Email from Joe Bingham, BHS '67: Cross Country Track Differences Then and Now

 

Nov 4, 2021

Hello Cathy,

I went to the Foothill League Cross Country Finals today at La Crescenta Park.

I will try to attach some photos for your interest.

Some differences between now and back when I ran Cross Country at Burbank High School.

1. They all wear shoes. Back then Burbank High ran barefoot. The only athletic shoes were made by ADDIDAS out of Kangaroo skin and too expensive for us. Look at the old year books for conformation we ran barefoot.

2. The runners at the meet wore computer tags tied into their shoelaces that matched the numbers on the large stickers on their shirt tops. The chips allowed the runners to be tracked in real time for their position in the pack. When they cross the finish line the computer records their place and time on a large scoreboard.  Quick, convenient, and prevents errors.

3. They have girls Cross Country Varsity, jv, soph. as do the boys. We only had male runners when I ran at Burbank High.

4. The demographics have changed but all the kids at the participating high schools, Pasadena, Arcadia, Glendale, Hoover, Burbank, Burroughs, Crescenta Valley seem like a great group of fine young people.

5. I talked with some Burbank High Cross Country guys and gals. Some knew what a letterman's jacket was but none had ever seen anyone wearing one.  So that social distinction is something now past.  Perhaps they still use letterman's jackets in some other part of the country?  

 

When I taught elementary school in Sunland/Tujunga I used to wear mine when we did the children's Halloween Parade.  If anyone asked why I was wearing it I said my costume was a high school kid  :)

 

I will try attaching some photos.  Enjoy.

Joseph ROBERT Bingham  Green Valley, Ca. 91390