ShadowChase’s own Barbara Miller was in some lofty company recently as she was one of six athletes, coaches and officials inducted into the 2015 Pacific Association USA Track and Field Association’s Hall of Fame.
“I feel very honored to have received this,” said Miller, a Modesto resident who holds American age-group road race records for women age 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70-74. She set records in distances ranging from 5K to marathon.
In addition to those, Miller’s senior (age 60-69 years old) course record of 3:11:57 set at the Boston Marathon in 2000 still stands.
She was named USATF Masters (age 40 and over) Long-Distance Running Age-Group Athlete of the Year 10 separate times between 1990 and 2012.
Miller also was elected to the national USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2007. The PA USATF is the regional counterpart.
Others inducted into the PA USATF Hall of Fame at the Nov. 17 ceremony in Walnut Creek were:
- Suzie Powell Ross, a Modesto resident and a three-time Olympic discus thrower. A 1994 graduate of Downey High School, Powell set a high school record of 188’4” at the Modesto Relays in 1994. She went on to set an American record of 222 feet in 2007.
- Harry Marra, a Eugene, Ore, coach who spent much of his career in San Francisco and San Luis Obispo. He is probably best known for his work with Brianne Thiesen, who set a collegiate pentathlon record of 4,540 points to win her second NCAA title in 2011. Marra also worked with Thiesen’s husband, Ashton Eaton, a world decathlon and indoor heptathlon champion and world record holder.
- Rick Milam, a San Jose official and track and field contributor who died in 2010. He coached cross country and track and field at several Bay Area high schools. He also was the driving force behind the Los Gatos All-Comers Meets.
- John Powell, a Northern California discus athlete and coach who was fourth at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He also held the sport’s world record in 1975 of 226’8.”
- MacWilkins, a Portland, Ore., discus thrower and coach who was nicknamed “Multiple Mac” for his prowess in discuss, shot put and javelin and hammer. With an athletic career spanning 23 years, Wilkins had his best performances in the discus, representing the sport in four Olympics and setting four world records.