Andy & Pete.
Andy Payne was born in tiny Foyil Oklahoma in 1907. There is a bronze statue of Andy in Foyil, a Historic Oklahoma Marker, at 12900 Andy Payne Blvd & Route 66. In 1928 at the age of 20 he entered C.C. Pyle’s Transcontinental Footrace to run down the $25,000 first place prize.
Andy had run 5 miles each way, each day, to school. He became a renowned miler while in high school. He was known to outrun horses to win money. But his biggest feat was challenging 200 runners at the start line at the Ascot Motor Speedway in Los Angeles. An epic journey across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and finishing at Madison Square Garden in New York City lay ahead. 3400 miles over 84 days of individual stage races from one town to another town. The runners endured 95 degree days in the Mojave desert, freezing mountain passes in Arizona and New Mexico and the grueling entirety of Route 66.
Andy would run the final laps around the track at Madison Square Garden for the win and retire from racing to pursue a law degree and raise a family. If you are interested there are a couple of good books detailing his historic Bunion Derby.
Andy Payne, Oklahoma’s greatest distance runner!
Pete Kostelnick (left) ran for my club in 2008. He smashed the World Record for the transcontinental run going from Los Angeles to NYC in 42 days, 8 hours and 34 minutes. Only one of his amazing accomplishments, Pete’s list of endurance feats has earned him the respect of sportsman everywhere.
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