BLUE DRAGON TRACK BREAKS THROUGH IN 1954 FOR SCHOOL’S FIRST NATIONAL TITLE

Enough was enough for head coach Nelson Sorem and the Hutchinson Junior College men’s track and field team in 1954.

Gowans Stadium, the home track of the Blue Dragons, had been the host of the NJCAA Track and Field Championships since 1951. In 1952, Hutchinson was national runner-up and it finished fourth in 1953. Victoria Junior College won team titles in both of those years.

Tired of seeing a Texas team celebrate on their home track, the Blue Dragons turned the tables in 1954 and claimed Hutchinson Junior College’s first team national championship.

The Blue Dragons edged Victoria 76.5-72 in the final team standings.

CLICK FOR FINAL RESULTS OF 1954 NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Needing at least a third-place finish in the Mile Relay to secure the team championship, the Blue Dragons did it in style as the Mile Relay team of Don Waters, Chas Vaughn, Keith Dirks and Bill Ramsey won the final event of the championship with a time of 3:31.12.

The Blue Dragons had a dominant meet, winning all three relays and four event championships overall. They added two more individual national runner-up performances and scored points in 14 of 17 events.

The 440-Yard Relay team of Don Reed, Ramsey, Keith Dirks and Duane Zerger won with a time of 44.4 seconds.

The 880-Yard Relay team of Reed, Ramsey, Dirks and Zerger set a national meet record with a winning time of 1:31.8

Jay Collins secured Hutchinson’s fourth event title with a win in the Discus, throwing 131 feet, 10 1/8 inches.

Finishing as national runners-up were Don Reed in the Broad Jump and Marvin Valdois in the 880-yard run.

A total of 15 different Blue Dragons earned All-America honors in the 1954 Championships.

Dirks was a four-time All-American in 1954. In addition to running legs on all three national championship relays, Dirks finished sixth in the 220-yard dash.

Zerger was a three-time All-American, adding a third-place finish in the 220-yard low hurdles.

Dick Saffle was a two-time All-American with a third-place finish in the shot put and fourth-place finish in the Javelin.

Lawrence Newell was third in the 120-yard high hurdles and fifth in the 220-yard low hurdles.

Don Waters was a two-time All-American with his Mile Relay win and third-place finish in the 440-yard run.

Other Blue Dragon All-Americans in 1954 were:
+ Clark Adcock, third in Javelin;
+ Pat Eye, tied for fourth in high jump
+ Bob Mastelar, tied for fifth in the pole vault
+ Danny Gonzalez with fifth in the javelin
+ Douglas Kretzer was sixth in the shot put.