V11 N. 70 Untimely Death of Another World Class Track Athlete Alex Quinonez of Ecuador

 

from  The Guardian  October 24, 2021

Sprinter Alex Quiñónez has been killed in his home country of Ecuador. The 32-year-old, who finished third in the 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Doha two years ago, was reportedly shot dead outside a shopping centre in the port city of Guayaquil on Friday night, along with another unnamed person.

The Ecuadorian sports ministry announced the news in a statement on its Twitter feed, saying: “Today we lost a great athlete, a person who made us dream, who made us excited. The National Police are at the scene and the authorities are conducting the corresponding investigations. He will forever remain in the hearts of all Ecuadorians.

Agnes Tirop: Kenyan Olympian’s funeral attended by over 1,000 mourners

Read more

It later added: “Thank you for having invited us to dream big and for the infinite joys that you gave us, you leave a great legacy in Ecuadorian athletics.”

On Sunday, the Folke Anderson football stadium in Esmeraldas will host a burning chapel to receive Quiñónez’s coffin.

Ecuador’s president Guillermo Lasso tweeted: “We are very sorry for the painful loss of Alex Quiñónez, father, son, a great sprinter who marked the sport. Our sincerest condolences to your loved ones. Rest in peace. Those who take the lives of Ecuadorians will not go unpunished. We will act forcefully.”

The country’s Olympic Committee said in a statement that the circumstances surrounding the death had “not yet been clarified”.

Quiñónez’s bronze had made him the first Ecuadorian athlete to win a global medal in any track event. He had qualified for this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games but was unable to compete after being suspended for breaching the whereabouts rules.

News of the sprinter’s death emerged on the same day as the funeral of Kenyan distance star Agnes Tirop, who was killed earlier this month – she also won a bronze medal at the Doha worlds in 2019, in the 10,000m. Britain’s Adam Gemili, who finished fourth behind Quiñonez at those championships, tweeted: “Absolutely horrendous few weeks for the athletics world. Rest in peace both Agnes and Alex.”

Last Monday Lasso declared a state of emergency in an attempt to tackle drug trafficking and a host of other crimes that are on the increase in Ecuador. The Guayas province, of which Guayaquil is the capital, homicides have increased by around 70% in 2021 to around 650.

V 11 N. 69 Two articles of importance in today's "The Guardian"

 The death of women's 10,000 WR holder by foul means in Kenya

Agnes Tirop Murdered    link

October 15, 2021   It was announced this morning that Agnes Tirop's husband has been arrested in Mombasa about 400 miles away from where she died.  

Michael  Johnson Podcast announcement.   I only learned from this article today that Johnson had lost his ability to walk as the result of a stroke.   He has since recovered.

You're Going to See Athletes Protesting the Centres of Power  link

George  

Thanks for that post.

I had no idea that MJ had a stroke !

We need to count our blessings every day!

John Bork Jr. 

George

While I agree with Michael Johnson that many believe successful athletes should be grateful for what they have, I also feel those who protest athletes taking a stand on social issues are using their sports viewing as entertainment.  They don't want to be reminded about the realities of the world in which they live just like they don't want the true history of this country taught to their children in school.

Take care,

Tom Coyne

What a tragedy about Agnes Tirop.  She was outstanding with her running but an equally good person.  She surely deserved better.  I believe her husband was also a standout runner but probably a very jealous one.

   Michael Johnson is completely right about using his podium to fight for human rights.  People who don’t like his stance should guaranty human rights so he does not have to demonstrate.  No one enjoys being a demonstrator, especially when it brings only grief, but that grief is worth it if it advances the human condition.  Bill Schnier

V 11 N. 68 Our Annual Early Boston Report from Ned Price

 Once again our inverterate veteran photographer, Ned Price, stationed himself along the Boston route and sent in these first photos of the lead runner and lead groups 7.8 miles into  this classic race at Natick.

Men's winner was Benson Kipruto 2:09:51

Women's winner was Diana Kiyogei  2:24:45

     Who the heck is C.J. Albertson?   See below

In Ned's words    

Had to get up an hour early $^*())(_)!@&&*&)__ Thank me.  60 degrees overcast. 7.8 miles.                                          Ned Price on the right,  back in the day at U. of Chicago from AP News  April 11, 2021   CJ Albertson, who led by as many as two minutes at the  halfway point but slowed in the Newton Hills and fell behind near Boston College.  Albertson, who is the world  record-holder in the 50K (42.2 miles), finished 10th. ADVERTISEMEN A Fresno, California, native, Albertson said he tried to keep things interesting during the pandemic by binging on Peloton classes; he finished atop the leaderboard 57 times and also set a record by running a 2:09 marathon on the treadmill. “I was just bored and unmotivated, trying to find something to do. I just made stuff up,” he said. “Having a race like Boston ... actually racing and competing with the world’s best in one of the best atmospheres there is to run in — second to Fresno — nothing else compares. This was an amazing day.”

