U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Returns Sunday, June 8
The fourth annual U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Ceremony returns to The Hult Center on Sunday, June 8, beginning with a Red Carpet Walk at 5:30PM. Admission is free and open to the public.
The Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) invites all to attend the 2025 Collegiate Track & Field/Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 8 at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon. The Hall of Fame Red Carpet Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. at the south entrance (7th Avenue) and will be emceed by NBC analyst and voice of Hayward Field, Paul Swangard. The Induction Ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m and will be emceed by sportscaster Neil Everett.
This year’s induction class includes former University of Oregon (UO) runner and Olympian Joaquim Cruz. Cruz, born in Taguatinga, Brazil, began running at 13 and at age 15 he had run 800m in 1:51. In 1981, he set a junior world record (1:44.3), earning a scholarship to the UO in 1983. That same year, he won the NCAA 800m title and took bronze at the inaugural World Championships. In 1984, Cruz achieved a rare NCAA double in the 800m and 1500m—unmatched until 2010—and tied the Oregon school record in the 1500m (3:36.48). That summer, he set a South American record in the 1000m (2:14.09) in Nice. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Cruz was among the 800m favorites. With a powerful sprint on the final turn, he overtook the field to win gold in 1:43.00, breaking the Olympic record and becoming Brazil’s first Olympic athletics gold medalist since 1956.
Along with Cruz, this year’s class features some of the greatest names in collegiate track & field and cross country history. With 67 national collegiate titles, 25 collegiate records, five Olympic/World Championships medals, and four world records while in college, these athletes have left an indelible mark on the sports.
“The USTFCCCA is proud to honor these exceptional athletes for their achievements and contributions to collegiate track & field and cross country. Their accomplishments have inspired countless athletes and fans, and their induction into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame serves as a testament to their enduring legacy.”
– Sam Seemes, CEO, USTFCCCA
| Athlete | Team | Events | Years Active | Hometown |
| Amy Acuff | UCLA | Jumps | 1994-1997 | Corpus Christi, TX |
| Cathy Branta | Wisconsin | Mid-distance/Distance | 1981-1985 | Slinger, WI |
| Bert Cameron | UTEP | Sprints | 1980-1983 | Spanish Town, Jamaica |
| Joaquim Cruz | Oregon | Mid-distance | 1983-1984 | Taguatinga, Brazil |
| Joe Falcon | Arkansas | Mid-distance/Distance | 1984-1989 | Belton, MO |
| Diane Guthrie | George Mason | C.E./Jumps | 1991-1995 | Santa Cruz, Jamaica |
| Larance Jones | Truman (fka NEMo) | Sprints | 1970-1974 | Lemoore, CA |
| Madeline Manning | Tennessee St. | Mid-distance | 1967-1972 | Cleveland, OH |
| Scott Neilson | Washington | Throws | 1976-1979 | Westminster, B.C. |
| Suziann Reid | Texas | Sprints | 1996-1999 | Greenbelt, MD |
| Gillian Russell | Miami | Hurdles | 1992-1995 | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Spec Towns | Georgia | Hurdles | 1934-1937 | Augusta, GA |
The induction ceremony will be held three days prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships at University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
The Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame was established in 2022 to honor the best of the best in collegiate track & field and cross country. The hall of fame recognizes the achievements of athletes who have left a lasting mark on the sport during their time in college. Eligibility for induction this year was limited to men who had completed their collegiate eligibility prior to 2000 and women prior to 2010.
About the USTFCCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 11,000 coaching members encompassing 98-percent of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA and NJCAA, as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as an activist for coaches’ interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.
About the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission
The Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission, under the corporate umbrella of Travel Lane County, markets and promotes the region as a destination for sports, while providing resources designed to help events and planners succeed. Working with community partners, the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission provides planning tools, educational opportunities and occasions to celebrate sport. For more information, visit EugeneCascadesCoastSports.org.
