Annually one
of the top teams in the Southern California Intercollegiate Conference (SCIAC), Pomona-Pitzer's men's track and field
team boasts an outstanding history of success. Whether running, jumping
or throwing, the list of successful athletes who have worn the Pomona-Pitzer
singlet is a lengthy one.
At the conference
level, Pomona-Pitzer men have won 12 SCIAC team titles, and numerous
individual event SCIAC Championship crowns.
2008 Men's Track and Field.
Pomona-Pitzer boasts seven men among the 30 in SCIAC
history with five or more career conference crowns: William Yount (a
SCIAC record 9 titles between 1918 and 1921 in the long jump, 120 yard
high hurdles, 100 yards, 220 yards, and 220 yard low hurdles), Kent
Namikas (7 titles in the long jump and triple jump between 1976 and
1979), Peter Hawkins (7 titles in the long jump and triple jump between
1992 and 1995), Hartley Widdess (6 titles in the discus, shot put and
hammer between 1917 and 1921), Charles Daggs (6 titles in the 220 yards,
120 high hurdles and 220 low hurdles between 1921 and 1923), Robert
Maxwell (5 titles in the 220 low hurdles and 120 high hurdles between
1923 and 1925), Dray Williams (5 titles in the 120 high hurdles and 220
low hurdles between 1932 and 1934), Jay Hibert (5 titles in the discus,
hammer and shot put between 1983 and 1985), and Nathan Busse (5 titles
in the 400 intermediate hurdles and 400m between 1994 and 1997).
In 1991, Nate Kirtman won an astonishing four
individual SCIAC titles in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump.
Namikas won the long jump all four years from 1976-1979, Jon Sterrer won
four discus titles between 1980 and 1984, Peter Hawkins won the long
jump all four years from 1992-1995, and Nathan Busse won the 400 hurdles
all four years from 1994-1997.
The men's team competes in the NCAA III, and regularly
sends individuals on to the National Championship meet in a variety of
events. Among a long list of Pomona-Pitzer
All Americans at the NCAA III
Nationals include national champions Bob Orell in the javelin (1975 in a
National Meet record), Kent Namikas in the long jump (1978 and 1979),
Nick Buchan in the 3000m steeplechase (1981), Stan Watson in the high
jump (1981, 1982 in a National Meet record, and 1984), Alonzo Robinson
in the triple jump (1981), Jay Hibert in the hammer (1983 and 1985 in a
National Meet record), Doug Alston in the triple jump (1985 and 1987),
and Nate Kirtman in the long jump (1990 and 1991).
The squad trains on the bright blue and
extraordinarily fast
Strehle Track at Pomona College. Completed in 1985
and resurfaced in 1993 and 2001, the Strehle Track complex is one of the
nation's premier facilities. The custom-ordered polyurethane surface
allows both track and field athletes to train and perform under optimal
conditions, and is the reason April's
Pomona-Pitzer Track and Field
Invitational has become one of the top meets in Southern California.
In recent years, the track and field team has hosted a
February All-Comers meet, a conference competition in March, and the
large Invitational in April. In addition, the squad competes in area
invitationals against NCAA I, II, III and NAIA teams. The season is
capped off with the SCIAC Championships and the NCAA III National
Championships at the end of the season.
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