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Tom Grewe

Tom Grewe, Hall of Fame Athlete
One mile is not very far. In fact, as you leave here tonight enter Calle Puerta Vallarta and head west on Cabrillo Boulevard. One mile will get you just past the Friendship Fountain at the entrance to Stearns Wharf. It shouldn’t take you more than four minutes in your car.

When Tom Grewe was a young teenager at Carpinteria High School, he might have beaten you that 1 mile distance in his running shoes!

That’s the pace Tom set when he won the CIFSS Master’s Meet followed by the California State Championship in the 1600 meters with a time of 4:08:05.

For those who have followed Tom’s career, the fact that he became a prep All-American came as no surprise. As a Junior runner for the Warriors, he became the first CIF Division 1-A runner to ever win championships in Cross Country 1600 and 3200 meters in 1 year.

As a senior, he once again won all three titles in a span of two years Grewe had won eleven major championships including the prestigious Sunkist Invitational and the Bruce Jenner Classic.

Grewe was voted MVP of both the Cross Country and the Track Team at Tulane University then returned to Santa Barbara CC and became the state Champion in the 3000 meter. Recruited by UCLA, injuries plagued him, but did not prevent him from running the 2 mile, 5000 meter and the steeplechase to help the UClA Bruins become the 1987 NCM Champions.

Tom Grewe now serves as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy and resides in Monterey with his wife Lisa and 2 children. Champ has a nice ring doesn’t it?