USA Track and Field (USATF) will be honoring four of its greats when the National Hall of Fame opens its doors for former world records holders Willie Banks and Charles Moore as well as marathon great Bill Rodger and the late Larry Ellis, a former president of USA Track and Field who was also the 1984 Olympic men's head coach.
The three athletes are all past members of U.S. Olympic teams. The 21st annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies will be held on Dec. 2, during USA Track & Field's Annual Meeting at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
"The Hall of Fame is truly enriched with the addition of the Class of 1999," said USATF President Patricia Rico. "The blend of an Olympic great such as Charlie Moore with the recent stars such as Willie Banks and Bill Rodgers, along with the inspirational leadership of Larry Ellis, further adds to the distinction of the Hall."
Moore, 70, is a past world record holder and 1952 Olympic champion in the 400 meters hurdles. Amazingly, Moore never lost a race in that event. He also took home a sliver medal from the 1952 Olympics as a member of the 4 by 400 relay.
Moore is also considered an innovator in the 400 hurdles. Before Moore came along, 15 strides between hurdles was the accepted practice. Moore decided 13 strides between hurdles would offer more fluidity and power.
Banks, 43, was one of the world's greatest triple jumpers during the 1980s. Banks competed in three Olympics, but the highlight of his career occurred on June 16, 1985 when he set a world record of 58-11.5. That jump earned Banks a gold medal at the national championships in Indianapolis, Ind., that year.
Banks set his first American record in 1981 and then reset that record six more. He represented the U.S. in 18 international competitions and was a member of the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams.
Rodgers, 51, is probably best known as a four-time winner of both the Boston and New York City Marathons. His personal best of 2:09:28 while winning the 1979 Boston Marathon is still fifth on the U.S. all-time list.
Rodger dominated U.S. distance running for the latter part of the 70s and won four national distance titles and set a pair of American marathon records. He was also a member of the 1976 Olympic Team.
Ellis was head coach at Princeton University for 22 years. Under his tutelage, Princeton won 11 heptagonal team titles in track plus another eight in cross country. Ellis was also men's head coach of the 1984 Olympic team and most recently the 1998 World Cup team.
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