During his YC career, "Smokey" Joe Mendel held college and state records in the 100-yard (9.9 seconds) and 200-yard dash (21.2 seconds), the broad jump (24 feet, 1 inch), and the quarter mile (50.8 seconds), as well as the mile medley (3:38). He was considered a "shoe-in" to make the US Olympic Team. As a competitor, he was placed on the Athletic Journal's honor roll of the best five 220 men in the United States.
