Former Villanova track star Traynor dies

News & Notes, Volume 9, Number 1
Former Villanova track star Traynor dies

A versatile middle distance performer who ran for National Track & Field Hall of Fame Coach Jumbo Elliot at Villanova, Patrick Traynor of Perkasie, Pa., died Saturday from apparent heart failure. He was 67.

A prep star at Monsignor Bonner High School in Havertown, Pa., where he was a Catholic League cross country and mile champion, Traynor arrived at Villanova in 1959 where he ran everything from the mile on up, although he found his true calling in the steeplechase.

Traynor won two events at the 1962 Penn Relays where he was voted the most outstanding male college athlete. Also at that event he finished as the runner-up in the steeplechase to 1956 Olympic Games finalist Deacon Jones.Traynor was an NCAA all-American in the steeplechase in 1961 and 1962, and won national AAU steeplechase titles in 1962 and 1963. He also captured the men's AAU 10,000m cross-country title in 1963.

Traynor graduated from Villanova in 1963 with a degree in history. While teaching at Sayre Junior High School in Philadelphia he continued his running career and qualified as an alternate for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics with his fourth place finish at the Olympic Trials in Los Angeles.

Traynor served in the Air Force from 1965-1969 and attempted to make the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team, but was unable to qualify for the squad at the Olympic Trials in Lake Tahoe. Following his stint with the Air Force, Traynor taught and counseled families and patients at Philadelphia health centers for 30 years.

In addition to his son Patrick Jr., Mr. Traynor is survived by daughters Tara Cook, Emily and Bridget; sons Keith and Joseph; a brother; a sister; seven grandchildren; and his former wife, Lisa Klausner.

Source: USATF

Keith Conning: Pat Traynor and I were contemporaries. I graduated from high school in January 1959. In the fall of 1959 I attended the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School in Bainbridge, MD., which is just 65 miles southwest of Villanova.

U.S. Olympic Trials
Los Angeles
September 12, 1964
3000 Meters Steeplechase - 5:45 p.m.
1. George Young (Phoenix OC) 8:44.2
2. Vic Zwolak (Vil) 8:46.2
3. Jeff Fishback (SCVYV) 8:55.8
4. Pat Traynor (Ridley Township Srriders) 8:56.8
5. Mike Lehner (Oregon) 8:56.8
6. Bill Silverberg (Kansas) 9:17.7
7. Ron Davis (SJS) Dnf