Dec. 13, 2004

HAVERFORD, Pa. - On Sunday, December 5th, Villanova University honored longtime Track and Field Coach, Jack Pyrah, by staging the Second Annual Jack Pyrah Invitational Track Meet. At the opening of the meet, Jack was presented an award by Coach Marcus O'Sullivan, present Head Men's Coach. Athletic Director Vince Nicastro and former Women's Coach Marty Stern were also on hand for the presentation. Jack Pyrah has been associated with the Villanova Track and Field Program since the 1960's, and he still to this day travels with the team to many meets.

Jack is an inspiration to the Villanova Track and Field fraternity, and he continues to have a great influence on the current team. Over the decades, Jack Pyrah coached many Olympians. At the recent Olympian Gala, the returning athletes expressed gratitude and respect to their former coach and mentor.

Jack had the good fortune of working with the great Jumbo Elliott, and he continues to assist Coach Marcus O'Sullivan.

"Jack has been able to pass on to us all a great sense of what Villanova Track has been about in the way it inspires us to continue the great tradition," Sullivan said.

It is truly amazing to see Jack at the track meets still as sharp as ever in keeping up with the team and their performances. Even at the recent Jack Pyrah Invitational Meet, Jack requested that a chair be placed at the finish line so he could time their splits. Jack is always interested in finding out about the new crop of Villanova runners. He pays attention to details; he likes to know which high schools the athletes attended and their best performance times prior to attending Villanova.

He is truly the personification of Villanova Track & Field.