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 moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1964 Men's Track and Field: LaRock Repeats as SCIAC Champion
In the early years of the Claremont-Mudd athletic department, Bill LaRock established himself as the first great sprinter for the track and field program, and became a member of the first CMS Hall of Fame Class 27 years after he graduated. He won the 100-yard dash at the 1963 SCIAC Track and Field Championships, and then as a senior in 1964, he went out with a second straight SCIAC title in the 100, becoming the first Claremont-Mudd athlete to repeat as a league champion, while graduating with a school-record of 9.7 seconds.

LaRock kept his strong senior season going after the SCIAC Championships as as well. He was named the Outstanding Performer at the 1964 NAIA Track and Field District 3 Championships after sweeping the 100 and 220 and anchoring a second-place relay.

LaRock finished his career with school records in the 220 yards (21.5 seconds) and the 400 (48.8 seconds). Including relays, he had six school marks when he graduated, after anchoring the 4x110, 4x220 and 4x400 relays to Stag standards.

A two-time team captain, LaRock joined Pete Welsh (Pomona-Claremont track and field/football/basketball), Bill Arce (athletic director/baseball coach), Steve Endemano (football) and Eric Jones (swimming and diving) in the first CMS Hall of Fame induction class in 1991.