Hall of Fame induction: 2025

Beth Webster is one of Delaware’s most accomplished track and field athletes, excelling at Padua Academy and Sanford School before continuing her success at the University of Nebraska. She was named the 1986 Gatorade Delaware High School Track Athlete of the Year and became one of the most versatile athletes in state history, winning multiple championships in sprints, hurdles, and relays.

Webster set several state records, including the indoor 55-meter hurdles (8.05), which has stood since 1986 and was set while winning the National Scholastic Championship her senior year. She was ranked #2 in the USA High School Girls 55M Hurdles in USA Today and was the state’s top performer in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, as well as the 100-meter hurdles, winning multiple Division I state titles. She was also a 4-time 1st Team All State in both In-door and Outdoor and as a Freshman at Padua contributed to their 1st State Team Outdoor Championship in 1983 repeating again in 1984 before moving to Sanford School for her Junior and Senior years.

Her dominance was highlighted by an extraordinary three-gold performance at the 1985 and 1986 outdoor state meets winning the 100M Hurdles, 100M & 200M Dashes, along with re-peated indoor championships across the 55, 200, 300, and 400 meters, as well as relays.

As an age-group competitor, she was National AAU Junior Olympic Champion two times set-ting the100M Hurdle record in 1984 and a repeat winner in the 100M Hurdles in 1986 while placing 3rd at the TAC National Junior Olympic Championships in the 100M Hurdles in 1984.

At the University of Nebraska, Webster carried her success to the national stage. She be-came a two-time Division I All-American as a vital member of the Cornhuskers’ 4×400 relay teams, helping them to runner-up finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 1987 and 1989.

The 1989 squad set a Nebraska school record of 3:35.21, a mark that underscored her contribution to one of the nation’s top relay programs. She also helped Nebraska capture a Big Eight Conference outdoor title in the 4×400 and earned points for the Huskers in hurdles at multiple conference championships. Her Senior year she was voted captain while leading Nebraska two its 10th consecutive Big Eight Conference Title.
Even after her career was cut short by injury in 1990, Webster had already left a lasting legacy, remembered for her speed, versatility, and relentless competitiveness.

From her record-setting high school career in Delaware to her All-American success at Nebraska, Beth Webster stands among the most decorated athletes in the state’s track and field history.

Hall of Fame induction: 2025

Sarah (Hillman) Klein distinguished herself as an exceptional multi-sport athlete and scholar during her high school and collegiate career.
A standout at Polytech High School as a Panther, Sarah excelled in track and field, volleyball, and basketball, earning All-State honors in each sport, even scoring over 1,000 points during her basketball career, all while attaining exemplary grades and being a part of the National Honor Society.

In track and field, Sarah specialized in the throws, particularly the discus and shot put. She medaled in four consecutive Meet of Champions and earned All-State recognition from winning the discus event three times from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, her throw of 147’4” set the Meet of Champions record and became the all-time longest discus throw in Delaware across high school, collegiate, and unattached categories. That same year, she broke the Delaware state record previously held by Breanna Kennedy, finished in the Top 10 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, and was named Polytech Panthers Female Athlete of the Year.

Sarah continued her throwing career at the University of Delaware while majoring in Nursing, where she competed as a Blue Hen on a full-ride scholarship under Head Coach Wendy McFarlane Smith and Throws Coach Larry “The Legend” Pratt.

Highlights of her collegiate career include:

• 2014–2015 Indoor: multiple invitational victories in the shot-put; qualified for the ECAC Champion-ships; named All-East in Shot Put.
• 2015 Outdoor: Named UD Track & Field Outstanding Freshman; set freshman records in shot put and discus, including a UD discus record of 46.71m; multiple invitational wins; CAA Top 5 finish-er; recognized by Best of the Blue Hens.
• 2015–2016 Indoor: Broke UD shot put record at ECAC (49’5.5”), finishing 3rd; earned All-East honors; multiple invitational victories; named CAA Women’s Field Athlete of the Week.
• 2016 Outdoor: ECAC runner-up in discus (156’8”); All-East honoree.
• 2016–2017 Indoor: set new UD record “50’8” All-East honors with 3rd place at ECACs.
• 2017 Outdoor: CAA Champion in discus (186’2”), breaking school and CAA records; Top 10 finish at Penn Relays Championship Division; named CAA Most Outstanding Field Performer and CAA Women’s Track & Field Player of the Year.

