South Jersey Track Hall of Fame

[backintheday]

The 2nd class of inductees to the South Jersey Track & Field Hall of Fame was elected recently. Their induction dinner will be held on Sunday March 19, 2006 at Lucien's Catering in Berlin.

The class is:
Browning Ross - SJ native - competed collegiately at Villanova. US Olympic steeplechaser in '48 & '52 (4th place). Pioneered distance running in SJ/US in the 60's & 70's.
Howie Staeger - Coached Woodbury in late 60's & 70's to numerous state titles. Founded long-running Woodbury Relays
Mike Elder - Ran still-standing SJ record of 4:10.2 as a jr at Haddon Twp. As senior - ran 3:49.4 for 1500 and 9:07 for 2 miles. Also, ran on HT's 17:20 4MR in '73. Collegiately - NCAA XC qualifer at Arizona St.
Rich Caton - Ran 1:49.7 as a Woodbury sr in 1979 and 4:13.9 as a jr in '78. As a college soph anchored Georgetown's Championship of America 7:19 4x800.
Martin Booker (athlete) - Ran 13.7 & 51.5 at Camden in '81. 3 time All-American at Villanova in HH. 12 time Big East champion. Played wide receivor for Phila Eagles for two seasons after graduating college.
Michelle DiMuro-Ave - HS best of 2:11.56 in summer of '84 vs. German National team. Outstanding collegiate career at Villanova (8 time All American). Post-college best of 1:59.85.
Tonya Lee - Outstanding all around athlete for Rancocas Valley. Ran 58.9 for 400IH in '88. Oustanding collegiate career at Tennessee - placed 2nd in '90 NCAA 400IH. Post-collegiate best of 55.78. Now coaching at Georgia.
Shana Williams - Another outstanding all-around athlete. Graduated from Bridgeton in '89 with bests of 5'6 and 18'10. At Seton Hall - 7 time All-American. Member of 2000 Olympic Team. #4 all time US LJ at 23'0.

Last years inaugural dinner was a great time for all ! Come on out and join the fun on March 19 ! For additional info - PM me.

[Reuben Frank]

great class - I still think Mel Sheppard and Herb Lorenz should be in before anybody, but a great group. I was lucky enough to get to know Browning, Michelle and Tonya real well over the years - Michelle's 1:59.85 at the Olympic Trials is one of my favorite moments ever in track (and not just because I got a hug after the race from Suzy Favor) and Tonya is simply one of the finest people I've ever met.

Martin of course is quite deserving as an athlete and a coach (but of course he never did play for the Eagles - he was in minicamp with them for a couple weeks!)

The 2nd class of inductees to the South Jersey Track & Field Hall of Fame was elected recently. Their induction dinner will be held on Sunday March 19, 2006 at Lucien's Catering in Berlin.

The class is:
Browning Ross - SJ native - competed collegiately at Villanova. US Olympic steeplechaser in '48 & '52 (4th place). Pioneered distance running in SJ/US in the 60's & 70's.
Howie Staeger - Coached Woodbury in late 60's & 70's to numerous state titles. Founded long-running Woodbury Relays
Mike Elder - Ran still-standing SJ record of 4:10.2 as a jr at Haddon Twp. As senior - ran 3:49.4 for 1500 and 9:07 for 2 miles. Also, ran on HT's 17:20 4MR in '73.
Rich Caton - Ran 1:49.7 as a Woodbury sr in 1979 and 4:13.9 as a jr in '78. As a college soph anchored Georgetown's Championship of America 7:19 4x800.
Martin Booker (athlete) - Ran 13.7 & 51.5 at Camden in '81. 3 time All-American at Villanova in HH. 12 time Big East champion. Played wide receivor for Phila Eagles for two seasons after graduating college.
Michelle DiMuro-Ave - HS best of 2:11.56 in summer of '84 vs. German National team. Outstanding collegiate career at Villanova (8 time All American). Post-college best of 1:59.85.
Tonya Lee - Outstanding all around athlete for Rancocas Valley. Ran 58.9 for 400IH in '88. Oustanding collegiate career at Tennessee - placed 2nd in '90 NCAA 400IH. Post-collegiate best of 55.78. Now coaching at Georgia.
Shana Williams - Another outstanding all-around athlete. Graduated from Bridgeton in '89 with bests of 5'6 and 18'10. At Seton Hall - 7 time All-American. Member of 2000 Olympic Team. #4 all time US LJ at 23'0.

