The Greater Capital Region Track, Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame is accepting candidates for its fourth class of inductees and has decided to combine the third and fourth classes in one ceremony in the fall of 2021.
Due to the pandemic, inductions for the third class had to be postponed in September. The committee recently decided that a tentative rescheduled date for the spring of 2021 would not be practical, either.
Eligible candidates include track and cross county standouts, road racers, coaches and contributors whose achievements occurred primarily in the Capital Region.
Nominees must be at least five years removed from high school, but need not be retired from the sport. Nominations will be accepted through April 15. Nomination forms are available at the hall’s website, www.crtfcchof.weebly.com.
Inductees chosen for the third class in 2020 include sprinter Izaiah Brown (Amsterdam 2015); distance runners Ray Trail (Mont Pleasant ‘35-36), Katie Twarog Moulton (Colonie ‘01) and Krissy Haacke Dillabough (Shaker ‘93); Olympic half-miler Ysanne Williams (Albany ‘98); hurdlers Jeff York (Troy ‘89) and Madalayne Smith (Saratoga Springs ‘10); pole vaulter Jared O’Connor (Shenendehowa ‘04); and veteran coaches Dave Petersen (Fonda-Fultonville), Frank Myers (Colonie) and Roberto Vives (University at Albany).
The first class of 17 inductees included Olympians Andy Bloom, Diana Richburg, Tracy Baskin, Tim Lewis, Aliann Pompey and Rudy Winkler, along with coaches Art and Linda Kranick and famed high school and college runners Cheri Goddard, Miles Irish and Rhonda Phillips.
The second class was also impressive, including road racing stars Barry Brown and Tom Dalton; standouts of the 1960s such as Gary Connor and Vince McArdle; multi-events champions Heidi Mann and Jennifer Petersen Jette; accomplished middle distance runner Liz Maloy DeBole; perennial state champs Klarissa Ricks and Sarah Palmer; and two legendary coaches, Ed Springstead (Shaker) and the late Cliff Lehman (CBA).
