Payton Jordan will be guest speaker at the Striders
Hall of Famer Payton Jordan, who recently turned 90, has been snagged as the guest of honor at the annual awards dinner of the Southern California Striders, a masters track club. Payton is a legend in masters track as well as the elite level (as a coach and athlete). Doug Smith of the Striders writes that the club’s annual awards banquet will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, November 17, at the Foxfire Restaurant in the north Orange County town of Anaheim Hills. Doug notes that Payton was Stanford University’s track coach for 23 years and prroduced seven Olympians, six world record holders and six national champions.
Doug adds:
In the height of the Cold War, Payton was the meet director of the 1962 USA vs. USSR dual meet, which drew over 150,000 fans to the two-day event. He also brought the 1960 Olympic Trials to Stanford, and was the head coach of track and field for the 1968 U. S. Olympic Team, considered one of the finest ever fielded. This team garnered a record 24 medals, 12 of them gold, during this Olympics, which was held in Mexico City.
Prior to his coaching at Stanford, he coached for 10 years at Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he guided that school to two NAIA Track & Field Championships and 10 conference titles.
Coach Jordan also achieved amazing success as a masters’ sprinter by setting numerous world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters in age groups of 55 through 80.
Anyone wishing to attend should contact Brenda Matthews, the Striders’
president, before November 10 at her email address: marklane1212@sbcglobal.net
Or contact Doug Smith, (949) 831-5935 or smitheld@cox.net
Choice of entrees: beef, chicken or vegetarian.
Cost: $45/person Make checks payable to So. California Striders
I’ll be there, for sure.
Payton Jordan won’t make a comeback as an M90
Joy Upshaw-Margerum is a lucky duck. Not only does she have amazing athletic talent and belong to a storied track family, but she also gets to attend some great parties. Last week, she went to the celebration of Don Bowden, the first American to run a sub-4 mile — 50 years ago. She also got a chance to chat with masters sprint legend Payton Jordan, now 90. He lost his wife in December, so knowing that he would be there, I had Joy ask him whether he might lace on spikes again. Joy wrote me: “Yes, I did ask Payton if he may come back into masters track –and he replied, no, but he enjoyed it immensely.” Oh well. At least Don Pellmann’s records are safe.
2 Responses
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Juan Bustamante - May 5, 2007
One of the many joys of my years of masters competition has been having the privilege to meet and know classy people, great atletes and beautiful human beings as Payton Jordan. Payton, take care of yourself. I am looking forward to give you a big hug. From the guy from Spain.
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Tom Fahey - May 7, 2007
Payton could out sprint most of the male PE majors at Chico State when he was 80. He is the posterboy for fitness, athletic performance, and aging.
