Year Inducted: 1976
Nominated By: Marion R. Gordon (colleague)
Sports Competed In: Cross Country, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach
Larry T. Pickering
High School:
Attended Trego County H.S., in WaKeeney, Kansas where he graduated in 1962.
Achievements:
High School:
Specialized in running the dash events on the track team where he earned four varsity letters in four years.
Personal Best at Trego County H.S.:
Event (Time)
100 yd dash (9.9)
220 yd dash (21.2)
440 yd dash (50.2)
Kansas State Track Meet:
Year:
1959
1959
1960
1961
1961
1962
1962
Event:
100 yd dash
220 yd dash
100 yd dash
100 yd dash
220 yd dash
440 yd dash
220 yd dash
Place:
3rd
3rd
3rd
2nd
1ST STATE CHAMPION
2nd
1ST STATE CHAMPION
College:
Went to Ft. Hayes State College, graduating in 1966...Continued his post-graduate studies at Ft. Hayes State College, earning a MS degree in 1967.
Achievements:
College:
● Earned NAIA All-American honors in track (outdoors) in 1965.
● Member of the mile relay teams that finished second and sixth in the nation, respectively at the NAIA National outdoor and indoor meets in 1965.
● Missouri Valley AAU champion in the 100 and 220 yard dash events as well as the League (CIC) Champion in 440 yard dash (both indoor and outdoor) in 1965.
Personal College Best at Ft. Hayes State College:
Event (Time)
100 yd dash (9.8)
220 yd dash (20.8)
440 yd dash (45.7)
880 yd dash (1:59.7)
Coaching Career:
● Head cross country coach at Pueblo Centennial H.S. for eight years (1967-75).
● Also served as an assistant coach on the Bulldogs track team for two seasons (1968-69) before taking the reins of the program in 1970.
Achievements:
Coaching:
● Won five consecutive State Cross Country Championships (1969-73) in eight seasons.
● Finished runner-up at state meets three other times (1967-68 and 1974).
● City champions seven times in nine years.
● League champions six times in nine years.
● District champions four out of six seasons.
● Overall record for nine years: Recorded a winning percentage of .960 (Computed by taking the 77 Large meets Centennial has run in over the past nine years and breaking them down into dual meets: 1,169 total duals winning 1,122 and losing 47 others.)
● Coached five Individual State Cross Country Champions: Len Trujillo (1967-68), Dennis Trujillo (1970-71), J.J. Griffin (1972) who still holds State Record at 9:41.
Track Athlete's who excelled under Pickering at Pueblo Centennial H.S.:
Year:
1971-72
1973
1973
1973
Athlete:
Dennis Trujillo
J.J. Griffin
J.J. Griffin
J.J. Griffin
Accomplishment:
State Champion in Mile
All-American Champion in 2 mile
State Champion in 2 mile
Golden West Invitational in 2 mile
Time:
9:11.2
9:18.2
8:57.6*
Other:
State Record
5th Place
*Became the first Colorado High School runner to break 9:00 for 2 mile.
Honors:
● Colorado Cross Country Coach of the Year (1972, 1974).
● Lectured at National Coaches Convention (1972, 1974).
● Lectured at Colorado Coaches Association Convention in 1972
● Lectured at High Altitude Training Camp at Camp Crockett (1971-73).
● Selected as Cross Country "Coach-of-the-Year" for District 6 of the U.S. (1974-1975 school year).
● One of eight nominated for National Cross Country "Coach-of-the-Year" (1974-1975 school year).
● Published article in "The Coaching Clinic Magazine", June 1972 edition.
● Published a book titled "Dedication: The Key to Cross Country Success".
● Past President of Colorado Track Coaches Association (CTCA).
● Past Member of Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Board of Directors.
● Member of the National Committee for Cross Country, representing District #6.
Occupation:
Teacher, coach in School District #60 at Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo, CO...Married 51 years to his wife, Karen...Passed away, June 14, 2018.
