Ron Livers, a Pennsylvania legend in the jumps at Norristown and a coach at Perkiomen Valley, has died, PennTrackXC has learned. He was 65.
Livers starred at Norristown High School in the early 70s. He was a multi-time state champion for the Eagles in the triple jump. His triple jump best of 51 feet, 7.75 inches from 1973 still stands as the all-time Pennsylvania high school record. That is the longest-standing state record still on the books in standard high school events.
He went on to star at San Jose State, achieving even more success in the triple jump at the collegiate level. Livers became the first man to win three NCAA titles in the triple jump (1975, 1977, and 1978). His jump of 56-3.25, which he leapt to win the national title in '78, once stood as the collegiate record. He was also a standout high jumper.
He once held the American record in the indoor triple jump with a leap of 56 feet even in 1980 (watch that performance here). Livers made the U.S. Olympic Team in 1980, but did not compete due to an American boycott of the Games.
Livers also enjoyed success as an assistant coach at Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville. Most notably, he worked with PV star Christina Warren, now a sophomore at Arizona State University.
Warren won three PIAA Class AAA state titles (as well as two indoor state titles) in the triple jump under Livers' tutelage. She was also a multi-time hurdles state champion. Warren's best in the triple of 42-3.75w won her a New Balance Nationals Outdoor title in 2019.
In a special moment at the 2019 PIAA State Championships, Livers presented Warren with her first place state medal on the podium at Shippensburg University.
"It's unbelievable that you can translate the talent you have into another younger athlete and see it grow and progress the way you want it to grow and progress," Livers said of coaching Warren in 2019.
PennTrackXC and MileSplit sends its condolences to the Livers family and the Perkiomen Valley and Norristown High School communities for their loss.
READ MORE: A Full Circle State Championship For Warren & Livers