LIFESTYLE
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, April 16, 2014
www.leader-news.com
JAY T.
STRASNER
Page 5-B
lifestyle@leader-news.com
“It’s like he’s got human cruise control. It really is.”
INK BY THE BARREL
Words fail when trying to describe Ino Cantu “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson Succinctly cramming the life story of anyone who’s lived on this planet for 80 years into one newspaper article can be an arduous task. But it’s absolutely impossible when the subject of the tale is Ino Cantu. I’ve been honored and delighted to interact with thousands of folks across three states in my newspaper career. After walking into the living room of Ino and his wife Josie on a rainy and windy Tuesday afternoon in South Texas, I can say without hesitation that there is no one like Ino. His living history is so amazing and full of unique plots upon subplots upon tangents ... for the first time in my life, I almost felt like I met someone who is TOO interesting. Let me try to explain. Initially I understood the purpose of my interview was to get the details on an 80-year-old man who had broken two major records in distance running events and was on the verge of setting more later this year. What I discovered, however, was a pillar of delight and philosophy and kindness wrapped in the taut, sinewy frame of a man who’s probably in better shape than most 30 year olds. Those of you who know Ino understand what I mean when I say he doesn’t look a day over 55, much less 80. So it’s not quite accurate to say that he’s too interesting. It’s just that no matter how hard I try, there’s not enough space in this paper – verily not enough words in Webster’s Dictionary, not enough ink in the world – to do his story justice. And that’s why I feel so inept with my fingers on home row as I attempt to write about the outstanding, benevolent, unique man Ino Cantu without doing his story a dishonor. I could fill a whole page on his generosity and love of teaching. He was a coach and school counselor for decades before retiring. After retiring, Ino continues to give his time to a Head Start program in Richmond to help young kids prepare for school. Ever the coach, Ino has inspired the children to absorb his love of running. The kiddos earn popsicle sticks for each lap they run under his guidance at school. When the time is right, Ino collects the popsicle stick entries and those who’ve earned the most get to run a race. Ino buys trophies each year for a boy and girl in several grades who win the Ino Run, and has been doing so for about 14 years, he estimates. I could write an entire section on his accomplishments on the track. This guy’s commitment to running, being in shape and diligently pushing himself physically is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed. And for the most part, he’s done it not only with very little fanfare, but also with an “awe-shucks” attitude that is never boastful or full of hubris. Already holding two American records and a world record, Ino has his sights on the outdoor American record in the mile, which he plans to shatter later this year. There’s little doubt he’ll own that mark too – and won’t brag about it one bit. I could write a novel about Ino and Josie, his wife of 51 years and counting. About how both they and their children were married later in their lives than most folks in the South – and how Ino considered himself the “oldest new grandpa” when they (See BIG LOVE, Page 12-B)
Record Pace Ino Cantu, former Ricebird, competes in the 2014 National Masters Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury, Mass. During the race, Cantu set a world and American indoor record in the mile run, clocking a 6:42. Cantu had earlier set an American record in the outdoor 800 meter run during a meet at the University of Houston and is looking to break the outdoor mile record later this year. Contributed Photo
Shattering RECORDS Ino Cantu making headlines across the globe BY JAY T. STRASNER publisher@leader-news.com
There is a man who loves to run and Ino is his name-oh. And that love of running has caused the trophy case for Ino Cantu – former University of Texas AllAmerican and El Campo’s very own track and field legend – to continue to grow. Last month while participating in the National Indoor Track Championships in Boston, Mass., Cantu, age 80, set an indoor world record in the mile for his age division. Cantu completed the race in a time of 6:42, shattering the former mark of 6:48 which had stood for the past nine years. “I had a feeling I could set the mark, but I wasn’t sure if it would happen,” Cantu said. “I’ve been doing it running on my own, but to set a record you have to do it with USA Track and Field judges present. I was really pleased to learn I had set not only an American record but a world record too.” Bobby Vick, a former Ricebird athlete and currently a coach in the Yoakam ISD, was on hand in
Nothing But Love
Boston to watch his former EC coach set the mark. He said the crowd in attendance was thrilled to see the record set that day. “I tell ya, he’s got a clock in his head like very few runners on Earth do,” Vick said. “That’s the name of the game. We were keeping up with his splits and just about every lap was the same time – within hundredths of a second each time. It’s like he’s got human cruise control. It really is.” Indoor tracks are different from most outdoor tracks in that they’re usually only 200 meters in length, instead of 400 m. Cantu had to make eight laps on the Boston track to complete the record. In February, Cantu set another mark – this time in the 800 meters. Running at the University of Houston, Cantu broke the American outdoor record in the 80-84 year old men’s division after clocking a 3:04. The previous standard was 3:07. “This wasn’t a meet that was heavily attended, but that’s okay,” Cantu said. “I talked to the folks in charge and we got everything documented the right way. I was proud to be able to set the mark.” (See TRACK, Page 12-B)
Contributed Photo
Turn Back The Clock
Ino Cantu is shown here in his freshman track photo at Victoria Junior College. Cantu joined the team at the age of 17 and enjoyed a standout career in Cross Country before moving on to the University of Texas.
L-N Photo by Jay T. Strasner
Josie and Ino Cantu share a laugh in the living room of their home. The couple have been married for more than 50 years and have experienced many of Ino’s track accomplishments together.
