[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNITION OF STEPHEN PIFER

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                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2003

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Stephen Pifer of 
Edwardsville, Illinois for winning the Triple Crown in Illinois high 
school long distance track.
  Last November, Stephen won the Class AA cross-country championship 
for the State of Illinois. Then, at the 109th annual Illinois High 
School Association track and field State finals held in May, Stephen 
won the Class AA 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs to secure the Triple 
Crown. Winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour made stable running tricky 
for all competitors at the State finals, but Stephen's determination 
and spirit kept him head and shoulders above the rest of the field at 
Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium that night.
  Just five other runners in State history have won the Triple Crown. 
Stephen joins names like Craig Virgin, David Merrick, Tom Graves, John 
Jacobsen, and Donald Sage; each Illinois track stars in their own 
right. Stephen's uncle and Edwardsville assistant coach Tim Flamer 
praised his nephew saying, ``It's admirable for Stephen to come through 
time and time again. He's now among the legends of State track. He 
carved that out today.'' Three-time Olympian and two-time World Cross 
Country champion Craig Virgin calls Stephen the best runner to come out 
of Illinois since him, and not many disagree.
  The mayor of Edwardsville has given Stephen the key to the city, but 
that will definitely not be the last of the awards he receives. Stephen 
has represented Southern Illinois well in his years at Edwardsville 
High School, but his time there is over as he graduated last May. He 
plans to move on to the University of Colorado, where he will 
undoubtedly continue performing well in competition. Stephen's future 
looks incredibly bright, and I wish him the best in all he does.




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