Great story Keith. Payton was a track icon in this area and throughout the country and you captured the spirit of what he meant to the sport. The track community has lost a legend.

I worked at Track and Field News and met Coach Jordan several times because he and my boss, Bert Nelson, were buddies. He was a sage gentleman, my like my high school and college coach (and mentor) Bob Timmons. The world will truly miss Coach Jordan.

When I was helping out with track meets at Stanford 1988-1991, I watched Coach come on down and win the Masters 100m several times. It was phenomenal. The most thrilling 12-second 100m you could imagine, knowing that this white-haired, elegant, smiling "old" man was keeping himself in such fantastic shape and spirit. He really hauled. Quick steps, clean form, discipline and focus from start to finish, and back to smiling and chatting with his fellow competitors after the tape. He will always be the class act and a presence to emulate as I get older.

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