CMC75 Moments: Messana Concludes Historic Career for 1989 Men's Track and Field
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1989 Men's Track and Field: Messana Concludes Career as 10-Time All-American
As a freshman in 1986, Mark Messana earned All-America honors in both the 100 and the 200 meters, finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. He repeated that feat as a sophomore and junior, and his senior year gave him a chance to become the first CMS track and field athlete to earn All-America honors all four years.
That mission was successful, as Messana earned his highest-ever finish in the 100, coming in fourth place in 10.98, and added a sixth-place finish in the 200. It was also a landmark achievement beyond just the CMS program, as he became the first sprinter, male or female, in NCAA Division III history to earn All-America honors for four years in both the 100 and 200. He also was a part of a 4x400 relay team that earned All-America honors twice, coming in second place in 1988 and eighth in 1989, and earned induction into the CMS Hall of Fame.
Messana remains the only CMS track and field athlete to finish as an All-American for all four seasons, and his 10 total All-America honors hasn't been approached since. Joining him on the 1988 relay team that finished second at the NCAAs, the highest-ever finish for a CMS relay, were Derek Elmore, Kurt Hocker, and Tony Gnecco, while Chris Isacson, joined Gnecco, Elmore and Messana on the All-America relay in 1989. Gnecco is also a part of the CMS Hall of Fame, as is Hocker.
The 1989 season also saw Dan O'Keefe (another CMS Hall of Famer) finish as the NCAA runner-up in the hammer, and Carl Berg earn All-America honors in the steeplechase (seventh). Messana still holds the CMS records in both the 100 and the 200 meters, 30 years after he graduated.
1988-89 Men's Track and Field Roster
Head Coach: John Goldhammer
Assistant Coaches: Kirk Reynolds, Greg Quick, Julie Curtis
Steve Barbarich (Fr., Sprints, HMC)
Brian Barnes (Fr., Distance, CMC)
Steve Barrett (Sr., Distance, CMC)
Kelly Beck (Jr., Distance, HMC)
Steve Beebe (Jr., Distance, HMC)
Matt Bell (So., Throws, CMC)
Alex Beltramo (Sr., Jumps, CMC)
Carl Berg (Jr., Distance, CMC)
Eric Blum (Jr., Distance, CMC)
Jeff Bunn (Fr., Distance, HMC)
Mike Conway (Jr., Sprints, CMC)
Robert Davis (So., Distance, HMC)
John Dennis (Jr., Distance, HMC)
Derek Elmore (Sr., Sprints, CMC)
Kurt Freeman (Fr., Jumps, CMC)
Bill Fulton (Fr., Hurdles, CMC)
Tony Gnecco (Sr., Sprints, HMC)
Tim Hall (Fr., Jumps, CMC)
Robert Hellyer (Sr., Distance, CMC)
Brian Hughes (Fr., Jumps, CMC)
Chris Isacson (Jr., Hurdles, CMC)
Eric Johnson (Fr., Pole Vault, HMC)
Jason Klawitter (So., Throws, CMC)
Greg Lesser (So., Throws, CMC)
Greg Linderman (Jr., Jumps, CMC)
Frank Marumoto (Sr., Throws, CMC)
David Maurice (So., Distance, HMC)
Chris Mehnert (Fr., Throws, CMC)
Mark Messana (Sr., Sprints, CMC)
Matt McAdams (Fr., Distance, HMC)
Matteo McCarthy (Fr., Distance, HMC)
Dan O'Keefe (Sr., Throws, CMC)
Jeff Peterson (Fr., Distance, CMC)
Andy Rasmussen (Fr., Pole Vault, HMC)
Jason Rockhill (Sr., Throws, CMC)
Mike Scott (Sr., Distance, HMC)
Erik Stanley (Fr., Distance, HMC)
Todd Stronjy (Jr., Jumps, CMC)
Chris Throckmorton (So., Distance, HMC)
Keith Vescial (Fr., Distance, CMC)
Tom Walden (Fr., Throws, CMC)
Brian Watkins (Fr., Distance, CMC)
Lance Watkins (Sr., Distance, CMC)
Tim Williams (Jr., Distance, CMC)