Last years inaugural dinner was a great time for all ! Come on out and join the fun on March 19 ! For additional info - PM me.

[quickidCHWest]

Marty Ludikowski (sp) needs to be added to the SJTandField hall of fame. Pr's of 4:14 mile and 9:12 3200 (I think). Haven't seen the records at my alma mater for a while. Also won the 2nd indoor mile @ the millrose games in 1975 and holds the HS penn relays record in the 6 mile.

[runnindork4life]

Who got elected last year?

Is Michelle Rowen in?

[backintheday]

Who got elected last year?

Is Michelle Rowen in?

Michelle Rowan
Carl Lewis
Carol Lewis
Dennis Mitchell
Lamont Smith
Jack Pierce
Don Bragg
Charlie Pratt
Ray Hoagland

[king99]

I also would have thought Ludwikowski close to in the same time as Elder

[Reuben Frank]

all the people who've gone in are worthy, but how is Mel Sheppard not a charter member?

Sheppard was born Sept. 5, 1883, and grew up in Almonesson Park, now part of Deptford Township, Gloucester County.

At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, Sheppard won both the 800 and 1,500, setting a world record of 1:52.8 in the 800, setting a world record 4:05.0 in the first 1500 semifinal, and then tying the new 1500 world record of 4:03.8 in the 1500 finals. He also ran on the gold-medal 4x4 teams in both 1908 and 1912.

Sheppard is one of only four athletes in Olympic history to double the 800 and 1500 and the last American to record that double. He's also the last American to win Olympic gold in the 1,500.

And no, I didn't cover him!

After track, Sheppard was an attorney and was one of the lawyers who represented Bruno Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping case.

[78Champ]

After track, Sheppard was an attorney and was one of the lawyers who represented Bruno Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping case.

Maybe that is why he didn't get in. ;)

JW

[king99]

Probably kind of a quirk? Did he NOt go to HS there

It seems to be reserved for HS athletes or coaches etc?

I agree he should be or have been a no brainer,, I am sure BITD knows why, as he had that Iggles thing with Booker on the money!! :D hahahahaha

I played for the Knicks...that is, I once set foot in their training camp!!! ;)

[Reuben Frank]

Probably kind of a quirk? Did he NOt go to HS there

It seems to be reserved for HS athletes or coaches etc?

I agree he should be or have been a no brainer,, I am sure BITD knows why, as he had that Iggles thing with Booker on the money!! :D hahahahaha

I played for the Knicks...that is, I once set foot in their training camp!!! ;)
king, there was no high school in deptford then. he went to a prep school in philadelphia (Brown Prep, I believe) but born & raised in gloucester county, still has family in Woodbury and also in Lakewood I believe.

plus, a guy like Jack Pierce would never get in based solely on what he did in HS, where he was a good Group 1 high hurdler but no more. he blossomed at Morgan State then a bronze medal in 1992 and 12.93 in the semis at Atlanta, etc.

[78Champ]

king, there was no high school in deptford then. he went to a prep school in philadelphia (Brown Prep, I believe) but born & raised in gloucester county, still has family in Woodbury and also in Lakewood I believe.

plus, a guy like Jack Pierce would never get in based solely on what he did in HS, where he was a good Group 1 high hurdler but no more. he blossomed at Morgan State then a bronze medal in 1992 and 12.93 in the semis at Atlanta, etc.

There may be the technicality that one needed to attend HS in SJ.

JW

[1986]

Who got elected last year?

Is Michelle Rowen in?

Yes.....Michelle Rowen was there at last year's dinner. My father and I went mainly because my old high school coach (Jack Ware) was also being inducted.

I regret not talking to Michelle in detail about her HS years. She was quite a competitor as you all know. I was a frosh when she was a Sr. and I just remember watching her run and was just in awe of her. I admired her.... me being the wet behind the ears distance runner that I was back then. It was kind cool actually seeing Dennis Mitchell there as well.

[backintheday]

Yes.....Michelle Rowen was there at last year's dinner. My father and I went mainly because my old high school coach (Jack Ware) was also being inducted.



Thanks for mentioning Ware - I inadvertantly left him off the list of inaugural inductees.