Hall of Fame induction: 2023

Outstanding Track athlete who attended Newark High School and the University of Delaware in the late 60’s. While attending Newark High School he captained the Newark Boys Track Team in 1966.

He set the high school indoor state records in the high jump and 50 yd hurdles. He also tied the outdoor state record in the 120 yd. high hurdles. Was selected MVP in both his junior and senior at Newark High School. He set the Delaware State record in the Pentathlon in 1966, and also set records in the Delaware Decathlon in 1966 and 1967.

While at the University of Delaware, he captained both the 1970 indoor and outdoor track team. He set school records in the 60-yard-high hurdles and set the 120-yard hurdle record at the IC4A Track & Field Championships at the University of Pennsylvania. 

He was a member of the U of D record setting 480-yard Shuttle Hurdle Relay team in 1970, a record that still stands today.

Also, in 1970 he was named University of Delaware’s Outstanding Senior Athlete along with being honored with the W. Fred Harmon Award in Track & Field.  Additionally, was recognized as an “Outstanding College Athletes of America” volume.

He was also Newark High School Girl’s Track & Field coach for 31 years and has offered his expertise as the high jump official at the State T&F championships for many years.

Hall of Fame induction: 2023

While attending Tatnall High School he was a 9x All-State selection for Cross-Country and Track & Field. 5x state runner of the year selection.

Set multiple state records (1600m (4:11.93) & 3200m (9:16.80)) and set course records at 4 locations.

He was a 5-time State Runner of the Year in cross country (3 times) and track (2), Division II state champion in cross country sophomore, Junior, Senior Year.

First runner in Delaware history to win 3 consecutive cross country individual titles. Won 10 individual state championships and 2 relay state titles. Set several school records and elected team captain.

While attending the College of William & Mary he was a Cross Country Conference champion & CAA Conference Champion in the 1500m. Ran a 4:02:34 mile (3:44.39, 1500M) and a 14:16, 5000m. He was also elected as a team captain.

Hall of Fame induction: 2023

Howard M. Laws had an athletic career while attending Delcastle Technical High School (DTHS) from 1981-1984. He was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track and field. Howard as a distance runner and two-time track team captain.

Three years after graduating from DTHS, Howard started his coaching career with the legendary Louis Nicoletti. He assisted “Nic” in cross country and track and field. Howard was part of the coaching staff whose team won the state championship in cross country in 1988 and track and field from 1987 through 1989.

Through his tireless efforts Howard began giving back to the T&F/XCC community. He established the Howard M. Laws Delaware Summer XC Series in the summer of 1996. The summer series is held at Bellevue State Park in Wilmington. The series was originally established to allow high school athletes the ability to hone their cross-country skills during the off-season. Over the years the series has evolved into a place where races of all types can train. The series has had runners ranging from ages 8 to 80 years old.

As a member of the Cancer Support Community of Delaware Howard was looking for a way to give back to this community. He established the Scrimmage for Cancer High School Cross Country Invitational in 2010. This race is a pre-season race for high school teams in the tri-state area to kick off the start of their cross country season.

In 2011, Howard founded District 720 an organization in New Castle. District 720 then began sponsoring the Shannon L. Matthew Award (DTFHOF Class of 2010). This award is given to the top male and female spring State of Delaware Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year.

An ambassador of the sport, Howard has donated thirty years of service to T&F/XCC as an assistant coach to various high school programs. These include: Delcastle, Howard, William Penn, DMA, 400 Elite Summer Track and Mount Pleasant.

Hall of Fame induction: 2023

Graduated from De La Warr as the second-best triple jumper in state history, while attending Lincoln University he earned All-American honors 3x in two events (Sprinting\Triple jump). Has been recognized as one of the top track athletes in the history of the University of Lincoln’s track program.

In 1977 Walter was listed as the 2nd best second-best triple jumper in the State of Delaware, he jumped 47 feet 3½ inches at the Division Two state meet. He received athlete of the week recognition in 1977 and also recognized as a High School All-American.

At Lincoln University, he jumped over 50.6 feet in the triple jump and won the 1979 CW Post Relays. That year he earned all-American honors in 1979 in the triple jump at the NCAA Division 3 championships, with a 14.76-meter (47 feet, 5 inches) leap.

Earned all-American honors in 1980 in two events at the NCAA Division 3 meet. Earned all-American honors in the triple jump with a leap of 14.67 meters (48 feet 1½ inches) and was a member of the 4×100 relay (41.52) that place second in the NCAA championships.
At the end of his college career, he was recognized as a 3X All-American by Lincoln University.

Hall of Fame induction: 2022

James Walsh is synonymous with running in Delaware. He was a strong runner coming out of Delcastle High School, but became a dominant runner here in his 20’s and 30’s.

He held the 30-39 Division State Record for the 5K for over 18 years. But his bigger accomplishments and impact to running has been as a coach.

He has been the head coach of Saint Elizabeth’s CYM Cross Country and Track teams for the past 28 years. His teams have won the CYM championships 22 times, including a nine-year stretch from 2008-16 where his varsity boys won consecutive Division I titles.

He has served as President of the Delaware Sports Club for the past 11 years and organizes an annual scholarship for a deserving boy and girl runner in the community who exemplify good sportsmanship.

For 38 years, Mr. Walsh has coached adults of all ages and abilities on a completely volunteer basis. In addition, he founded and organizes the Delaware Open Cross-Country Championship now in its 38th year.

This premier event falls on the weekend after Thanksgiving at Brandywine Creek State Park and serves as a homecoming for Delaware runners.