Page 12-B
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Lifestyle Today
—Track records claimed (Continued from Page 5-B Cantu continues his dedication to a training regimen that allows him to stay in tremendous shape and belie his age. The record holder runs about three times per week, alternating about three different routines. “I have a long run that’s about 3 to 5 miles,” he said. “Then I have a short-interval speed training session that I like to do. I sprint and then do a short recovery. I try to go about seven minutes per mile. Then I also have a short speed workout. I run for a minute and walk for a minute. Repeat that 10 times. There are others but that’s the basic ones.” Cantu has always developed his own workout routines, even back when he was preparing to take his skills from El Campo High School to the collegiate level. In 1951, Cantu joined the track team at Victoria Junior College, where he was a NJCC champion in the mile and 2-mile events. After two years in Victoria, he transferred to the University of Texas. While there he began to specialize in cross country running and won the Southwest Conference individual title in 1954. He would eventually advance to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in East Lansing, Mich., where he finished 11th overall and claimed All-American honors. “No offense to my coaches, but I didn’t have a lot of instruction in college,” Cantu
said. “They basically said ‘hey, go run.’ So that’s what I did. I learned from those days to really be in tune with my body and know how far I could push myself.” For Cantu, a retired counselor with Lamar ISD, his dedication to running would continue to be a thread woven into the rest of his life. But mainly, it’s simply something that he loves to do. “There are so many things I enjoy about running,” he said. “One thing is the health benefits. I don’t have a regular doctor that I need to go to because I don’t get sick. I strongly believe that’s because of all the running I do. And basically, I feel like I have a gift from the Good Lord and I need to do something with that gift. Maybe what I do can inspire others.” Vick said his former coach has left his mark not only in the record books, but also with generations of runners and former students. “Golly this guy is 80 years old,” Vick exclaimed. “I mean, to be moving around and walking and talking is one thing, but he’s out here doing things no one else has ever done. Running races like it’s never been done before. And to top it all off, he’s a heckuva nice guy. We could all take a page from his book.” But first, Cantu plans to change a few pages – and records – in that book before it can be put away on the shelf.
New WCJC program allows students to highlight heroes If you ever had a Wharton County Junior College instructor who made a difference in your life, now’s the time to publicly say thanks. A new program – entitled “The Teacher Effect” – will provide alumni and current students with the opportunity to highlight the role a particular instructor played in their life. The purpose is to draw attention to those dedicated educators who oftentimes get overlooked, said Amanda Heard, the college’s Internet Marketing Coordinator and overseer of the project. “Everybody had at least one teacher that had some kind of impact on them and we want to hear those stories,” Heard said. “There are so many unsung heroes out there. This is the acknowledgment teachers deserve but so seldom get.” Students will share their stories by filling out an online form. The forms are currently posted on the college’s website, www.wcjc.edu, and a link is also provided on the WCJC Facebook page. Stories can also be emailed to Heard at: hearda@wcjc.edu. The stories must focus on a past or present WCJC instructor who taught at one of the college’s four campuses: Wharton, Bay City, Sugar
Land or Richmond. The Office of Marketing and Communications will review submissions and determine which instructors will be featured. The program began on March 31 and will run for the next few weeks. Heard is hoping for great participation. She believes it’s important to recognize the life-changing impact teachers can have. Her personal experience with an instructor who was particularly encouraging was the driving force behind “The Teacher Effect” concept. “There’s some gems out there who deserve recognition,” she said. “It’s time for us to highlight those heroes among us.” She further noted that WCJC instructors continue to garner a positive impact on the surrounding community. The college held its first classes in 1946. “We are really proud of the faculty we have at the college. Many of our instructors have worked here for more than 20 years, which means a lot of lives have been positively touched,” Heard said. “There are instructors here who have made a huge difference, not just with one student but with generations throughout our community.”
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—Big love fuels Cantu to records were blessed with grandchildren just a few years ago. My pen could run dry writing about how Josie’s eyes still glimmer when Ino talks. About how they continue to have easy conversations about any and every topic – even after 51 years. About how just sitting on their living room couch, watching them interact, can restore hope that true love is an exceptionally real, lasting concept. Thanks be to the Almighty for placing folks like them among us. Thanks Josie and Ino for opening your home – and your lives – to me. I’ll never forget that stormy Tuesday afternoon. Jay T. Strasner is publisher of the Leader-News.
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L-N Photo by Jay T. Strasner
Wall Of Honor
Ino Cantu has retired Texas license plates from various years on his garage wall that formerly adorned his vehicles throughout the years. He holds a sign that reads 6:42, his world record time in his age division in the indoor mile.
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Kidney Cancer Diagnosis Surprises Gundy When Glenn Gundy sought emergency care for abdominal pain, he never imagined he would receive an unrelated diagnosis of kidney cancer. “This is often how smaller tumors are found,” said Zachary Mucher, M.D., a Memorial Hermann-affiliated urologist who sees patients in Sugar Land and Wharton. Gundy remembers meeting Dr. Mucher at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals™ in 2014 by Truven Health. “Dr. Mucher informed me that the CT scan and ultrasound showed a tumor on my left kidney and asked if I wanted to see the images,” said the 57-yearold Fluor employee. Gundy soon learned he was a candidate for a partial kidney removal. “Mr. Gundy was a good candidate for robotic partial nephrectomy because of the size and location of his tumor,” said Dr. Mucher. After his hospital discharge, Gundy researched the procedure and local urologists. He kept coming back to Dr. Mucher. “There was something about him, his bedside manner, his level of confidence and assuredness, that seemed right for me and my family,” said Gundy. Two weeks later, Gundy underwent the surgery and a two-night hospital stay. “Two weeks after the surgery I was walking a mile a day,” said Gundy. “This robotic procedure was perfect for
Zachary Mucher, M.D.
Mr. Gundy’s condition,” said Dr. Mucher. “The 360-degree wrist motion provided by the da Vinci® robot allows me to suture more quickly. This is important because it minimizes the time you clamp off blood flow to the kidney, helping to preserve kidney function.” To learn more about robotic surgery, or to schedule an appointment with a Memorial Hermann-affiliated physician, please visit memorialhermann.org and click on ScheduleNow.
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