Anex Harms, Harms, King, McIntosh, Miller earn nods
Local running legends and pioneers in the sport of long distance running headline the Sacramento Running Association’s sixth Hall of Fame class.
Local women’s running pioneer and UC Davis standout Tena Anex Harms, running visionary and creative ambassador Dwayne “Peanut” Harms, Western States legend Jim King, local industry innovator John McIntosh and masters powerhouse Barbara Miller earned spots in the class of 2018, which will be honored at the SRA’s Hall of Fame and Annual Achievement Awards dinner on Feb. 24 at the Holiday Inn Arena in Sacramento.
Tickets for the 6 p.m. event are $55. For more information, visit runsra.org/community/hall-of-fame/.
“The Sacramento Running Association’s annual Hall of Fame event is such a great evening that brings together people throughout the region to celebrate Sacramento’s rich running history and vibrant running community,” said Scott Abbott, executive director of the Sacramento Running Association. “It has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year.
“Every year, I am in awe of the multi-faceted and multi-talented Hall of Fame classes that are pulled together.
“It is a testament to the depth of accomplished runners and dynamic contributors to the sport in the Sacramento region and this year’s class is no exception.”
Tena Anex Harms ran for Will’s Spikettes and Del Campo High School before paving the way for generations of female runners at UC Davis. As a youngster, Anex Harms represented the United States at the World Cross Country Championships in England and broke American records in the 3,000 meters and half mile. She would go on to be instrumental in the formation of the UC Davis Aggies women’s cross country and track and field programs under legendary coach Sue Williams. Anex Harms placed second in the women’s collegiate cross country finals as a freshmen at UC Davis while running for the school’s club team which lead to the university supporting a women’s varsity program. From 1974 to 1978, she held all Aggie records from the mile to the 5,000 meters. Anex Harms sustained success after college, winning the inaugural San Francisco Marathon in 1978 and setting another American record for 20 miles in 1980. Today, Anex Harms teaches and coaches at El Dorado High School with her husband and fellow Hall of Fame honoree Dwayne “Peanut” Harms.
Dwayne Harms, affectionately known in the community as Peanut, was a standout performer at UC Davis where he placed ninth at the 1973 USA National Cross Country Championships and set a Hornet Stadium record in the 800 meters. The Aggie Running Club founder has 44 years of coaching experience holding posts at UC Davis, Foothill Community College and El Dorado High School as well as with the USA World Cross Country team. He was also named the California State Boy’s Track Coach of the Year in 2013. Harms has extensive experience as an industry executive and longtime meet manager, clinic director and social event facilitator working for industry giants Converse, Reebok and HOKA ONE ONE during his storied career in long distance running.
Jim King cemented his place in Western States Endurance Run history in the mid 1980s. He became the first newcomer to win the 100-mile run in 1982 clocking in at 16 hours and 17 minutes. He followed up that performance with a runner-up finish in 1983, finishing second behind fellow Hall of Famer Jim Howard by 30 seconds despite taking a wrong turn on the course. King rebounded in 1984 with another Western States win in an old course record time of 14 hours and 54 minutes when he became the first runner to finish under 15 hours in the race’s history. King then became the race’s first male three-peat winner with another win in 1985. He would go on to finish third in 1986 and has a fourth place finish at the 1983 American River 50-Miler, a win at the 1986 Pacific Crest Trail 50k and an 18th place finish at the 1987 Leadville Trail 100-Miler on his record.
John McIntosh was at the forefront of the endurance running industry in Sacramento and was a key member of the community in the mid 1970s and 1980s. McIntosh was the owner of McIntosh’s Sports Cottage and the driving force behind the monthly McIntosh’s Fun Runs, which became a staple for area runners. Inspired by completing his first marathon in San Diego in 1976, McIntosh organized the first Sacramento Marathon in 1977 and served as race director until 1985. McIntosh also contributed to Eppie’s Great Race and was instrumental in the SportStyle mini-marathon in Las Vegas.
Barbara Miller started running in 1983 in her 40s and ran for Modesto Junior College at age 47. That was just the beginning. The masters powerhouse would go on to set American age group records in the 5k, 8k, 10k, 12k, half marathon and marathon. She also set the 60 to 69 age group course and American record at the 2000 Boston Marathon with a 3:11:57 performance and the age group course record at the 1999 Humboldt Half Marathon. Miller medaled at the World Games in Australia and England and is a multi-year winner in both the masters and senior divisions of the Pacific Association Grand Prix. She has been the top age-graded runner in Sacramento’s Buzz Oates Series multiple times and was the top age group marathon finisher at over a dozen races including the Boston Marathon, Los Angeles Marathon, Disney World Marathon, San Francisco Marathon and CIM. Miller serves as the race director of the Modesto Memorial Classic and is a founding member of The Spirit of Giving 5k. She was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2007, the Pacific Association Hall of Fame in 2015 and was named Runner World’s top female masters athlete of the year in 2000.
The five inductees join the 32 members already in the SRA Hall of Fame.
Inaugural Class of 2013
Billy Mills
Rae Clark
Eileen Claugus
Chris Iwahashi
Helen Klein
Paul Reese
Dennis Rinde
Linda Somers Smith
Class of 2014
Michael Stember
Al Baeta
Patti Gray Bellan
Lindsay Hyatt Barr
Harold Kuphaldt
John Mansoor
Heike Skaden Mansoor
Tim Twietmeyer
Class of 2015
Sally Edwards
Walt Lange
Eric Mastalir
Mark Mastalir
Jim O’Neil
Bill Finkbeiner
Class of 2016
Clifton West
Alex Kosinski
Jim Howard
Bob King
Greg Soderlund
Class of 2017
Rich Hanna
Bjorg Austrheim-Smith
Marie Mulder
Will Stephens
Sue Williams
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding new ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.