TRACK & FIELD: HORNET OLYMPIANS HONORED
The Fullerton College Athletic Department honored Olympic Athletes Rick Sloan and Doug Nordquist for the inaugural Track & Field Wall of Fame.
The wall is located on the Field House (1700 Building) facing the track and will feature both Sloan's and Nordquist's plaques immortalizing their athletic achievements.
In attendance were Sloan and Nordquist along with former Hornet coaches and athletes that included Gina Bevec, Sean Sheil, Larry Knuth, Jim Kiefer, Al Feola, Dr. Robert Ward, Tom Gilmer, Ron Allice, Don Chadez, the current FC men's and women's track & field teams, plus a conference call from Hall of Fame Coach Tom Tellez.
"Today was an awesome event that was very special for not only our Track & Field program, but to recognize our long history rich in tradition. It was great to celebrate these Olympians Doug Nordquist and Rick Sloan for a well-deserving honor of what they have brought to the legacy of Hornet pride and their accomplishments achieved", Track & Field Coach Gina Bevec.
Thanks to the efforts of the Fullerton College track and field alumni, the Hornet Wall of Fame is now a reality. New inductees will be honored with their plaques hung in February every two years.
RICK SLOAN, U.S. Olympian
1969 – 8,051 points… 4th best mark in the world in Decathlon
1968 - USA Olympian…7th place… Decathlon (only 5th Decathlon)… Set World Decathlon Record for High Jump (2.12m/6-11.50) and Pole Vault (5.05m/16-6.75)… UCLA Team Captain
1967 – UCLA … first high jumper to jump 7-0 (2.15m/7-0.50)… All-American in Pole Vault (NCAA 4th place / 16-8)… was ranked 4th in the Decathlon and 5th in the pole vault in the U.S. rankings 1966 - Fullerton College High Jump record (6-10) and Pole Vault (16-1)
1964 - Anaheim High… CIF SS High Jump Champion (6-8) COACHING:
1973-2014 Washington State University… Longest tenured coach in school history (41 years with 20 years as Head Coach)… Mentored 74 NCAA All-Americans 122 times… Coached Dan O'Brien, 1996 Olympic Champion and World Record holder in the decathlon for 14 years
MEMORIES: The influence and impact of all the coaches who mentored me, especially Hornet coaches Tom Tellez, Dr. Bob Ward, and Al Feola.
DOUG NORDQUIST, U.S. Olympian
1977 - Sonora High CIF 2-A High Jump Title (6-10) Sonora & Division III Record… California State Championships tied-3rd (6-10).
1979 Fullerton College Conference Title (7-2.25) FC Record… SoCal Finals Title… California State Champion (7-0.25)… AAU National Championships (tie 7th).
1981 - Washington State (7-4.25) WSU Record… Team Captain
1982 - NCAA Indoor Championships (tie 2nd). 1984 - TAC National Championships (5th / 7-5.25)… Olympic Trials… 2nd Place 7-7… Los Angeles Olympics (5th / 7-6).
1986 - TAC National Champion (7-7.75 TAC Record)… Goodwill Games Champion (7-8 Games Record)… IAAF Berlin Meet Champion (7-6.50)… Rankings: World 3rd, USA 2nd.
1988 - TAC/USA Champion (7-8 / TAC Record)… 1988 Olympic Trials (5th / 7-5.75)… USA Ranked 6th.
1990 - USATF Nationals (1st Place tie / 7-8.75 / Meet Record). Goodwill Games Silver Medal (7-6.50)… Rankings: World 6th; USA 2nd.
1991 - West Coast Relays (1st / 7-6.50 / WCR Record)… Taiwan Island record 7-6.50… USA Ranking 5th. COACHING Fullerton College: 5 male and 3 female OEC Champions… 1 male and 1 female State Champion… USA: 1 Olympic Trials competitor… 1995 Pan American Games-USA Asst. Coach Mar del Plata, Argentina… 1996 World Championships USA Asst. Coach Athens, Greece.