V 11 N. 67 Gene "Red" Estes , Coach, Fresno State R.I.P.

 

Today we remember former Oregon Duck and longtime Fresno State track and cross country coach Gene "Red" Estes.  Our sport is so broad and diverse that Red Estes is one of those men who I had heard very little of, but in reading this obituary below, I can say I wish I had known him, I wish he had been my next door neighbor.   George Brose

GENE “RED” ESTES

“Red” was born on September 17th, 1937 in Lewiston, Idaho. He grew up in Craigmont, Idaho and at age ten

moved back to Lewiston. In Red’s sophomore year, the family moved to Springfield, Oregon where Red

finished his high school years at Springfield High. In 1955, he moved on to the University of Oregon and

became a Duck. He competed in track and field, as well as football early on. He proudly joined the ROTC

program, receiving his second Lieutenant bars upon graduation.

Red married Myrna Robertson in September 1959, and continued his education toward a master’s degree until

his assignment in the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Ft. Eustis, VA then moved to Oberammergau,

Germany where Myrna joined him for his three-year hitch.

Matt, #1 son, was born in Munich in 1962. Red had a colorful career during his years in Germany competing in

and coaching many athletic teams. In October 1963, the family returned to the University of Oregon so Red

could finish his master’s, while serving as freshman track and field coach. In August 1964, he was hired at

Fresno State College as assistant track/head cross country coach where he served under head coach, “Dutch”

Warmerdam.

Barry, son #2 was born in 1965. Red went to the University of Colorado the summer of 1966, beginning work

on his doctorate. The following two summers, he returned to Colorado, with family-in-tow, for a three-semester

residency for completion of the doctorate. Daughter Kelli arrived just before the final stint in Colorado in

1968. He returned to Fresno State in 1969 for the remainder of his career. In 1971, the last of the Estes line

appeared, Scott!

In 1980, “Dutch” Warmerdam retired and Red was humbled when asked to take over as head track coach. One

of Red’s initial goals was to raise funds for the track program. Never one to follow the crowd, he began the

recycling center at Fresno State. That was the seed which grew into a retirement hobby of making old things

new. As he neared retirement, his collection of “all things that rust” germinated into his interest in welding, a

new medium for his creative juices.

2000 arrived and retirement! He enrolled in a Fresno City College welding class, passed all his tests for

teacher-approval and he started putting his “treasure trove” of goodies into metal sculptures. Fences, gates,

monoliths and other artistic stuff too heavy to mail. “Malfunction Junction” became the name of his workshop.

“And fer gosh sakes, have fun!,” a motto by which he lived, was applied to his teaching (limericks for extra

credit) coaching (Shaver Lake pre-season training camp), parenting and grandparenting (“quality time IS

quantity time”), friendships (subscriptions to hog farming magazines for city dwelling friends) and his quick-

witted sense of humor, from which nobody was safe!

His years of coaching were richly rewarded by many friends and coaching brothers. He was inducted into the

Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. At that time, the Hall was looking for a permanent home. Red made it a

passion to assist in seeing this vision come to fruition.

He is survived by his wife Myrna of 62 wonderful years, 4 children and their wives, and 8 grandchildren, all

who loved him dearly. At Red’s request, no memorial services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you send your remembrances of Red to the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame,

P.O. Box 27258, Fresno, Ca., 93729, Ph. 559-448-0677, email: info@fresnoahof.org or to your favorite charity.

I worked with Red for 17 years at Fresno State. They were starting a women’s program and I became their head coach while Red was the head men’s coach. Along with Bob Fraley we all coached men and women in our respective specialties and our teams enjoyed considerable success.
You’re right when you say you would have enjoyed being his neighbor as he was a fun guy to be around. He and his wife Myrna owned a home with a huge back yard of an acre or more. They often hosted parties for birthdays, anniversaries, or any other excuse they could come up with to bring hundreds of people together.
He built a treehouse by himself where you could go to see all sorts of track memorabilia or anything fun he could come up with. Of course you could could take your time to enjoy a pint or two from the keg he always managed to have up there.
He lived life to the fullest as illustrated by his sign off at the end of his posted workouts, “enjoy life, you’ll never get out of it alive”.

Tom Pagani

Knew Red at all NCAA Events.   He was a true track and field man who loved the sport and the people in it.  I had the foremost respect for his dedication efforts and wisdom.  He will be missed.

 

Joe Rogers