NC Sports Hall of Fame » Track & Field

Betty Geiger

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Star track and cross-country runner at N.C. State in early 1980s. Won 1981 and 1983 NCAA cross-country titles, two NCAA track and field titles, and 1983 World Games 3,000-meter race. Six-time member of U.S. national cross-country team, 1980–1985. Florida native and resident of Raleigh.

Julie Shea-Graw

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Standout distance runner at N.C. State. Won seven collegiate titles in track and field and cross-country in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Eleven all-American designations. Voted McKelvin Award as ACC’s top athlete, 1980–1981. Won three collegiate national titles in 24 hours in 1980. Specialized in distances from 3,000 meters to 10,000 meters. Sister Mary also a world-class runner. Won 1980 Broderick Cup as nation’s top female athlete. Led State team to 1979 and 1980 cross-country titles. Raleigh native.

Tony Waldrop

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Top middle-distance runner, early 1970s. Ran mile, half-mile, cross-country at UNC, 1971–1974. Set world record for indoor mile, 3:55.0, 1974 in San Diego. Ran 11 consecutive sub-four-minute miles, 1974. Winner 1974 NCAA indoor 1,000-yard title. Won three ACC indoor titles and three outdoor titles. Winner 1974 McKelvin Award. Injuries curtailed career after college. Native of Columbus.

Jim Beatty

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Top American middle-distance runner in the early 1960s. Native of Charlotte. Attended UNC. Won several ACC titles. Member of 1960 U.S. Olympic team in 5,000 meters. American record holder in mile, two-mile, and 5,000-meter runs. On February 10, 1962, in Los Angeles, became first person to run a mile indoors in under four minutes, with time of 3:58.9. World record holder in two-mile run. Set five American outdoor records during summer of 1962. Served in the North Carolina legislature.

Kathy McMillan

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Olympic long jumper. Captured silver medal, 1976 Olympics, with jump of 21 ft. 10¼ in. Set national girls’ high school long-jump record, 1976, while a senior at Hoke County High School. Helped Hoke County High School to four team state championships in girls’ track and field. Standout jumper and sprinter at Tennessee State University, 1976–1981. Won gold medal in long jump, 1979 Pan-American Games. Member of 1980 U.S. Olympic team in long jump, but was unable to compete when U.S. team boycotted games. Born 1957, Raeford.

Joel Shankle

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

College and international standout, 1950s. Attended Duke 1952–1956. Hurdler, decathlete, long jumper. Extremely versatile athlete. Winner of first McKelvin Award, 1954, presented to ACC’s top athlete. Won three individual events at 1953 SC championships, four at 1954 ACC championships, and three at 1955 ACC championships. Won 1955 NCAA long jump title. Finished third in 110-meter high hurdles at 1956 Olympics. Native of Level Cross.

Dave Sime

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Top sprinter, 1950s. Track, football, and baseball star at Duke. Won two indoor and six outdoor individual ACC sprint titles. Established or equaled six world records, 1956–1958. First person to run 220-yard dash in 20.0 seconds and four 100-yard dashes in 9.3 seconds. Finished second in 100-meter dash at 1960 Olympics, losing in photo finish. Lost apparent gold medal in 4×100-meter relay when U.S. team was disqualified for passing out of its lane. Wide receiver on 1957 football team. Led ACC in batting, 1957, at .376. All-ACC baseball and second-team all-American, 1957. Winner 1956 McKelvin Award. Turned down chance to play pro baseball for medical school. Became eye surgeon. Member National Track and Field Hall of Fame. Born 1936, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Floyd “Chunk” Simmons

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

Olympic decathlete. Won bronze medal in 1948 and 1952 Olympics. Track star at UNC. Served in Italy in World War II as ski trooper. Top age-group athlete, 1970s, 1980s. Actor, photographer. Born 1923, Charlotte.

Harry Williamson

ncshofadmin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:20 +0000

North Carolina’s first Olympian. High Point native. Attended UNC, 1932–1936. Second place, 1935 NCAA mile. Won numerous SC titles. Finished sixth, 800-meter run, 1936 Olympics. Member of world record 4×800-meter relay team, London, 1936. Born 1913. Died 2000.