WELCOME:

HISTORY OF THE ETOBICOKE TRACK & FIELD CLUBS: 

The current day group of clubs received its start in the 1930’s as the Gladstone Track & Field club. In 1963, 20 members of the Gladstone club left to form a new club composed largely of distance runners, under the name The Toronto Striders and it quickly grew to over 80 members. In 1967-1968 the Borough of Etobicoke provided some assistance in establishing a track club at the new Centennial Park. The name of the club was then changed to Etobicoke Striders. In the mid 1970’s two groups of distance runners from the Striders formed their own track clubs, The Etobicoke Huskies and Track West. All four track clubs were very successful and had many outstanding competitors and team successes. The decision was made to reunite two of the clubs in the late 1980’s under the joint name of Etobicoke Huskies/Striders (EHS). This move was made to reduce the administrative workload and form one, financially secure club. Gladstone and EHS were still having trouble recruiting qualified people to run their large clubs. In 1993, they joined forces by sharing one executive team for both clubs. EHS and Gladstone remain two separate clubs but now share one strong executive. The 4th club, Track West, folded in the late 1990’s. Successes over the years have been many in cross country, track, field, road racing and racewalking. Our cross country teams have won countless Ontario and Canadian championships in different age categories.  

FEMALE DISTANCE RUNNERS:

Cathy Scharge (nee Griffith) was one of the first female marathoners in Canada.   Gayle Olinek ran a 2.40 matathon in the early 70’s.   Sylvia Reugger, 6th in the LA Olympics, holds the Canadian record at 2.28.   Other top female stars include Heidi Gerum, Paula Schnurr, Kathy Butler, Sally Beach, Jill Purola, Donna Bartosek and Mae Allison.  

FIELD EVENTS – PAST CHAMPIONS:

Nicole Devonish – Silver medalist in Long Jump at 1992 World Junior Champs., member of 1996 Olympic team and Canadian record holder at 6.66m in Long Jump. Louise Hanna, Julie White and Maggie Woods (who was in the Guiness Book of World. Records for the difference between her height and the height she jumped) were all outstanding high jumpers. Nicole Devonish had many recent successes in the long jump and was a member of the 1996 Olympic team.  

MALE DISTANCE RUNNERS – PAST CHAMPIONS:  

Dave Edge with many marathon victories. Mike Dyon (president- Brooks Canada) an Olympian in the marathon. Dave Reid, the running machine, who has won championships in track, cross country and road races. Other top male stars include Paul Steeds, John Castellano and Peter Walker.  

RACEWALKING – PAST AND PRESENT:

Our group of clubs has produced more champions then any other club in the country. Arturo Huerta, is a two time Olympian and Canadian record holder for 20km with a time of 1:21: 03. Other great Canadian champions include Helmut Boeck, Gordon Mosher, Jean Sebastien Beacage, Lily Whalen, Nanci Sweazey, Debbie Powell, Lora Rigutto, Joni Bender, and Helene Daviau.  

SPRINTS:  

Foy Williams – 4 time Canadian Champ.; member of 2000 Olympic team, 1999 & 2001 World Champs. and 1998 & 2002 Commonwealth Games teams.   Tim Bethune – 400m Olympian (46:15) and member of many International Teams.   Justyn Warner – 3 time Can. Junior 100m Champ., Silver medalist –2006 World Juniors & 2005 Pan Am Juniors.   Carline Muir – 3 time Can. Junior 400m Champ.,Silver medalist – 2005 Pan Am Juniors, semi finalist at 2006 World Junior Championships in Bejing.   Such names as Judy Dalimore, Cathy Attard, Karen Bowen, Barb Douglas, Liz Srebjnak, Clarence Ford, Marv Bowen, Chris Rid, Dennis McGann, Jamie Newman, Eric Frempong and Randy Brookes all had outstanding successes.  

THROWERS- PAST CHAMPIONS:  

Athletes such as Glen Arebeau, Mel Garilovic, Denes Patjas, Peter Daija, Kirsten Fawcett were all at one time Canadian leaders.  

MASTER ATHLETES:  

Earl Fee – Author, countless world championships and world records Karla Del Grande – World champion, respected throughout the running world for her ability. Kerry Smith – World championships and CFL career and an expert in Sprints. Richard Graves –Many time Ontario & Canadian Champ. at many (long) distances. Other great athletes include Bob Knuckey, Mike Scott, Gary Baker, Linda Findley, Janet Takahashi, Margaret Rolfe and Danuta Bartosek.   The aforementioned is not meant to be complete by any measure. There are countless successes worthy of note and the Etobicoke story is continuing to grow.      

All Time Greats:

Were you a member, but can't find your results in the table below? No problem, just click on the email link below and provide the following infomation:

1. First & Last Name,
2. Sex,
3. Age,
4. Time Frame (Beginning Year - End Year)
5. Event,
6. Description of Best Performance.

E-mail: etobicoketrack@sympatico.ca

See example Below:

Doug Cronkite, Male, at age28, ran with Etobicoke Huskies from 1979 to 1985, his best 10km was 28:28 and his best Marathon was 2:15” He was 5 times Canadian World Cross Country team member.