Dave Romansky - “Big Red”

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Dave setting an American record in the 1500 Olympic Invitational, 1969. Dave beat the 1964 50K Olympic champion Abdon Pamich

Dave setting an American record in the 1500 Olympic Invitational, 1969. Dave beat the 1964 50K Olympic champion Abdon Pamich

Page 1 - Hometown News March 1994

This a great article on Dave's racewalking career by Donna Federanko-Stout for the Hometown News. The Hometown News was a monthly publication serving Salem County and Surrounding Areas.

Here are some of the quotes from the article.

“Races are won in training.” - Dave Romansky

“Race walking gets me up at 5:30 every morning, send me to bed exhausted at 10 every night. It has give me sunburn, windburn, heartburn, great anxiety, occasional despair… and the kind of satisfaction that makes it all worthwhile.” - Dave Romansky

Better Living, May / June 1969

Dave Romansky Olympic Walker

This is the cover photo from the Du Pont Employee Magazine

Competition

• Began race walking in February 1967 after training and competing as a regionally competitive runner for 3 years
• Became Olympic race walking prospect at the end of 1967
• Dominated East Coast race walking field in 1968, breaking many records
• Qualified for Olympic team in the 50K in 1968
• Won first of 12 National Championships in the 40K in 1968
• Competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City , placing 26th despite suffering from the flu and a 102° fever
• Won National 1 Mile Championship in 1969, defeating Olympic champion Abdon Pumich of Italy
• Won numerous prestigious indoor track and field meets in 1969, including the Penn Relays and the Martin Luther King Games.
• Won “Outstanding Track Athlete of the Year” in 1970 for Mid-Atlantic Region
• Won “ United States Outstanding Walker of the Year” in 1970
• Named “Outstanding Amateur Athlete of the Year” in 1970 by New Jersey Sportswriters Association
• Won 7 Championships, and set 12 US records and 3 world records in 1970 – setting 5 US records in one race
• Selected to the USA Track Team each year from 1968 through 1972
• Toured with the USA Track Team in 1970, winning the 20K in France , the 10K in Germany , and placing 3rd in the 20K in Russia
• Placed 8th in World Championships in the 20K in Germany in 1970
• Anchored the only US team to ever win in international competition, winning the 85 mile, 5-man race in Switzerland in 1970
• Placed 3rd in 1972 dual meet (USA and Russia), finishing only 1 second behind three-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Vladimir Gloubinichy
• Toured with the USA Team in 1978 – still world class at 40 years of age
• Placed 5th in the World 5K Championships in 1995

Awards

• Won USA Racewalker of the Year for 55-59 age group five years in a row (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999)
• Named “Outstanding Athlete of the Year” by the Shore Athletic Club in 1997
• Named National Masters Racewalker of the Year in 1997 and 1998
• Won six national masters championships and set ten US records in 1998; won five national masters championships and set seven US records in 1999
• Inducted into the Penns Grove High School Hall of Fame in 1998
• Inducted into the Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1999
• Inducted into the Shore Athletic Club Hall of Fame 2000
• Inducted into the Salem County All Sports Hall of Fame 2001 along with Don Bragg Gold Medal 1960
• Inducted into the USA Masters Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2002

Coaching and Promoting

• Promoted first race in 1965, and began organizing youth track meets
• Worked with former Olympian Browning Ross to expand the South Jersey Track Club in 1965
• Formed Pennsville Track Club in 1966 with membership of more than 100 children
• Named New Jersey Jaycees’ Man of the Year for 1968 and Pennsville Jaycees’ Man of the Year for work with children
• Created the South Jersey Charger Track Club for girls in 1969
• Trained nationally-ranked cross country runner Beth Benner, who finished 2nd (twice) in national competition and 6th in international competition in Spain . Beth set a world record in the marathon by winning the New York Marathon, and was the first woman to run the marathon in less than 3 hours.
• Gave more than 100 speeches to thank organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region for their support during 1968 and 1969
• Worked with the Ranch Hope track program for children
• Coached Delaware Track and Field Track Club; helped form All Girls’ Eastern Track and Field Team
• During 1999 and 2000 donated his time and energy by giving more than 20 free racewalking clinics in New Jersey , Pennsylvania , and Texas . Also worked individually with dozens of walkers during regional, national, and world championship races
• Currently coaching National Masters Champion Sherry Brosnahan (age 51, New Jersey ) and several other outstanding masters and youth athletes. In 2002, Brosnahan set a new World Masters record in the 50K racewalk and was named America ’s Outstanding Masters Racewalker of the Year.
• Coached Janet Higbie (age 65 , Indina ) to world record 50K in 2006.

Other Honors

• Featured in articles in Sports Illustrated, Saturday Evening Post, New York Times, and other national publications
• Received countless letters of acknowledgment from US presidents, governors, senators, and others for his work with children and the community

Most Memorable Moment