2017 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Hall of Fame Class
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and the Hall of Fame Committee inducted Sam Bair, Terry McCluskey, Dr. Ron Roth and Alice Thurauas its ninth class of inductees to the Pittsburgh Marathon Hall of Fame.
This class was inducted during the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend of events.
Sam Bair
Sam Bair is a graduate of Scottdale High School and Kent State University (1969), and a resident of Shaler, PA. Sam is primarily known as a mile runner. He became the 24th US runner to break the Four Minute Mile in the famed 1967 Bakersfield Mile, a race where Jim Ryun broke the World Record with a 3:51.1; Sam ran 3:58.7 that day. That same year Sam was the Silver Medalist in the 1500 meters at the Pan American Games. In 1969, Sam ran his mile best of 3:56.7 at the LA Coliseum finishing second to Jim Ryun; Sam's time was the second best recorded in 1969. At Kent State, Sam earned 7 NCAA Division I All-American honors. At the 1500/mile Sam earned three US rankings, 6th in 1967, 7th in 1968, and 4th in 1969. In 1974, Sam joined the short lived International Track Association specializing in the 1500 and mile. During the early 1970's he beginning teaching and Coaching at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), his teams dominated in the Junior College competition. Sam was named Junior College Coach of the year 1973-1977. Sam was the co-founder of the powerful Allegheny/Nike racing team, a team that dominated local and regional road races in that era. He continued his coaching at the University of Pittsburgh, and at the High School level with many top distance runners from the North Hills area even to the present. Sam's marathon best was a fifth place finish with a 2:24:46 at the 1977 Maryland Marathon. His son, Sam Bair, Jr., joined him in breaking the four minute mile in 2012 running a 3:59.72 becoming only the 3rd father and son team to go sub 4 minutes.
Terry McCluskey
Terry McCluskey is a graduate of Farrell High School and Slippery Rock College (1970; now Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania). Terry currently resides just across the PA/Ohio border in Vienna, Ohio. Unlike most HOF inductees, Terry did little running and racing at the High School level, this a sport he joined years after his schooling. In 1993, he placed 74th at the famed Boston Marathon with a 2:33:28, at age 43. One year later, Terry set his personal best of 2:30:58, winning the Masters competition at age 44. In 1997, Terry set the still standing Masters Course Record at the Steamtown Marathon with a 2:31:35. In all, Terry has run 29 sub 2:40 marathons, all over the age of 40. After turning 60 in 2008, Terry ran a 2:50:44 at the California International Marathon. In 2011, Terry took first place in the 60-64 age group of the Boston Marathon with 2:48:38, a time that ranks 4/5th in the 60-64 of all time at the Boston Marathon. In 2011, Terry won first at World Masters Athletic Championships (age 60-69) in Sacramento, CA, with a 2:52. Also in 2011, Terry was named RRCA Road Runner of the Year, Male Masters category. Three times Terry was ranked first in a marathon for his age groups, these years were 2006 as a 55-59 and 2008 & 2009 in the 60-64 division. Running Times Magazine ranked Terry first overall 60-64 Runner in 2011.
Dr. Ronald Roth
Dr. Ronald Roth is a graduate of Allderdice High School, Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh Medical School. Dr. Roth currently resides in Point Breeze, PA. Dr. Roth began working with the Pittsburgh Marathon in the very early days. In 1993, Dr. Roth took over the position of Medical Director for the event. He held this position through 2003, when the event went on a hiatus. With the revitalization of the Marathon in 2009, Dr. Roth once again took the lead for all medical efforts during the weekend of events. Dr. Roth is a co-author on four medical research papers describing marathon medical care. The DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is known now (and back during its earlier years) as one of the best U.S. Marathon’s for medical assistance, setting high standards which other Marathons have copied; much of this attributed to Dr. Roth and his UPMC staff. Dr. Roth also serves as team physician to the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as emergency medical consultant for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the University of Pittsburgh Football team.
Alice Thurau
Alice Thurau is a graduate of Kittanning High School, Gettysburg College and the University of Wisconsin. Alice currently resides in Fisher, PA (near Clarion). Alice, like Terry McCluskey, set her marathon personal best after turning the age of 40. In 1990, Alice ran the UPMC/City of Pittsburgh Marathon finishing 30th in 3:00:08. Going nearly four times the marathon distance in 1991, Alice won the famed Leadville Trail 100 Run in 22 hours and 10 minutes, an event which starts at 10,400 feet of elevation and reaches peaks over 12,400 feet. Alice was a two time USATF Woman's Marathon champion in both 1995 and 1996. In 1996, Runner’s World ranked Alice second for US Female Masters. That same year, Alice finished 25th at the US Olympic Trials Marathon with a time of 2:40:36, and at the Twin Cities Marathon she finished with a time of 2:38:13. Four years later, Alice returned to the US Olympic Trials Marathon with a time of 2:46:41. Throughout her career, Alice demonstrated a very vast range in her racing distances, her 10K best was a Master's victory at the 1995 Pittsburgh Great Race with a 34:13. In 1997, she set a 13.1 mile best in Las Vegas with a 1:15:48.