Eric Elkins, Jesuit - set high school hurdles record Houston Astrodome, 1970
Jesuit-Sheaner Relays
began with 3 objectives; (1) provide a first class
venue for boys track & field where athletes can
benefit from top facilities and competition, (2)
promote high school track & field to area fans
and media in order to build broader interest in the
sport, (3) provide maximum exposure and recognition
to North Texas fans of top individuals and teams.
The Relays were first run
in 1964 as the Jesuit Relayson a new
all-weather track at Jesuit High School in Dallas,
Texas. The track was the first of its kind in
Texas and attracted High Schools, Junior Colleges
and Universities from across the state to
participate in the inaugural meet. High
Schools continue to travel from all parts of Texas
and neighboring states to participate in what has
become one of the finest high school track & field
meets in Texas. The meet was a a boys only
high school track & field meet with 6A and 5A &
lower divisions competing separately until 2014 when
the girls division was added. A strong
emphasis is placed on the 17 UIL state meet events
allowing schools to prepare for District, Regional
and State competition.
Great
Trackmen On A New Trackreprint Feb.
22, 1964 Southwest
Conference Sprint champion Billy Foster
of SMU is at the starting line
of the new all-weather rubberized track
at Jesuit High. Foster has been working
out on the new track during the past few
weeks in preparation for the
all-important track season of 1964.
Watching the Foster technique are Jesuit
coach Herb Sheaner, center, and Jesuit
track star Terry Cole. Cole is
finishing among the leaders in early
season dash competition, and for him
1964 is full of bright hopes.
Foster is one of the nation's fastest
runners, and 1964 could bring, in
addition to more Southwest Conference
titles in the 100 and 220 yard dashes, a
berth on the 1964 U.S. Olympic Team. -
(Boyd Monaghen Photo.)
Jesuit Relays was renamed
the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays
in 1975 upon the retiring of long time track coach
Herb Sheaner.
Coach Sheaner served in World War II and received
the Bronze Star and Purple Heart during the Battle
of the Bulge (where he was captured and placed in a
German prison camp). He became the Track &
Field and Cross Country coach at Jesuit in 1955.
This followed a track career at the University of
Texas in the 1940s under the longhorns' legendary
coach, Clyde Littlefield. In addition to
establishing the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays, coach
Sheaner organized and hosted Dallas first fall Cross
Country meet in 1958 and the first T.C.I.L. State
track meet in 1957.
Herb
Sheaner interviewwith Texas Track & Field Coaches
Association executive director Stuart Kantor on
his 96th birthday.
Herb reflects on the early history of the
Jesuit track & field program, Jesuit Relays,
World War II, the Battle of the Bulge and his time
as a POW.(41:50
minutes)
Part
1- 66 years in
high school Track & Field(15:43 minutes)
Part 2- WWII, the
Battle of the Bulge and time as a POW (15:49 minutes)
Part 3- More Track &
Field (10:26
minutes)
Coach Herb Sheaner
Ken Shaw, 1967 Distance
Champion
Tom Booker, 1967 Discus Champion
