Dear Martin,
There were lots of great experiences from my participation in the games,but the more significant ones were getting there. Women's track and field in the U.S. was pretty much "downplayed". The support by the AAU was minimal and the attitude was that woman were unable to handle the training regimen .(obviously a man's opinion!!) I think that Babe Dedrickson was some unusual person. I really believe that many of the track meets were self supported or single donations and the men were the first priority.
I was born in Greenpoint , Brooklyn N.Y. Nov. 10,1934. I began running as part of the Police Athletic League at 12. I was preparing to compete in the City Championships and went to the local park with my Dad and fortunately met a man who was coaching a few girls,ranging from 15-24 (10 girls). He was sponsored by the the German American A.C. from Bronxville N.Y. The head of the A.C. was on th Board of thr AAU and wanted to see woman track and field succeed.....that is how it started. I was fortunate again that my coach was an expert in hurdles. I had the speed,but probably would not make it as a top sprinter,thus the hurdles. As a member of a small team,whenever there was a track meet,few and far between,we would compete in as many as 5 events each against much larger teams.
In July 1952 (just after graduating from Bishop McDonnell Mem. H.S.) I went to the Olympic tryouts in Pa. The criteria for making the team: win your event and do a time that was set by the Committee. I ran the 80m hurdles, won the event and ran 11.8 ,(one tenth off the American record). AS a result of the tryouts the team selected was just 10 women. I was the only U.S. entrant in the hurdles (my only claim to fame) I did not equal my 11.8 ,I did 12.1. It did not qualify me for the semis. The woman's relay team surprised all by winning the gold. (I was there to cheer them on)
I entered St. John"sTeachers College in the fall of 1952. I continued to train,held apart/full time job,and went to classes 6 days a week. I graduated in May of 1956. There were no Woman's track teams in Colleges,except Tennessee State &Tuskeegee Alabama. I competed in tryouts for the 1956 games in August and left for Melbourne in October.
This time the AAU and Olympic Committee had more donations and they allowed 3 entrants in each event. Again I made it in the hurdles, and again in a good time,but in the games I was timed in 12.1. The winning time was 11.4
The entire experience of being a part of such a special event is sometimes unbelievable to me. I have many great memories and memorabelia to remind me of what it was all about.
It wasn't until the 60's that woman were finally recognized as "able" and teams started to form especially in schools.
I am now visiting in Indiana with my brother Vincent(Darnowski) who competed for St. John's in the field events in the 50's. My brother Michael (Darnowski) also competed for St. John's and was a team manager. Unfortunately Michael passed away a year ago. Michael was very instrumental in having me placed in the St.John's Hall of Fame in 1993.
The reason you did not hear my name in your question about the first Olympian from St.Johns is probably that I did not compete for St.Johns,and probably that I did not get a medal. Al-so-rans don't get publicity. I hope you got Pete Close's name as well as Tom Farrell.
I will close now......If you would like more info I can write again or even better still be a presenter to your girls team to let them know how fortunate they are to have finantial help to attend school and compete for St.Johns
Constance(Connie) Darnowski Stoll school of Ed '56 U.S.A. '52,'56
There were lots of great experiences from my participation in the games,but the more significant ones were getting there. Women's track and field in the U.S. was pretty much "downplayed". The support by the AAU was minimal and the attitude was that woman were unable to handle the training regimen .(obviously a man's opinion!!) I think that Babe Dedrickson was some unusual person. I really believe that many of the track meets were self supported or single donations and the men were the first priority.
I was born in Greenpoint , Brooklyn N.Y. Nov. 10,1934. I began running as part of the Police Athletic League at 12. I was preparing to compete in the City Championships and went to the local park with my Dad and fortunately met a man who was coaching a few girls,ranging from 15-24 (10 girls). He was sponsored by the the German American A.C. from Bronxville N.Y. The head of the A.C. was on th Board of thr AAU and wanted to see woman track and field succeed.....that is how it started. I was fortunate again that my coach was an expert in hurdles. I had the speed,but probably would not make it as a top sprinter,thus the hurdles. As a member of a small team,whenever there was a track meet,few and far between,we would compete in as many as 5 events each against much larger teams.
In July 1952 (just after graduating from Bishop McDonnell Mem. H.S.) I went to the Olympic tryouts in Pa. The criteria for making the team: win your event and do a time that was set by the Committee. I ran the 80m hurdles, won the event and ran 11.8 ,(one tenth off the American record). AS a result of the tryouts the team selected was just 10 women. I was the only U.S. entrant in the hurdles (my only claim to fame) I did not equal my 11.8 ,I did 12.1. It did not qualify me for the semis. The woman's relay team surprised all by winning the gold. (I was there to cheer them on)
I entered St. John"sTeachers College in the fall of 1952. I continued to train,held apart/full time job,and went to classes 6 days a week. I graduated in May of 1956. There were no Woman's track teams in Colleges,except Tennessee State &Tuskeegee Alabama. I competed in tryouts for the 1956 games in August and left for Melbourne in October.
This time the AAU and Olympic Committee had more donations and they allowed 3 entrants in each event. Again I made it in the hurdles, and again in a good time,but in the games I was timed in 12.1. The winning time was 11.4
The entire experience of being a part of such a special event is sometimes unbelievable to me. I have many great memories and memorabelia to remind me of what it was all about.
It wasn't until the 60's that woman were finally recognized as "able" and teams started to form especially in schools.
I am now visiting in Indiana with my brother Vincent(Darnowski) who competed for St. John's in the field events in the 50's. My brother Michael (Darnowski) also competed for St. John's and was a team manager. Unfortunately Michael passed away a year ago. Michael was very instrumental in having me placed in the St.John's Hall of Fame in 1993.
The reason you did not hear my name in your question about the first Olympian from St.Johns is probably that I did not compete for St.Johns,and probably that I did not get a medal. Al-so-rans don't get publicity. I hope you got Pete Close's name as well as Tom Farrell.
I will close now......If you would like more info I can write again or even better still be a presenter to your girls team to let them know how fortunate they are to have finantial help to attend school and compete for St.Johns
Constance(Connie) Darnowski Stoll school of Ed '56 U.S.A. '52,'56
