Bob Larsen’s World Class Birthday

LAST WEEKEND a star-studded group gathered to celebrate the 85th birthday of Hall of Fame coach Bob Larsen. Well over 100 strong, the attendees — friends, family, coaching colleagues, athletes guided by Larsen in his 6-decade-plus career — came from as far away as Zürich, Switzerland, to honor a transformative figure in U.S. distance running who also built an all-around track & field powerhouse program in 15 seasons as UCLA men’s coach: back-to-back NCAA titles in 1987 & ’88, 20 NCAA individual titles, world-class Bruins and Bruin alums produced in droves.

Seven Olympic gold medalists and 3 World Record-setters attended Larsen’s birthday bash — a testament to a deep well of love and respect. A full count of Olympians and USA champions on hand at the Southern California home of Bob and partner Martha Watson would be difficult to pull together without a comprehensive guest list.

Regrettably, Meb Keflezighi, the marathoner 2004 Team USA Olympic distance coach Larsen guided to silver in Athens and historic New York and Boston wins in 2009 and ’14, was a late scratch from the guest list for family reasons — a good reason for Bob’s friends to double back some year?

All-world UCLA sprints alum Danny Everett catered the event, exquisite BBQ, copious sides and desserts. In the culinary arts Everett matches his 400 accomplishments.

It was an honor to be invited. What an evening!

Below you’ll find a photo gallery from the event. Most pics by accomplished veteran behind the lens Bill Leung, recipient last summer of the Track And Field Writers of America (TAFWA) Award for Photography. Be sure to view in lightbox mode. Presents best that way. Photo order shuffled randomly.

Click on any photo to view gallery in click-through lightbox mode.

Bruin alums Christian Cushing-murray (4-time U.S. 1500 Ranker, recently broke 5:00 in the mile for the 43rd year in a row), Jon Butler (’85, No. 3 all-time Bruin at 10,000), Mike Parkinson (NCAA & Olympic Trials 1500 competitor). (BILL LEUNG)

Bob, Ed Mendoza (Grossmont Griffin/Toad, ’76 AAU XC National Champ team, Olympian).

Birthday Boy Bob Larsen and partner Martha Watson, four-time long jump Olympian, led off two USA 4x1s in ’72 & ’76. (BILL LEUNG)

Claudette Groenendaal (two-time NCAA champion for Oregon 800/1500, 9-time U.S. Ranker, No. 1 at 800 in ’86). (BILL LEUNG)

Steve Ortiz, Mike Parkinson, Steve Webb 5th Team NCAA XC ‘80 & ‘81 10,000 UCLA list, Jon Butler (HS #1 3200m 1981 and 3x finalist NCAA 5000, multi All American XC/track).

Mike Powell ribs John Smith — in the T&F world that’s heavy-hitter ribbing. (BILL LEUNG)

Bruin alum Olympic gold medalists Andre Phillips (’88 400 hurdles) and Steve Lewis (’88 400 & 4×4) flanking 440y WR holder, Olympian & super-elite coach John Smith. (BILL LEUNG)

Bob Larsen with Dennis Wilson. (BILL LEUNG)

Brian Russell (’81), UCLA 1500 record-setter (No. 7 all-time Bruin at 1500) & track & field media maven. (BILL LEUNG)

Larsen athletes from across eras, Dennis Wilson, Thom Hunt and Jon Butler. (BILL LEUNG)

Danny Everett, Birthday Boy Bob Larsen, Martha Watson, Matt Olin.

Mike Powell, Andre Phillips, John Smith. (BILL LEUNG)

Bruin 400 great Danny Everett — Olympic & Worlds bronze ’88 & ’91; at 4×4 gold ’87 Worlds & ’88 Olympics, silver ’91 Worlds; ’88 NCAA 400 champ & third leg on first sub-3:00 collegiate 4×4. (BILL LEUNG)

Ed Mendoza (USA 10,000 Olympian, World Champs marathoner), Tom Lux (Olympic Trials qualifier 5000 & marathon, HS coach) , Thom Hunt (4:02 HS miler on 11-laps-to-the-mile indoor track, ’77 World Junior cross country titlist). (BILL LEUNG)

San Diego area distance star Dale Fleet ran on Larsen’s ’76 USA XC Champs Jamul Toads squad. (BILL LEUNG)

Mike Parkinson, Coach John Smith, Mark Junkerman, Jon Butler, Don Franken.

Bruin Willie Banks (triple jump World Record setter, 2-time No. 1 World Ranker, 11-time Ranker, ’83 Worlds silver medalist, twice NCAA 2nd, World Athletics Council Member) Claudette Groenendaal, Andre Phillips. (CLAUDETTE GROENENDAAL)

UCLA miler & party organizer Mike Parkinson (’85, No. 3-all-time Bruin at 1500) with Larsen. (BILL LEUNG)

Long jump World Record holder Mike Powell (2 world titles, 2 Olympic silvers, 4-time No. 1 World Ranker, World Ranked 11 times) with Jamul Toads and T&FN Editor Sieg Lindstrom (left) . (BILL LEUNG)

Mike Parkinson, Andy Sims (Bruin 800m), Judy Parkinson, Jon Butler.