Sarah’s throwing career was unfortunately cut short due to a severe back injury, concluding her competitive participation after her junior year. Her legacy remains a testament to her skill, dedication, and impact on Delaware Track and Field.

Hall of Fame induction: 2025

During his high school career, he captured eight Delaware Division II outdoor state titles in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4×400-meter relay, and added five indoor state championships in the same events. Bruton set the Delaware state record in the 400 meters with a time of 46.21 and was honored as the 2013 Gatorade Delaware Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. At Ohio State University, Bruton emerged as one of the NCAA’s elite 400-meter runners over his two-year tenure.

He was a three-time NCAA semifinalist in the 400 meters across indoor and outdoor seasons and contributed significantly to the Buckeyes’ 4×400-meter relay team, anchoring a 45.43-second split to secure fourth place at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the 2015 NCAA East Preliminary Rounds, he set a personal best of 45.67 in the 400 meters, ranking as the fifth-fastest qualifier for the national quarterfinals.
Over his Ohio State career, Bruton earned four Big Ten Championship medals, including an in-door title in the 4×400-meter relay (2014) and outdoor bronze in the same event. During his sophomore indoor season Lamar earned a silver medal at Big Ten Championships running 45.76 in the final. Lamar also qualified for two under-20 USA teams that competed at the IAAF World Junior Champs & the Pan-Am Champs.

In 2015, he claimed Big Ten Outdoor silver medals in both the 400 meters (46.53) and 4×400 re-lay (3:06.83). Additionally, he captured individual 400-meter titles at the Indiana Relays (2014 indoor) and Red Wolf Open (2014 outdoor).

Excelling academically, Bruton was a 2015 Academic All-Big Ten selection, a 2014 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honoree, and a two-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete.

He was also active in leadership roles, serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, the Black Student Association, and as a SASSO Peer Educator.

In 2016, Bruton transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU), where he continued to shine over two seasons. He played a pivotal role on LSU’s 4×400-meter relay team, helping secure NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2016 and contributing to the Tigers setting the SEC Outdoor Championship meet record at 3:00.48. Bruton’s efforts helped five LSU 4×400-meter relay teams achieve Top-10 rankings in school history. Individually, he reached the semi-finals of the NCAA Outdoor 400 meters (19th, 2017) and recorded top finishes in SEC competition, including 13th in the 2016 Indoor and 11th in the 2017 Outdoor championships.

He was recognized for his academic and community contributions with SEC Academic Honor Roll and SEC Community Service Team honors.

Hall of Fame induction: 2025

His most celebrated tenure came at Caesar Rodney High School, where his impact spanned decades. He led the girls’ cross-country team to back-to-back Division I state titles in 2001 and 2002, with the 2001 squad ranked #1 All-State. Under his leadership, the Caesar Rodney boys’ team finished runner-up to powerhouse Salesianum seven times between 1986 and 2007.

Bell’s coaching excellence earned him wide recognition. He was named Delaware Boys’ Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1997, Boys’ Indoor Track State Coach of the Year in 1994, and Girls’ Cross Country State Coach of the Year in 2001.

Within the Henlopen Conference, he was honored as Boys’ Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1990, and Girls’ Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1998. In 2003, he was inducted into the Dela-ware Afro-American Hall of Fame, and in 2008 he received the Jim Blades Service Award for his outstanding contributions to the sports of cross country and track & field.

Throughout his career, Bell coached numerous state champions, including Shelley Smith (1981), Michelle Gale (1991), Kristie Hertz (1993), Jill Hajec (1999, 2001), and Matt Gordineer (2000).

His athletes also earned multiple runner-up finishes, highlighted by Donovan Anderson (1996) and Eric Line (2008). In total, he guided 44 athletes to all-state honors and led his teams to 23 Henlopen Conference regular-season championships.

After retiring from Caesar Rodney, Bell returned to his alma mater, Delaware State University, where he coached for six years, continuing to shape and inspire student-athletes at the collegiate level.