Minnesota Hall of Fame: Meet the Class of 2007

Tomorrow night, the Minnesota Track & Field Hall of Fame will induct six new members into its honored circle. The Hall of Fame, which was initiated in 1996, will now honor 67 greats from Minnesota's rich track and field heritage.

Below are photos and biographical information on the Class of 2007 as supplied by the USATF - Minnesota's Hall of Fame committee:


Sarah Renk Thorsett
-- NCAA Champion 4 X 800m, 1992 and 1993 (University of Wisconsin)
-- NCAA 5th Outdoor 1500m, 1992; NCAA 5th Indoor Mile, 1993
-- NCAA 6th Outdoor 1500m and 800m, 1993
-- USATF 5th 800m 1993; USATF 4th 1500m 1994; USATF 3rd 1500m 1995
-- Pan Am Games 1500m Champion 1995; on World Championship team 1995 and 1997
-- Minnesota State Champion (Winona High School) 1600m 1987 & 1988, 800m 1988, 2nd 1600m 1987


Carson Hoeft
-- NCAA 7th place 1500 meter
-- 1990 Big 10 2nd place Outdoor 1500m and 2nd Indoor Mile
-- 1988 Big 10 2nd place Outdoor 1500m and 2nd Indoor 1500m
-- 1985 USA Junior Olympic Champion 800m in 1:52.07
-- 1986 3rd US Junior National Meet 800m and 1st in Pan Am Junior Meet
-- Minnesota State High School 1985 2nd in 800m and 2nd in 1600m, 1984 2nd in 1600m
-- Best 1500m time of 3:41.99 is equivalent to sub-4:00 mile




Donovan Bergstrom
-- NCAA Steeplechase Champion in 1993 (8:29)
-- Big 10 Steeplechase Champion 1992 and 1993
-- Big 10 Cross Country Champion 1991
-- Minnesota Class A State Champion 1600 meters 1986, 1987, 1988
-- Minnesota Class A State Champion 3200 meters 1986, 1987, 1988
-- Set Class A State Record 3200 meters of 9:06.21 in 1988



Jerry McNeal
-- Minnesota State High School One Mile 3rd 1953, 2nd 1954 (4:32.0)
-- Minnesota State High School Cross Country 2nd place 1954
-- University of Kansas Big 7 Cross Country Conference Champion
-- Big 7 Indoor 2-Mile Champion
-- Anchored 4 X Mile Relay to American College Record 1958
-- 5th NCAA 10K, 3rd NCAA 2-Mile, 7th NCAA Cross Country
-- Won Masters Division in City of Lakes, Grandma’s and Twin Cities Marathons





Gary Wilson
-- University of Minnesota Women’s Cross Country Coach 1985 - Present, Head Track Coach 1985 – 2006, Assistant Track Coach 2007
-- Big 10 Outdoor Track Championship 2006, Big 10 Indoor Championship 2007, Big 10 CC 2007
-- U of M Women CC Team placed 9th in 2005 and 11th in 2006 in NCAA Championships
-- Nine NCAA Cross Country team appearances, ranked in top 25 nationally 16 of last 20 years
-- U of M Track Women scored in NCAA Championship in 14 of 21 seasons
-- President of the National Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association, 1994 - 1995
-- Coached 1993 US Junior National CC Team and 1996 US Junior National Track Team
-- National Endurance Curriculum Coordinator for USATF Coaching Education Program 1984 - 1993



Dick Mulken
-- Minnesota High School Coach, Detroit Lakes 1949 – 1951, White Bear Lake 1952 – 1962
-- Hamline University Head Track Coach 1962 – 1965, throwing coach 1962 – 1992
-- Punahou High School, Hawaii, assistant throwing coach 1992 – 1999
-- Currently coaching masters throwers in Florida (Total of 55 years coaching.)
-- At Hamline, coached 12 NCAA Div III Champions in shot or discuss, 2 NAIA Champions
-- Coached 31 NCAA Div III All-Conference throwers and 9 NAIA All-Conference throwers
-- Coached 21 MIAC throwing Champions and 108 MIAC All-Conference throwers

Induction ceremonies will take place at a banquet at the Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota.

Photos courtesy of the Hall of Fame Committee.