Mrs. Gasper's Reading classes closed out their Olympics lesson by bringing in guest speaker, Greg Fredericks, a member of the 1980 Olympic team that boycotted the Moscow Games.
He earned his way there by finishing second in the 1980 U.S. Olympic trials. At the time, he held two American records, was an NCAA Cross Country Champion and a 10K Champion and was named to eight U.S. National Track & Field teams. He also ran one sub 4 minute mile as well.
In 1972, in a 5K race, Steve Prefontaine set the second fastest American time and Greg ran the fourth fastest. The PSU graduate had career bests of 13:34 for a 5K race and 28:03 for a 10K race.
He is now retired from computer support at the Applied Research Lab on the PSU campus. In the 80's and 90's he coached Centre County Special Olympics and more recently, started youth cross country races in our area with the Nittany track and field/cross country programs - located out of State College.
