Nov. 18, 2008

QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's cross country and track & field program honored one of its most decorated alumni, current volunteer assistant coach Tom Farrell, Monday night at a dinner reception held in the Marillac Terrace on the St. John's University Queens campus.

The reception was to celebrate of Farrell's 40th anniversary of winning the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.

The night began with opening remarks from head coach of the St. John's cross country, track & field, Jim Hurt, followed by an interview session with Farrell by fellow Red Storm alum and volunteer assistant coach Martin Nutty. The interview was done during a slide show presentation of Farrell memories from childhood through his high school years at Archbishop Molloy High School and time at St. John's and his two appearances at the Olympic Finals in 1964 and 1968.

The slide show was highlighted by a few short video clips of Farrell's most memorable competitions, including his World Record 880-yard run set at the NYAC meet held at the Armory in 1965. There were also clips from his Olympic appearances including the 1964 Olympic Trials and the 1968 Olympic trials in the training center in Lake Tahoe, the 1968 Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Mexico City and his memorable bronze medal race in the Olympic Finals. The videos ended with the 1968 medal ceremony in the cold pouring rain in the Mexico City stadium. The slide show and video clips were enhanced by anecdotes from Farrell.

A question and answer session with the reception guests and Farrell, followed by a buffet dinner and presentation of awards to Farrell, the guest of honor and special guests Dr. Norbert Sander, president and founder of the Armory Foundation and NYC marathon winner and Warren Ring, long time clerk and Chief Clerk of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

The guest list included notable St. John's alumni and Hall of Famers including Hall of Fame head coach Lou Carnesecca, Athletics Director Emeritus Jack Kaiser, Associate Vice President for Athletics Kathy Meehan, Constance "Connie" Darnowski Stoll, and former cross country, track & field head coaches Steve Bartold and Joseph Lang.

As it was a night to celebrate the Olympic Dream fulfilled, many former Olympians were also in attendance, including Stoll, St. John's first Olympian, current assistant coach and 2004 Olympian Yvonne Harrison, 1996 gold medalist Derrick Atkins, Chief Clerk Ring and his wife, and St. John's alum Rich Torrellas, Team USA's head manager at both the 1992 and 2008 Olympic Games.

At the conclusion of the reception, Hurt also announced the formation of the Tom Farrell Fund, a way for alumni to give back to the current St. John's cross country, track & field program.