ASU Hall of Fame welcomes record-setting 4x800m relay team

ASU Hall of Fame welcomes record-setting 4x800m relay team

When the Arizona State University Hall of Fame enshrines its Class of 2009 this weekend, former track standouts Eddie Davis (Compton High School, CA 1981), Pete Richardson (Berkeley High School, CA 1981), Treg Scott and Mike Stahr will join the elite society as the four men joined forces over 25 years to record a collegiate record in the 4x800m relay -- a record that still stands.

With their enshrinement, the 4x800m relay will join the Sun Devil 4x400m relay team of Cliff McKenzie, Gerald Burl, Tony Darden and Herman Frazier as the only relays to be placed in the ASU Hall of Fame. The sprinters were selected for the Hall after they ran 3:01.74 in 1977, a mark that was, at the time, a World, American and collegiate record and still ranks as the fourth-best mark all-time in program history.

This year’s inductees not only set a record with their run; they did so on their home track. The record run came on April 7, 1984, at the 5th Sun Angel Track Classic and produced a great finish as the Sun Devils clocked in at 7:08.96 to beat out the professional team of Bud Light TC, who was second in 7:10.14. For ASU, the time currently ranks as the second-best mark ever by an all-American team, the 11th-best all-time in World history and the best ever among all collegiate teams.

Heading into the meet, the record ASU was chasing was 7:12.29, which was run by Villanova on April 24, 1982. In that same race, three others teams beat the previous collegiate record of 7:13.8 run by Kansas State in 1970. Those other three teams included Georgetown (7:12.96), Richmond (7:12.81) and Arkansas (7:13.48). With those fast times ahead of them, the young group of Sun Devils toed the line and made history.

Sophomore Pete Richardson led off the race for ASU and split 1:47.5 before handing the baton to fellow classmate Eddie Davis, who turned in a time of 1:47.8. The team’s third sophomore, Treg Scott, followed with a split of 1:48.1 before he handed off to true freshman Mike Stahr, who brought home the record with an incredible 1:45.6 split. After Stahr crossed the line, only one school has come close to the standing record. One year after ASU set the standard, Penn State put together a strong effort and clocked in at 7:11.17.

Overall, the relay team members will become the 31st, 32nd, 33rd and 34th track and field Sun Devils enshrined in the ASU Hall of Fame that also includes two selections into the Hall of Distinction for Donn Kinzle and Senon “Baldy” Castillo. Their inclusion also marks the fourth year in a row that at least one former track & field athlete has been selected for the honor, including Jacinta Bartholomew (2008), Gea Johnson (2007) and Nick Hysong (2006).

The remaining members of the Hall’s 2009 class include: Katie Freeland (gymnastics/1993-96), Christine Garner (volleyball/1992-95), Emilee Klein (women’s golf/1993-94), Juan Roque (football/1994-96), Cappi Siefarth (women’s swimming/1973-76), Mike Sodders (baseball/1980-81) and Morrison Warren (football/1946-47).

Courtesy Arizona State

Keith Conning: Pete Richardson was in my Consumer Economics class at Berkeley High School. He won the 1981 California State Meet 800 meters in 1:47.31, a national record. Eddie Davis placed third in 1:50.33.