Mick Cavanaugh - Chapter 2

Submitted by: Bob Miller - PHS 1974 graduate

1969 - Continued improvement

The second season brought to the forefront Coach cavanaugh’s concept of running as a team.  Against Andrean Portage placed 13 of the first 16 runners, in a triple dual with Merrillville, Wirt and Lowell five of the first eight places, and in a double duel meet with East Gary and lake Central ther first five runners.  The team would pick up 4^th in the prestigious Hobart Invitational, out of 25 teams, where senior Bob Thomas would finish 4^th and junior brother Tim would finish 13^th.  On September 24, 1969 the team would win their tenth dual meet out of 12.

VM 9/25/68
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VM 10/10/69
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Portage would finish 3rd in the inaugural Duneland Conference meet to Hobart, but Bob Thomas would capture 1^st place honors.  Portage would capture the junior varsity meet.

In the final Calumet Conference meet Portage would finish 4^th and Bob Thomas would collect 3^rd place.

At sectionals the team would place 6^th and Bob Thomas would again qualify for regionals with a third place finish.

In the spring Thomas would finish his schoolboy running career with a 4^th place at the state meet in the two mile run.  He would go on to have a stellar cross country and track career at Indiana State where he would set several school records in distance races for the Sycamores.

VM 10/18/69 Click to Enlarge

1969 XC team (1970 PHS Legend) Click to Enlarge

Coach Cavanaugh and Bob Thomas during 1970 track season (1970 PHS Legend) Click to Enlarge