Hall of Fame induction: 2016

Joe attended Salesianum H.S. & Villanova University in the mid 1970’s. Joe was a 2 time individual state champion in the mile, 1 time individual state champion in the 2 mile, and was part of a 2 mile relay state championship team while at Salesianum.

He was a walk on at Villanova during a time period when Villanova dominated most middle distance events in the IC4A’s and NCAA championships. The high light of his collegiate career was a 6th place finish in the 1974 National Junior Cross Country Championships (under 20 yrs. old) won by Villanova . He graduated Magna Cum Laude with his BS in Accounting in 1977.

After graduation while working full-time, he then donated many hours to the Delaware Sports Club, leading the Monday and Thursday evening workouts at Tower Hill, Saturday long runs through the Valley from Mt Lebanon Church, and the famous tag games at Brandywine Creek Park on Sunday mornings. He oversaw these sessions between 1979 and 1992 before his professional career took him to York, PA. These workouts were attended by high school, collegiate, and post collegiate runners of all talent levels. He was also the Meet Director of the Salesianum XC Invitational from 1975 to 1992.

During the 1980’s, Joe coached Sandy Gibney to an individual NCAA XC qualifying berth while at the U of D and Denise Marini to a National Junior Olympic Championship in the 3000 meters, as well as coaching many high school individual state champions and state record holders in the distance events.

During this era, high school coaches had much less “out of season” contact with their runners, and this is when Joe worked with the young athletes. He assisted runners from many different high schools. Many of these athletes were each other’s fiercest competition, yet also the best of friends. This is because Joe fostered a respect for each and every person who stepped to the starting line.

Joe also mentored Vicki Huber throughout her years at Villanova and helped her to achieve the eight NCAA titles that she won, as well as her time at the Olympics. Vicki credits much of her success as a runner to Joe.

Hall of Fame induction: 2016

Mark attended Howard Career Center & St. John’s University during the early 80’s. Mark was a 3x individual Indoor All–State & State Champion in the high jump and 400m. He was also a 3x All-State selection as a member of a 4x400m and 4x800m relay teams. His best high jump 6’ 8” still ranks #3 all time in the state. Mark still holds the HJ Record at Howard (6’10).

Indoors he was the 1981 state champion in the high jump with a leap of 6’8” that place him #1 all-time for 16 years and ranked him #7 in the nation as prep by Track & Field News. Outdoors Mark won 3 Div. II outdoor titles in the HJ, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, He also won the New Castle County meet 3x’s in the High Jump setting a meet record of 6’8” as sophomore and twice was a member of the winning 4x100m relay. He was an outdoor 3x selection for All-State in the 2 mile relay, 400m, H.J., 4x100m, 4x400m relay; Mark was also a Blue Hen Conference Champion & Div. II Champion in Cross Country in 1981.

At St. John’s University Mark won championship points in the Indoor Big East Championships by placing 3rd in the HJ (6’10”) & 4X400 relay. He was a member of two school record relay teams indoors including the DMR (9:43.74, Ranked #3 in the Country- Track & Field News, 48.4 split on 400m leg) & the 4x400m (3:16.1).

Outdoors Mark won championship points in the Big East Championships & Metropolitan Conference Championships by placing 4th in the 100m & 3rd in the DMR. In 1985 his DMR relay team won the outdoors Metropolitan Championships (46.7 split on the 400m leg) and he placed 3rd in the HJ.

In 1986 Mark was elected team captain, was a conference champion at the indoor Metropolitan Conference Championships in the HJ (6’10”) and placed 2nd outdoors (6’8’), 2nd DMR & was 3rd in the 4X100m relay. He also place 4th in the HJ during the Outdoor Big East Championships. Mark is still rank on the all-time list at St John’s for 500m (1:04.4), HJ (7’0”), school record DMR (9:43.7), 4X400 (3:12.2), 4X100m (41.17) & 4X200m (1:25.6)

As a coach, Mark immerged Brandywine H.S Boys Track Team to a top 3 State Ranking during the 2010 & 2011 seasons along with a second place finish in the 2011 New Castle County Championships.

Hall of Fame induction: 2016

Sallie Beth was a distance standout in the early 90s for the Sussex Central Golden Knights, where she was a catalyst for reviving their women’s cross country and track & field program.

As a six time state champion in cross country and track & field, she set a state indoor 3200m (11:23.2) record and Henlopen Conference outdoor records for the 1600m (5:11.2) and 3200m (11:27).

She was a second team Junior Olympics All-American and top tier finisher at the Kinney Northeast Regional Cross Country Championship. During the 1992-93 season, she was awarded the N5CTA’s George T. Johnson award for the state’s fastest female and William L. Gerow award for girls’ state cross-country MVP. She received WBOC-TV/McDonald’s Honor Roll Student Athlete and Delaware State News’ High School Athlete of the Year awards and has been recognized as a Seashore Striders Hall of Fame honoree.

Sallie Beth attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD on a Division I cross country, indoor, and outdoor track & field scholarship. Competing in the 5000m and 10,000m, she was named Northeast Conference (NEC) All- Conference and on the NEC Commissioners’ Honor Roll.

After college, Sallie Beth continued running pursuits including qualification for the Boston Marathon (3:16). She was the founder of the Sandhills Striders-RRCA running club and Sandhills Race Series, bringing together over 15 charity road races in the Southern Pines, North Carolina area.