Bill Runyon (2007)
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, (1959-1962)
Bill started his track career at Pulaski Heights Junior High in 1954 where he lettered as an eighth and ninth grader. He put the shot, threw the discus, broad jumped, high jumped, ran the 50,100,220 yard dash and the 440 and 880 relays. In 1954 PHJH was 2nd in Big 11 Junior High State Track meet. In 1955 PHJH won the Big 11 where he ran on state record-breaking 440 & 880 yd relays. He moved to Crossett in the fall of 1955 and ran the 220 yd dash, and on the 440 yd., 880 yd., and mile relays. In 1956 Crossett came in 3rd in the state meet. In l957, he again ran the 220 yd dash, 440, 880 and the mile relays and ran the open quarter for the first time. His times rivaled those of Bruce Fullerton of Little Rock Central. He or Bruce would lead the state in the fastest times that year. Bill's best time was 50.6 and he went on to win the AA State Title in the 440 yd run. Crossett won state in 1957. In l958, again he ran the 220, 440, 880 and mile relays and the open quarter and again traded fastest times in the state with Bruce Fullerton. In 1958 he placed 2nd at state in the open quarter and Crossett again won the State Championship. He never lost a race on the Crossett HS track. Bill went to the University of Arkansas Fayetteville on a Track Scholarship and in 1959 won the Southwest Conference Freshman quarter mile in 48.9 sec. During that year he also placed 3rd in the Fort Worth Invitational in the 440 yard dash. He went on to run on the mile relay team and in 1961, as a junior he was the lead-off leg of the Distance Medley Relay at the Kansas Relays where his team placed 3rd. He received a freshman numeral in 1959, lettered his next three years and in 1962 as a senior was elected Captain of the U of A Track Team. He was inducted into the Ashley County Sports Hall of Fame in February 2005. |