The Sacramento Running Association celebrates Abe Underwood, Mary Coordt, Reggie Williams, Shannon Weil, Matt Strangio and local runners on Saturday, February 16
The Greater Sacramento area continues to produce tremendous running talent and industry leaders, from Olympic Gold Medalist to pioneers of world-class running events. To honor these local individuals, the Sacramento Running Association is proud to host the annual Hall of Fame and Annual Achievement Awards Banquet.
“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.
“Every year, I am in awe of the multi-faceted and multi-talented Hall of Fame classes and Annual Achievement award winners.
“It is a testament to the depth of accomplished runners and dynamic contributors to the sport in the Sacramento region and this year’s honorees are no exception.”
Every year since the inaugural event in 2013, the Sacramento Running Association inducts Sacramento-area individuals into the Hall of Fame who have made significant contributions to the sport of long-distance running. The 2019 Hall of Fame class includes the following individuals.
Abe Underwood is a distinguished early pioneer for the Sacramento running scene. In 1974, Underwood founded Sacramento’s oldest and highly acclaimed running club, the Buffalo Chips Running Club. Abe also founded the Buffalo Stampede 10-Mile Run and the Jed Smith Ultra Races.
Mary Coordt has long been one of Sacramento’s best marathon runners. Mary is a four-time qualifier and participant of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), a four-time winner at Napa Valley Marathon and two-time winner at Big Sur International Marathon.
Reggie Williams was a standout distance runner while attending River City High School in West Sacramento. Williams won the 1987 California Division III State Cross Country Championships and the following spring won both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the 1988 California Track & Field Championships.
Shannon Weil served as a major force in founding the prestigious Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Weil was instrumental in creating the Western States Run Board of Directors and coined the phrase of Auburn, CA as the “the Endurance Capital of the World”.
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the SRA will award 65 athletes with Annual Achievement awards for their performances on the roads, track and trails in 2018.
Matt Strangio of Jesuit High School will be awarded SRA’s 2018 Athlete of the Year award. Strangio made Sacramento-area history by becoming the first local underclassman to win both a California state track championships and a California state cross-country championship in the same calendar year.
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Annual Achievement Awards Banquet will take place at the Holiday Inn Arena at 300 J Street on Saturday, February 16 starting at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at runsra.org/hall-of-fame.
The four 2019 Hall of Fame inductees join the 37 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
Class of 2018
Tena Anex Harms
Dwayne Harms
Jim King
John McIntosh
Barbara Miller
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.