For at least the past twenty-three years Kansas runners have benefited from the painstaking and meticulous efforts of Jack Crook, the statistician for the Kansas State Road Records and Honor Roll. However, effective this month, Crook has resigned from this voluntary role and no one has stepped forward to replace him. Therefore, all Kansas state running records and outstanding performances established during and since the calendar year 2012 likely will not be officially recognized and recorded anywhere unless a replacement for Crook can be found.
The primary objective of the Kansas State Records and Honor Roll was to give more recognition for racing achievements by Kansas runners and to publicize Kansas races, race sponsors, and race directors. The records have been historically maintained by runLawrence, one of the largest running organizations in the state of Kansas which primarily serves runners in the Lawrence and Kansas City areas. The existing archives will remain available for perusal on the organizations website at http://www.runlawrence.org/staterecords.html .
Through Crooks efforts over the years Kansas runners who achieved State Records and high quality performances could be assured that their efforts would be immortalized based on a number of criteria. Kansas road race achievements on USATF certified courses were eligible for entry in the Kansas State Records and Honor Roll in the following race distances: 2 Mile, 5-K, 4 Mile, 8-K, 10-K, 12-K, 15-K, 10 Mile, 20-K, 30-K, Half marathon and Marathon. Achievements were also based upon age group performances and comparisons, starting with the 12 & under group, then typically dividing achievements into 5-year groupings, continuing all the way to 90 & up performances.
The board members of runLawrence, as well as a significant portion of Kansas road racers, remain hopeful that a suitable replacement will be found for Crook so the Kansas State Records and Honor Roll can continue to recognize outstanding achievements by runners and race organizers within the state. Anyone interested in assuming this duty is encouraged to contact Jack Crook, whose contact information is available on the runLawrence website.
Regardless of where this remarkable archive goes from here, generations of Kansas runners remain indebted to Crook for his tireless and often thankless efforts over the years.
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