| Dear Friend of On Track:
Have you detected a theme to this year’s catalog yet? The baton pass featured on our cover is your first clue. Your next tip — the announcement of the birth of our Youth On Track Foundation. How about the photo commemorating our first–ever On Track clinic? Have you gotten it yet? What about On Track’s new partnership with the Navy RJT program? Yes, that’s right, our focus in 2002 (and beyond) is on sharing our sport with the next generation — a “passing of the baton,” if you will. As a retired physical educator and coach, I have spent my life handing down the benefit of my experience in field and track to young athletes, so this emphasis on youth is nothing new to me or On Track. We’re just making more public a commitment we’ve had all along. With the considerable help of Doug Smith, who, along with Jeff Truman, is now out in the community representing On Track, we have taken the steps to establish a formal foundation to help us expose kids to field and track. The whole youth athletics vibe seems to be resonating with other folks lately, too. I was recently approached by Jim Santos — formerly a Cal State Hayward coach and executive with the Special Olympics organization — who made an exciting proposal. Jim’s love for our sport has inspired him, with the enthusiastic support of the U.S. Navy, to organize a non–profit organization devoted to putting more kids in touch with athletics. Long story short, we are now proud to be allied with the Navy RJT program as their official equipment supplier. Since I’m on the subject of equipment, you will discover many items new to our catalog, including Nordic vaulting poles from Europe, Accusplit wristwatch/stopwatches, Pyro Bright timing systems, scoring and statistics software and a variety of super new books and videos. The Hind name is back in business, and its team apparel makes a welcome return to our catalog in 2002. Of course, we’re always open to suggestion, so if you think there’s something we should carry, let us know via e-mail or phone. We look forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you a successful 2002 season. Sincerely, Ron Morris |
| The Dutchman’ Flies On
Cornelius “Dutch” Warmerdam, the first man ever to pole vault 15', died November 6, 2001, in Fresno, Calif., at the age of 86. Proclaimed ”The Greatest Vaulter of the 20th Century” by the North American Pole Vault Association in 2000, Dutch was honored last year by On Track with a dedication in the company’s catalog. This past September, the Kings County Library in Hanford, Calif., joined other community organizations in celebrating Dutch’s lifetime of achievement with the dedication of a plaque (pictured right) and a street named for the Hanford High School alumnus and long-time area resident. If you would like to read more about this legendary sportsman, we invite you to visit the"Dedications" page of the 2001 On Track catalog. |
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