Henry Thomas with promotions and PR veteran Don Franken (BILL LEUNG)

Mike Parkinson, Mark Junkerman USA Jr 1500 Champ, steeple 2nd NCAA), Mike Pope (Griffin/Toad/Bruin, NCAA XC ‘83).

Bruin distance runner alums turned out in force. (BILL LEUNG)

Bruin Olympic champions Andre Phillips (’88 400 hurdles), Kevin Young (’92 400 hurdles setting World Record that stood for 29 years), Steve Lewis (’88 400 & 4×4 gold) with Jacquie Pelaez.

Jerry Marsh (Bruin/Toad), Mike Parkinson, Mike Pope, Bill Cleves, Willy Ayyad.

Steve Lewis and Claudette Groenendaal. (BILL LEUNG)

Bruin sprinter Henry Thomas, 10.15 (’87), 20.18 (’88), 45.05 (’87) — Nos. 3, 2 & 7 all-time UCLA marks in those events as of January 2024.

UCLA distance stalwarts David Greifinger, Jerry Marsh and Mark Junkerman. (BILL LEUNG)

Bob Larsen with Don Olsen and Danny Ungricht, runners from his powerhouse Monte Vista HS team. (BILL LEUNG)

Carl Brandt, Willy Ayyad (UCLA ’83), running broadcaster/writer Toni Reavis, Judy Parkinson (UCLA ’90). (BILL LEUNG)

Bob Larsen with Gentry Bradley, NCAA 200 2nd in ’96, No. 5 Bruin all-time (20.34) as of January 2024.

Josh Johnson (2-time NCAA javelin finalist) and shot great John Godina (4 Worlds golds, 1 of those indoors, plus an Olympic silver and a bronze, ’94 NCAA discus champion, ’95 NCAA shot & discus champion, 4-time No. 1 shot World Ranker, 10-time World Ranker). (BILL LEUNG)

Runners from Larsen’s steamroller Grossmont College teams. Olympian Ed Mendoza third from left. (BILL LEUNG)

Three from UCLA’s history-making 2:59.91 NCAA 4×4 in 1988, first collegiate sub-3 squad: Steve Lewis (with mic), Kevin Young, Henry Thomas. Hurdler Derek Knight far left.

Power couple Martha Watson and Bob Larsen (BILL LEUNG)

Bruin Mike Marsh (with mic), ’92 Olympic 200 champion & 4×1 gold. Worlds 4×1 gold in ’91, Olympic silver in ’96. Now the Team USA Olympic relay coach.

Olympians Shevon Nieto (2004 & ’08 400 hurdles) and Jamie Nieto (’04 & ’12 high jump) with their children. Jamie currently acts on the “Raising Kanan’ television series. Singer Shevon is an “America’s Got Talent” alum.

Mike Parkinson, Bill Cleves (Griffin/Toad/Bruin), Cush, Joe Avila (2x Pac-10 XC Champs Team and 5th Team NCAA XC ‘80 & ‘81).

Bruin alum distance teammates Mike Parkinson and Willy Ayyad (’83, No. 5 all-time UCLA in the marathon). (BILL LEUNG).

Larsen with members of his 1987 & ’88 NCAA champion UCLA squads & sprint coach extraordinaire John Smith (to Larsen’s left). (BILL LEUNG)

Bob Larsen among his people. (BILL LEUNG)

Larsen with members of his Jamul Toads club team, the 1976 USATF (AAU) cross country champions. l-r Thom Hunt, Tom Lux, Ed Mendoza, Dale Fleet, Mike Breen. (BILL LEUNG)

Bob Larsen with UCLA distance alums Jim Ortiz, Steve Ortiz (’82, No. 2 all-time Bruin at 5000 & 10,000, No. 1 marathon) and Jon Butler (’85, No. 3 all-time Bruin at 10,000). (BILL LEUNG)

High jump star Reynaldo Brown with wife Carol. Brown was T&FN’s 1968 High School Athlete Of The Year, leaped 7-4 for 5th in the ’68 Olympics; won two NCAA Div. I titles; 5-time World Ranker, No. 2 in ’70, ’71 & ’73. (BILL LEUNG)

Event and communications pro Rich Perelman (left) — past manager of the UCLA track team and VP for Press Operations at the LA ’84 Olympics — with one of the three trophies the Bruins took home from the ’78 NCAA — 1st, 2nd and 3rd. UCLA was never 3rd in that meet but Rich can explain. (BILL LEUNG)

A brace of Olympians. John Smith greets John Godina as Mike Powell and Steve Lewis look on. Coach Larsen’s son Eric and wife Erica on deck. (BILL LEUNG)

Danny Everett multi-medaled 400 (and 200) man and world class chef. Catered Larsen’s birthday celebration. (BILL LEUNG)

Mike Parkinson, Mark Junkerman (2nd ‘87 NCAA steeple, No. 2 all-time UCLA), Coach Larsen.

Mike Parkinson, Andy Sims (Bruin 800), Cush, Jerry Marsh (NCAA XC ‘83).

Jamul Toads Tom Lux and Thom Hunt. (BILL LEUNG)

Sieg Lindstrom is Track & Field News's Editor. He fell in love with the sport as a high school distance runner, and has covered 9 editions of the Olympics and 16 outdoor World Championships. In a feverish effort to brush up his résumé before he was hired, he also attended the ’84 Olympics and ’87 Worlds as a fan.