David Kroenlein
Lee Ayres captures the drama that unfolded in the mile relay final of the 1960 State Track and Field Championship Meet. As a track team manager who attended practices and meets throughout the season to provide support for Coach Timmons and the team, I have a few observations to add. First, and foremost, Sherman McClellan, Lee Ayres, Bob Hanson and Larry Reid displayed high standards on and off the track. They were all friendly, hardworking, disciplined and bright. The chemistry of a relay team is critical to its success.
Sherman was a gentle person, with an infectious smile, in a large sculpted body. A football lineman who was also very fast. Even with the drama of this mile relay race, my most distinct memory of Sherman was his tackle of a small, very quick kickoff returner for El Dorado High, both of whom were going full speed on collision course. The returner bounced in the air, but Sherman didn’t break stride as he ran through the returner.
Lee was and is Lee, a gentleman and friend. A talented multi-sport athlete, hard worker and team player. He did his job on this day as a runner and as a cheerleader for his teammates who ran before and after him.
Bob Hanson made his way onto the mile relay team with a startling performance in a leg of the mile relay in the 1960 Kansas Relays. Coach Timmons stationed me in the stands, timing splits of the runners that day. When I checked the time for Bob, I was astounded. I don’t recall the exact number except that I know it was easily the fastest I had ever clocked for a quarter mile by an East runner, well under 50 seconds. When I reported the number to Coach Timmons, he said something like “What?” with a look of astonishment. Hard to catch Coach with that reaction.
Larry’s anchor leg was classic Larry. He was a disciplined runner, who was the perfect anchor, especially on this day. His intelligence along with his competitive juices carried the day. He knew his pace and what he had to save at the end of the race, based on Coach’s teaching, and knew how much he had to save for the end. The last 50 yards of a quarter mile race are the ultimate ‘gut check.” I am sure that he was aware of where his competition was coming from and stuck to his instructions from Coach.
The winner of the day was Coach Timmons and his training regimen and race strategy for Sherman, Lee, Bob and Larry. Ultimately, those four runners reflected all that was great about Coach Bob Timmons.
