Why – Criteria – Nominations – Our Sponsors
Inductees Through March 2024
The entire Hall of Fame in PDF booklet form (46 pages)
Note that this is not a ranking, per se. Many athletes in future classes may have similar or better credentials than those that are already in the Hall. The emphasis in creating the initial classes is that the athletes reflect a variety of eras and events, and thus we recognize that many more legends are still to come.
Click on a name to read their page. Entries in alphabetical order; listed with high school and graduation year. *=Short summary account; longer article coming, as time and funding permit.
- Jack Bacheler – Birmingham Seaholm 1962
- Eugene Beatty – Detroit Northeastern 1929*
- Bill Bonthron – Detroit Northern 1928
- Tia Brooks-Wannemacher – East Kentwood 2008*
- Judi Brown – East Lansing 1979
- Henry Carr – Detroit Northwestern 1961
- Rex Cawley – Farmington 1959
- Ralph Craig – Detroit Central 1907
- Candice Davis – Ann Arbor Pioneer 2003*
- John Garrels – Detroit Central 1902*
- Hayes Jones – Pontiac Central 1956*
- Reggie Jones – Saginaw 1973
- Francie Kraker Goodridge – Ann Arbor 1965
- Deby Lansky LaPlante – Taylor Center 1971*
- Lisa Larsen – Battle Creek Central 1979
- John McLean – Menominee 1897
- Paul McMullen – Cadillac 1990
- Loren Murchison – Detroit Eastern 1916*
- Penny Neer – North Adams 1978*
- Frank Nelson – Detroit University 1905*
- John Owen Jr – Detroit 1879
- Neil “Pinky” Patterson – Detroit University 1906
- Tiffany Ofili Porter – Ypsilanti 2005
- William Porter – Jackson 1942
- Dathan Ritzenhein – Rockford 2001*
- Eddie Tolan – Detroit Cass Tech 1927*
- Kim Turner – Detroit Mumford 1979
- Delisa Walton Floyd – Detroit Mackenzie 1979
- Herb Washington – Flint Central 1968
- Bill Watson – Saginaw 1935
- Todd Williams – Monroe 1987*
- Lorenzo Wright – Detroit Miller 1944
Why a Hall of Fame? It’s simple. To inspire Michigan’s youth of today and tomorrow. To show them that greatness is possible no matter what path they find themselves on. The stories shared here show such a diversity of pathways to greatness that hopefully, today’s athletes can see a path forward for themselves to be the best that they can be, whether they’re aiming for the Olympics or simply to earn a varsity letter.
Criteria: The athletes included all have one thing in common. They attended high school or they began their track & field and/or XC careers in Michigan at an earlier age. In some cases they were stars during their school days, in other cases they blossomed later. Some, of course, have been stars every step of the way.
The Hall of Fame reflects “greatness”, a word that’s hard to define. Winning a state title is not enough. Including relay members, there have been over 26,000 state champions in the history of Michigan high school track & field—and that doesn’t begin to count our cross country winners. While multiple state honors help, what really stands out is the athlete’s place in history as a transformative performer: achieving what’s not been done before, going faster, higher, farther. Dominating on a statewide or national level is key, as opposed to winning everything in a class or division with little competition. Being an All-American or even winning a national title does not make one a Hall of Famer; there are far too many competitions that bestow those awards. Greatness is something bigger.
For the athletes included primarily on the basis of their post-high school accomplishments, it’s a little easier to draw up criteria. Indeed, these are the athletes that we initially built the Hall of Fame around. They are the heroes of Michigan track & field and cross country. Participation in the sport’s biggest events, the Olympics and the World Outdoor Championships is important. For Michigan athletes who end up representing foreign nations, those accomplishments will be considered but they are not guarantees. It’s a truth that Team USA is the hardest team to make. Other categories that merit consideration: national champions in major events, NCAA champion in individual events, World and American Record breakers in standard events, and so on.
Nominations are being accepted for the next class of inductees. Please review what’s been written above to understand the guidelines, and please remember that being a state champion simply is not enough–there have been over 26,000 state champions in Michigan history. Email nominations to jeffhollobaugh@gmail.com
Thanks to our Gold Sponsors for making this happen!
MichianaTiming.com LLC
The Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame is supported by your tax-deductible donations. If an individual, team or organization would like to be publicly recognized here as a sponsor of the Hall of Fame, please follow this link for details.