BELMONT PLATEAU COURSE & MEET RECORDS
Belmont Plateau started hosting races in 1963 beginning with some college duel meets and then high schools started moving to "The Plateau" that year with the Catholic War Vets. Courses were designed and the Philadelphia Catholic League started moving all it's meets and championship in 1965. In the 1970s, the Phila Public League made the move over from Strawberry Mansion course. Since the 1970s, More and more college and high school meets followed with Belmont Plateau being recognized as the major site for cross country racing in the Philadelphia area. Since 1963, there has been too many races and too many runners to count that have competed at Belmont Plateau. One thing for certain, it is one of America's Premier Cross Country Courses in the USA.
The course is host annually of a number of High School Championships including Phila Catholic League, Phila Public League, Inter-Ac, Pa Small School States and the Briarwood Invite (one of east coast biggest HS meets). Past years, it has hosted The Coaches Association, The Catholic War Vets, Textile, Overbrook, and theTemple Invites.
It serves as host each year of many college races with the Jack Saint Clair Memorial, Philadlphia Metro, Central Atlantic College Championships. Over the past few years the NCAA Div 2 East Region, The Atlantic 10 Championship and the American College Conference have been at Belmont. In the past, The Big Five, The East Coast Conference, and The Middle Atlantic Conference Championships have been at "The Plateau" The courses also hosts many open USATF - Mid Atlantic) Championships and Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is held annually. The most famous race held at Belmont Plateau was when it hosted over 400 national/Olympic class runners at the 1976 AAU National Championship with "Sports Illustrated" featuring the race and course in an article.
The main trails and hills used today (with the exception of Surekill Hill) were the same from the 1960s. Over the years courses were lengthened for high school, and the college men course has been altered a few times, so the course records listed below will be for a specific course/distance used at that time.
In 1963,colleges ran courses starting with various loops and length 4.5 miles leading to the design of The "Classic" 5.2 mile course (with Surkill Hill) . This was the college course for men until the 1990s until Coach Torpey (La Salle Univ) designed a 8k course (minus Surekill Hill). Since 2010, Coach Thomas (Jefferson Univ) has designed a 8k "Liberty Course" that has been recognized as the men college course. College women started competeting at Belmont Plateau in the 1980s (along with high school girls) and compete today at 5k and 6k. Men compete at 8k and 10k. High schools started running the 2.6 miles then altered a few times to the present 5k. High school girls starting running 1.5 miles in the 1970s and presently run the 5k distance. College women started competing in the 1970s at 3 miles and presently run either 5k or 6k courses. USATF youth and CYO compete regularly at Belmont competing mainly in the 2k-3k distance range.
Open Club (Junior-Senior- Master) compete at Belmont Plateau with the Mid Atlantic USATF championships often held there. The AAU National Cross Country Championship were held at Belmont in 1976 on the "Bicentenial Course (Surekill Hill) with many national champions and Olympians. The new 10,000 meter course has only been used since 2019.
To compare performances of different eras and courses, we have also computed the minutes/mile after the race time. **Results for records were taken from scanning news articles, and looking at meet results since 1963. Since the courses have used similar layouts and hills, it is fairly close to be able to compare perfomances over the years. **Race performances have to be run on the recognized course for that distance to be included in any course records with certified meet officials present. Since there was no overseeing organization or body to verify every meet and time run, this list of CR is unofficial, but compiled to the best of our knowledge.
BELMONT PLATEAU COURSE & MEET RECORDS
Belmont Plateau started hosting races in 1963 beginning with some college duel meets and then high schools started moving to "The Plateau" that year with the Catholic War Vets. Courses were designed and the Philadelphia Catholic League started moving all it's meets and championship in 1965. In the 1970s, the Phila Public League made the move over from Strawberry Mansion course. Since the 1970s, More and more college and high school meets followed with Belmont Plateau being recognized as the major site for cross country racing in the Philadelphia area. Since 1963, there has been too many races and too many runners to count that have competed at Belmont Plateau. One thing for certain, it is one of America's Premier Cross Country Courses in the USA.
The course is host annually of a number of High School Championships including Phila Catholic League, Phila Public League, Inter-Ac, Pa Small School States and the Briarwood Invite (one of east coast biggest HS meets). Past years, it has hosted The Coaches Association, The Catholic War Vets, Textile, Overbrook, and theTemple Invites.
