as possible -
Richard H
Posted by: Richard Hymans | May 4, 2008 11:03 PM
i just read these today-
thanks so much
Posted by: louise tricard | May 6, 2008 2:38 PM
Louise,
I just received an email stating you were back in the hospital. You are in my prayers and you know I dearly love you. You get well and know that God can move mountains when no one can. I will put you on my church prayer list.
Love you,
Sharrieffa
Posted by: Sharrieffa Barksdale | May 27, 2008 7:05 PM
Louise,
I hope this email finds you if not the happiest in your life- then battling the hell for better hospital food. I never thanked you properly for helping me to get my mom in the HCTCA Hall of Fame. She wasn't real thrilled....but lo and behold, next year, Hudson County Hall of Fame. If she makes the New Jersey Hall of Fame, I'll have to even leave Cape Cod- no US City will be safe for me.....Seriously, feel better....and I'm really impressed by your and your sister's books. As my kids would say, Kewl......
Posted by: Leslie McRae (Louise Black's Daughter) | June 27, 2008 2:50 PM
Hi coach,
I hope you are doing better by the time you read this, and that you have someone reliable looking after the cats. ;)
Love you,
Lisa (and Len)
Posted by: Lisa Downey | June 30, 2008 12:54 PM