[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KIP JANVRIN

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a native 
Iowan and a remarkable athletic champion, Kip Janvrin. Today marks the 
beginning of the 96th annual Drake Relays, one of the Nation's most 
prestigious track and field events, held each spring at Drake Stadium 
in Des Moines. Kip will take the field for the last time in a sport in 
which he has dominated at Drake for the last 22 years, the decathlon.
  The Relays are aptly called ``Americas Athletic Classic.'' This will 
be the last year they are held in the old Drake Stadium. This summer, 
the stadium will get a dramatic face-lift and overhaul in order to 
conform to national and international standards.
  Over the years, the words ``Drake Relays and Kip Janvrin'' have 
become virtually synonymous. The Drake Relays are one of America's 
premier track and field venues, and Kip Janvrin is one of America's 
premier track and field athletes, competing in what is arguably the 
most demanding event in all of sports. From Jesse Owens to Wilma 
Rudolph, Gwen Torrance, Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson, the Drake 
Relays have seen almost all of the great Olympians in track and field. 
But one Olympian, Kip Janvrin, has been a dominant presence at the 
event for more than two decades.
  If the cheers are especially loud for Kip, it is because he is a 
native son of Iowa. Raised in Panora and a graduate of Simpson College 
in Indianola, Kip has won the decathalon at the Drake Relays a 
remarkable 14 times. It is fitting that the last year for the original 
Drake Stadium will also be the last year that this American original 
competes in the Drake Relays.
  Kip is one of the top-ranked decathletes in the world, and he is the 
oldest active U.S. competitor in this extraordinarily demanding event. 
The decathlon is a 10-event competition which takes place over two 
days. It includes the 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 
400 meter dash, 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 
1,500 meter run. Kip began competing in the decathlon in 1983, and 
quickly excelled in all 10 events.
  While attending Simpson College, Kip competed many times in the Drake 
Relays. His first victory came in 1987 in the decathlon, and he went on 
to add 13 more titles over the next 18 years. His 14 championships at 
the Drake Relays are the most by any athlete in the history of that 
event. In 1998, he was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame. 
During his years at Simpson, he earned 3 NCAA titles in the decathlon, 
and 2 more NCAA titles in individual events. He was inducted into the 
Simpson Hall of Fame in 1998, and the NCAA Division III Track and Field 
Hall of Fame in 2004.
  Kip's accomplishments are nothing short of amazing. He has completed 
more than 80 decathlons. He holds the world records in career 
victories, scores over 7,000 points, and consecutive finishes. He also 
holds the world record for the double decathlon, a grueling event 
involving every event in track and field, except for the marathon and 
walks.
  Kip won the decathlon at the 1995 Pan American Games. As a member of 
the U.S. Olympic team at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, he was 
the oldest decathlete ever to compete for the United States. In 2001, 
he won the decathlon at the USA Outdoor Championships. Last year, Kip 
came in second at the Drake Relays, the first time in 9 years that he 
did not come in first. However, Kip took the loss in stride, because 
the victor was his protege, Travis Goepfert, also a native of Panora, 
IA.
  Kip is currently in his 15th year as co-head coach at Central 
Missouri State University in Warrensburg. He and his wife, Teresa, have 
two sons, Jaxon, age 9, and Mason, age 7.
  So as Kip Janvrin warms up for his final Drake Relays, I extend my 
congratulations and best wishes. With his self discipline, his 
commitment to excellence, and his enormous human decency, he represents 
Iowa at its very best. I wish him success in this, his final, Drake 
Relays. Win or lose, he will be a true champion.

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