Spring Break
Storied past meets promising future
Famous OSU cross country, track alums will come back to Corvallis for homecoming weekend, watch Beavers at Pac-10 meet
Kacy Hochstatter
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Sports
Many Beaver enthusiasts might not realize this, but Oregon State's most successful athletic program to date is arguably the cross country and track program. This might sound like a ridiculous argument at first, especially considering that the vast majority of fans probably don't even realize that they had such rich tradition. And despite nearly a 20 year hiatus in the program (this is only the fourth year since the program was reinstated in 2004), the track and cross county teams are still the most highly decorated group of athletes in school history.
When people think about successful programs at OSU, the first thing that comes to most people's mind is undoubtedly the baseball team, and why not? The fact that we have back-to-back national championships, several conference championships and major league players of past and present make a strong argument for many.
Or how about the basketball program with one of the most winning programs in Division I-A history, home to NBA star Gary Payton and several other greats such as A.C. Green, Brent Barry, and Steve Johnson, making it another solid case.
They all pale in comparison, however, to the accolades of the program that was dropped and forgotten in 1988.
Until the magical run of the baseball team in 2006, Oregon State had only one team national championship to its credit. Many fans in Beaver Nation might have heard the words, but like most, didn't give much thought to it because it happened over 40 years ago.
That other championship was the 1961 men's cross county team. It was a group led by individual champion Dale Story, who ran bare foot under the leadership of legendary coach Sam Bell.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Oregon State is also home to one of the most famous names in track history. People from all around the world know his name and do their best imitation of him with every jump. This is none other than Dick Fosbury, the creator of the "Fosbury Flop."
When people think about successful programs at OSU, the first thing that comes to most people's mind is undoubtedly the baseball team, and why not? The fact that we have back-to-back national championships, several conference championships and major league players of past and present make a strong argument for many.
Or how about the basketball program with one of the most winning programs in Division I-A history, home to NBA star Gary Payton and several other greats such as A.C. Green, Brent Barry, and Steve Johnson, making it another solid case.
They all pale in comparison, however, to the accolades of the program that was dropped and forgotten in 1988.
Until the magical run of the baseball team in 2006, Oregon State had only one team national championship to its credit. Many fans in Beaver Nation might have heard the words, but like most, didn't give much thought to it because it happened over 40 years ago.
That other championship was the 1961 men's cross county team. It was a group led by individual champion Dale Story, who ran bare foot under the leadership of legendary coach Sam Bell.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Oregon State is also home to one of the most famous names in track history. People from all around the world know his name and do their best imitation of him with every jump. This is none other than Dick Fosbury, the creator of the "Fosbury Flop."
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