It serves as host each year of many college races with the Jack Saint Clair Memorial, Philadlphia Metro, Central Atlantic College Championships. Over the past few years the NCAA Div 2 East Region, The Atlantic 10 Championship and the American College Conference have been at Belmont. In the past, The Big Five, The East Coast Conference, and The Middle Atlantic Conference Championships have been at "The Plateau" The courses also hosts many open USATF - Mid Atlantic) Championships and Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is held annually. The most famous race held at Belmont Plateau was when it hosted over 400 national/Olympic class runners at the 1976 AAU National Championship with "Sports Illustrated" featuring the race and course in an article.
The main trails and hills used today (with the exception of Surekill Hill) were the same from the 1960s. Over the years courses were lengthened for high school, and the college men course has been altered a few times, so the course records listed below will be for a specific course/distance used at that time.
In 1963,colleges ran courses starting with various loops and length 4.5 miles leading to the design of The "Classic" 5.2 mile course (with Surkill Hill) . This was the college course for men until the 1990s until Coach Torpey (La Salle Univ) designed a 8k course (minus Surekill Hill). Since 2010, Coach Thomas (Jefferson Univ) has designed a 8k "Liberty Course" that has been recognized as the men college course. College women started competeting at Belmont Plateau in the 1980s (along with high school girls) and compete today at 5k and 6k. Men compete at 8k and 10k. High schools started running the 2.6 miles then altered a few times to the present 5k. High school girls starting running 1.5 miles in the 1970s and presently run the 5k distance. College women started competing in the 1970s at 3 miles and presently run either 5k or 6k courses. USATF youth and CYO compete regularly at Belmont competing mainly in the 2k-3k distance range.
Open Club (Junior-Senior- Master) compete at Belmont Plateau with the Mid Atlantic USATF championships often held there. The AAU National Cross Country Championship were held at Belmont in 1976 on the "Bicentenial Course (Surekill Hill) with many national champions and Olympians. The new 10,000 meter course has only been used since 2019.
To compare performances of different eras and courses, we have also computed the minutes/mile after the race time. **Results for records were taken from scanning news articles, and looking at meet results since 1963. Since the courses have used similar layouts and hills, it is fairly close to be able to compare perfomances over the years. **Race performances have to be run on the recognized course for that distance to be included in any course records with certified meet officials present. Since there was no overseeing organization or body to verify every meet and time run, this list of CR is unofficial, but compiled to the best of our knowledge.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS COURSE RECORDS 2. 6 MILES (1963-1972)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET JOHN JENNINGS CARDINAL DOUGHERTY (Pa) 12:41 4:53 1971 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPS
2.9 MILES (1973-1988)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JOE ABRAMS BISHOP EGAN (Pa) 14:12 4:54 1979 OVERBROOK INVITATIONAL
5,000 METERS (1989- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JOE ROSA WEST WINDSOR (NJ) 15:19* 4:56 2009 BRIARWOOD INVITATIONAL
COLLEGE MEN COURSE RECORDS 5.2 MILES ("THE CLASSIC COURSE") (1963-1995)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
DAVE MERRICK UNIV OF PENNSYLVANIA 24:44** 4:45 1974 BIG 5 INVITATIONAL
8,000 METERS ("THE TORPEY COURSE") (1996-2006)- **research not complete
8,000 METERS ("THE LIBERTY COURSE" (2007-PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
EMMANUEL ROTICH TULANE UNIV 24:58.6* 5:01 2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONF CHAMPIONSHIP
10,000 METERS (" THE THOMAS COURSE") (2019-PRESENT) NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
ERZA UTAI AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 30:58.4 4:59 2019 NCAA DIV 2 EAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
MEN'S OPEN "SENIOR" COURSE RECORDS
5,000 METERS (1979 - PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET JOHN BUTLER UNAT 15:23 4:57 2006 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE OPEN/ALUMNI
8,000 METERS ("LIBERTY COURSE") (2007-PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET DYLAN MOUNTAIN KEYSTONE RC 26:12 5:16 2016 JACK SAINT CLAIR MEM. (MID ATLANTIC USATF )
10,000 METERS (BICENTENIAL COURSE) ( 1976-1990)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET RICK ROJAS COLORADO TC 30:23* 4:53 1976 AAU NATIONAL SENIOR CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
* Overall course records for 5,000, 8,000, 10,000 ** Overall best performance in history at Belmont Plateau
****************************************************************************************************************
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS COURSE RECORDS
1.6 MILES (1977-1979)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
