National Distance Running Hall Of Fame Cancels 2009 Induction Ceremony
Bad economic times and lack of sponsorship force the Hall Of Fame to cancel ceremony.
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame has announced it will not induct a class in 2009 due to the poor economy and lack of sponsorship. The Hall, which functions in conjunction with the famous Utica Boilermaker road race, has now cancelled three induction ceremonies in the past five years. Previous years’ inductions were canceled due to conflicts with the Olympics and the 30th anniversary of the Boilermaker; however, this is the first time it has been canceled due to financial reasons. The Hall had not released the names of the 2009 inductees, which had brought about speculation that it might cancel the induction. Previous Hall of Fame inductees include a “who’s who” of distance running, from Clarence DeMar and Billy Mills to Lynn Jennings and Joan Benoit Samuelson.