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PITTSBURGH - The DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and the Hall of Fame Committee are proud to announce the 14th class of inductees to the Pittsburgh Marathon Hall of Fame. The 2022 inductees are Dr. Eric Anish, Jim Hommes, Christine Simpson, and Joe Thomas.   

This induction ceremony will take place during the 2022 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on Sat., April 30. The Hall of Fame inductees from the 12th and 13th classes will also be inducted this year. This includes the 2020 inductees: Roberta Groner, Alex Kasich, Dave McDonald, and Kathleen Nachazel, and 2021 inductees: Dave Antognoli, Mike Dudley, Gary Gargasz, Bill Phelps, and Linda Phelps.  

DR. ERIC ANISH: A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Eric Anish’s first marathon was the Pittsburgh Marathon in 1991, where he finished in 2:45:05. The following year in Pittsburgh, he ran his personal best of 2:34:36. In 1993 and 1994, Anish won the Pittsburgh Marathon 10K events with times of 31:42 and 32:48.  

In 1992 Anish won the first of three consecutive Clarion River Half Marathons with his best time in 1993 with a time of 1:10:31. In 1993, he competed as a member of Team USA at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning a silver medal in the Half Marathon. He returned to the Pittsburgh Marathon as a Master in 2009, finishing seventh with a time of 2:38:33. That same summer, he won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the USA Masters Outdoor Championship. In 2014, Anish won the Masters division of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon with a time of 2:44:07, followed by a 2nd Masters finish in 2015 with a 2:44:25. He placed 3rd Master in 2017, finishing in 2:46:28.  

Anish is currently a resident of Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh. He continues to run locally with Pittsburgh-based team Etonic. When not competing in the marathon, Anish has served as a member of the Pittsburgh Marathon Medical Advisory Board.  

JIM HOMMES: A graduate of Calvin College, Jim Hommes was coached by Olympian Randy Diemer. Under Diemer’s direction, he qualified to run the NCAA Division III National Cross Country race in 1991. Hommes moved to Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s taking a teaching and coaching position at Trinity Christian School in Forest Hills. During the 1990s, he raced many local events, winning the Gateway Mile five times with a best of 4:34.3 in 1997. When the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race was canceled in 2003 and the Great Replacement race filled the void, Jim ran and won the 1500 meter runner event in Schenley Park. His best Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race finish was in 1997 turning in a 31:30.   

In 2003, Hommes set his personal best at the Steamtown Marathon placing 4th in 2:28:43. In 2013, 2016, and 2018, Hommes won the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Masters Division. In the 2020 Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, he was second in the veteran’s division (50-59) with a time of 35:17. Hommes has been part of the DiMarco Workhouse team, which has won the 150-mile GAP Relay presented by UPMC Health Plan in 2018, 2019 and 2021.   Hommes continues to coach track and cross country at Trinity Christian School, serving as an outstanding role model for his students and runners. He currently resides in Forest Hills, Pa.  

CHRISTINE SIMPSON: Christine Simpson continued her running career after high school, first at Community College of Allegheny County and then at Indiana University of Pennsylvania . At IUP she ran in the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships in 1985, where the IUP team placed third. Simpson also qualified for Nationals the following spring in the 10,000 meters. Upon graduation, she was invited to join the powerful Allegheny/Nike Running Club as one of the area's top female runners. At the 1987 Columbus Marathon, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:47.  

In 1989 she ran her personal best in the half-marathon with a time of 1:20:18 at the Sharon Bavarian event. Her 15K PR also came in 1989 with a time of 57:46 at the Laker 15K. She set her 5K road personal best at the Brentwood 5K in 1992 with a time of 17:42.  

Simpson moved to Florida with her husband Doug and continued running until her death in a car accident in 2017.  Sally Mannas, Simpon’s sister-in-law, will attend the ceremony on her behalf. Sally Mannas, Simpon’s sister-in-law, will attend the ceremony on her behalf.

JOE THOMAS:  Joe Thomas won the Pennsylvania State Championship in 1960, running a 4:14 mile, one of the best high school times in the country of that era. He was one of eight top high school milers to be invited to the First Golden West National Championships. He earned a scholarship to Southern Illinois University and the following fall earned NAIA All-American honor, repeating All-American the following fall.  

In the late 1970s, Thomas helped organize and direct races, including the Mt. Summit Challenge. He was a founding member of the Fayette County Striders and is now the Club President. He also is a member of the SERJ Timing Service. In 2004, Thomas took over coaching duties in both track and cross country at Albert Gallatin High School, where he continues to coach cross country. 

About the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon The Pittsburgh Marathon was held annually from 1985-2003. After a five-year hiatus, the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon was relaunched in 2009 and debuted with a sold-out field of 10,000 participants. It has grown each year since, evolving from a single race day into a weekend of events for the whole family that annually attracts almost 40,000 runners.   Read more at: ThePittsburghMarathon.com  

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About P3R

P3R is the engine behind Pittsburgh’s greatest races. We strive to inspire any and all to MOVE with us. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R runs a variety of other high-quality races, events, and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of our races attract some of the nation’s highest-profile professional athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. Anyone and everyone is invited to #RUNwithP3R! Read more at: P3R.org

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