Hall of Fame
John Van Reenen was a star thrower for Coach Jack Mooberry’s track & field team from 1967 to 1970. The 6-8, 265-pound Van Reenen, a native of South Africa, came to WSU in 1967 and set a national freshman indoor discus record at 181-9 1/2. He continued to improve throughout his collegiate career and between 1968 and 1970 won three consecutive NCAA outdoor discus titles for the Cougars, placing second and third in 1968 and 1970 in the shot put as well. Van Reenen was named to the All-American College Track and Field teams in both the shot put and discus in 1968-1970. His best discuss throw of 224 feet, 8 inches in 1975 was a world record, however, a ruling of the International Olympic Committee barring South Africa from the Games cut Van Reenen out of sure berths on his country's teams in 1972, 1976 and 1980. Although he had never played American football, Van Reenen was talked into putting on a suit for the Cougars in the 1969 season and scored a touchdown.
