Olympic Silver Medalist, Former Kansas Congressmen Ryun To Open National Cross Country Event in Spartanburg
SPARTANBURG, SC th The last American to hold the world record for a mile run will open up the National Junior College Athletic Association's 2008 cross country championship at a dinner Friday night honoring the competing athletes.
Three-time Olympic runner Jim Ryun, also a former congressman representing Kansas' 2nd district, will be the keynote speaker at the dinner being held at First Baptist North Spartanburg at 6 pm. The Spartanburg Fellowship of Christian Athletes is sponsoring the dinner.
(Media-Newswire.com) - SPARTANBURG, SC – The last American to hold the world record for a mile run will open up the National Junior College Athletic Association’s 2008 cross country championship at a dinner Friday night honoring the competing athletes.
Three-time Olympic runner Jim Ryun, also a former congressman representing Kansas’ 2nd district, will be the keynote speaker at the dinner being held at First Baptist North Spartanburg at 6 pm. The Spartanburg Fellowship of Christian Athletes is sponsoring the dinner.
“We couldn’t think of anyone any better to come out and give an inspirational and motivational message to these athletes on the eve of a national championship,” says Bill Owens, area director for the Spartanburg FCA.
Ryun’s stellar athletic career saw him earn many world record times.
In 1964, Ryun became the first high school athlete to break the 4-minute mile. He also qualified that same year in the 1500 for the 1964 Olympics but was eliminated in the second round. A year later, he beat the reigning Olympic champion in the open-mile, setting a record of 3:55.3 which lasted until 2001. Ryun today still holds five of the six fastest mile times in U.S. high school history.
He went on to earn numerous accolades during this career as a track star at the University of Kansas. He still holds four American junior records some 40 years after setting them. Ryun participated in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 summer Olympics, taking home a silver in 1968 in the 1500 meters.
Ryun was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 and served five consecutive terms as a congressman. He is founder and president of Jim Ryun Sports, Inc., a public relations company. He also serves as a motivational speaker, speaking with corporations and Christian groups nationwide. Ryun and his family are Evangelical Presbyterians.
He has also partnered with the ReSound Hearing Aid Co., creating his own program “Sounds of Success,” aimed at helping hearing impaired children fulfill their potential.
“We’re excited about Mr. Ryun being able to share his messages and speak about what FCA can offer college students and the doors it can open for them. We are truly blessed with this opportunity,” adds Owens.
Spartanburg Methodist College athletic director Mark Perdue adds that Ryun is a role model for all ages.
“Mr. Ryun is an admirable role model for everyone, with a positive Christian character and beliefs. His accomplishments as an athlete, businessman, and congressman are something that these athletes can look up to and take note of,” says Spartanburg Methodist College athletic director Mark Perdue.
SMC is hosting the NJCAA cross country national tournament Saturday at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg. More than 550 athletes representing almost 100 teams from across the United States will be participating in the event.
The women’s 5K starts at 10 am, with the men’s 8K starting at 11 am. An awards ceremony will follow at 1 pm.
“This an awesome event for SMC, the City of Spartanburg, and Milliken to be hosting. We hope all of the athletes enjoy the event and that they have a very positive experience during their visit to Spartanburg,” adds Perdue.
Thirteen SMC runners will be competing in the event. On the men’s side that includes Josh Brooks ( Greer HS / Greer, SC ), Kyzer ( Pelion HS / Leesville, SC ), Robbie LeJeune ( Byrnes HS / Duncan, SC ), DJ Mattison ( T.L. Hanna HS / Anderson, SC ), Michael Rounds ( Ninety-Six HS / Bradley, SC ), Wes Scott ( Indian Land HS/Lancaster, SC ), and Tavus Thompson ( Spartanburg HS / Spartanburg, SC ). The men’s team is ranked 15th going into nationals.
The SMC women runners competing include Sarah Arms ( Blue Ridge HS / Travelers Rest, SC ), Lori Bowers ( Clover HS / York, SC ), Melissa Dobbins ( Pendleton HS / Townville, SC ), Jessica Foley ( Mid-Carolina HS / Little Mountain, SC ), Tori Richards ( Ninety-Six HS / Troy, SC ) and Rosa Young ( Dorman HS / Spartanburg, SC ).
SMC will next host the NJCAA National Cross Country tournament in 2010.
Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia and West Virginia.
The College is in its 98th year of providing quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.
For more information about either the dinner or the cross country event Saturday, contact SMC athletic director Mark Perdue at ( 864 ) 587-4237 or Brian Fulkerson, director of public information, at ( 864 ) 587-4254.
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