The winter track and field team hosted Marshall’s first invitational track meet in honor of alumni David Cannon last Saturday, Dec. 2.
Cannon was a two time cross country team state champion in 1971 and 1972 and he still holds the two mile school record. In 2016, Cannon died of pancreatic cancer.
“[Cannon] graduated in 1972, but when he passed away last year I thought, ‘let’s honor him.’ He’s long overdue for being inducted into the hall of fame,” head track and field coach Clifford Wong said.
The meet was held in memory of Cannon and to honor other talented track alumni. Wong named each event at the meet after a previous athlete that had excelled in that area.
“[I wanted] to give them some kind of recognition [to alumni] for the things they [did],” Wong said. “Most of them still hold school records.”
Participants got the opportunity to appreciate Marshall athletes that had come before them when looking at the programs and listening to the description of the meet.
“[Coach Wong] recognizing past alumni was important because they were the people that helped build the program and helped get it to where it is now, which helps us,” sophomore and sprinter and jumper Noelle Lewis said.
The meet was also an opportunity for runners and field event participators to try out races for the first time or to get a mark early in the season.
“I was able to set myself up for the rest of the season and see what I need to improve on and [what I need to] work with the coaches on,” Lewis said.
In total, eight schools attended the meet and hundreds of athletes competed. Numerous athletes achieved conference qualifying marks, and one Marshall athlete achieved an auto qualifying time for the state championship.
“It was wonderful,” Wong said. “We had lots of good performances. I’m looking forward to hosting it every year.”