SHELLY STEEY BISHOP CONWELL(PA) 10:32 6:35 1978 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
2.5 MILES (1980-1983)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
RENIE HALBAUGH ARCH PRENDERGAST(PA) 15:16 6:06 1980 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
2.9 MILES (1984-1988)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET MICHELLE TORELLI CARDINAL O'HARA(PA) 17:22 5:59 1987 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
5,000 METERS
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
LYDIA RUSSELL FRIENDS CENTRAL (PA) 17:57 5:47 2019 BRIARWOOD INVITATIONAL
COLLEGE WOMEN COURSE RECORDS
2.9 MILES (1979-1988)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JAN YERKES VILLANOVA 16:15 5:37 1982 THE BIG FIVE INVITATIONAL
5,000 METERS
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
KATIE CLARK BUTLER UNIV. 16:55.9* 5:26 2012 ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
6,000 METERS (2008- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
HANNAH MILLER SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIV 21:18.9* 5:43 2012 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONF CHAMPS
WOMEN'S OPEN SENIOR COURSE RECORDS
5,000 METERS (1989- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET RENEE GUNNING UNAT 17:16 5:33 2006 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE OPEN/ALUM
6,000 METERS METERS (2008- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
ERIN DONOHUE UNAT 21:31.8 5:46 2015 JACK SAINT CLAIR MEMORIAL
*Overall Course Record for 5,000 and 6,000 meters
*****************************************************************************************************************
YOUTH AND JUNIOR COURSE RECORDS (RESEARCH IS NOT COMPLETED AT THIS TIME)
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS COURSE RECORDS
2. 6 MILES (1963-1972)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JOHN JENNINGS CARDINAL DOUGHERTY (Pa) 12:41 4:53 1971 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPS
2.9 MILES (1973-1988)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JOE ABRAMS BISHOP EGAN (Pa) 14:12 4:54 1979 OVERBROOK INVITATIONAL
5,000 METERS (1989- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JOE ROSA WEST WINDSOR (NJ) 15:19* 4:56 2009 BRIARWOOD INVITATIONAL
COLLEGE MEN COURSE RECORDS
5.2 MILES ("THE CLASSIC COURSE") (1963-1995)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
DAVE MERRICK UNIV OF PENNSYLVANIA 24:44** 4:45 1974 BIG 5 INVITATIONAL
8,000 METERS ("THE TORPEY COURSE") (1996-2006)- **research not complete
8,000 METERS ("THE LIBERTY COURSE" (2007-PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
EMMANUEL ROTICH TULANE UNIV 24:58.6* 5:01 2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONF CHAMPIONSHIP
10,000 METERS (" THE THOMAS COURSE") (2019-PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
ERZA UTAI AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 30:58.4 4:59 2019 NCAA DIV 2 EAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
MEN'S OPEN "SENIOR" COURSE RECORDS
5,000 METERS (1979 - PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JOHN BUTLER UNAT 15:23 4:57 2006 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE OPEN/ALUMNI
8,000 METERS ("LIBERTY COURSE") (2007-PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
DYLAN MOUNTAIN KEYSTONE RC 26:12 5:16 2016 JACK SAINT CLAIR MEM. (MID ATLANTIC USATF )
10,000 METERS (BICENTENIAL COURSE) ( 1976-1990)
NAME TEAM TIME MN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
RICK ROJAS COLORADO TC 30:23* 4:53 1976 AAU NATIONAL SENIOR CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
* Overall course records for 5,000, 8,000, 10,000 ** Overall best performance in history at Belmont Plateau
****************************************************************************************************************
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS COURSE RECORDS
1.6 MILES (1977-1979)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
SHELLY STEEY BISHOP CONWELL(PA) 10:32 6:35 1978 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
2.5 MILES (1980-1983)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
RENIE HALBAUGH ARCH PRENDERGAST(PA) 15:16 6:06 1980 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
2.9 MILES (1984-1988)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
MICHELLE TORELLI CARDINAL O'HARA(PA) 17:22 5:59 1987 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
5,000 METERS
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
LYDIA RUSSELL FRIENDS CENTRAL (PA) 17:57 5:47 2019 BRIARWOOD INVITATIONAL
COLLEGE WOMEN COURSE RECORDS
2.9 MILES (1979-1988)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
JAN YERKES VILLANOVA 16:15 5:37 1982 THE BIG FIVE INVITATIONAL
5,000 METERS
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
KATIE CLARK BUTLER UNIV. 16:55.9* 5:26 2012 ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
6,000 METERS (2008- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
HANNAH MILLER SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIV 21:18.9* 5:43 2012 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONF CHAMPS
WOMEN'S OPEN SENIOR COURSE RECORDS
5,000 METERS (1989- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
RENEE GUNNING UNAT 17:16 5:33 2006 PHILA CATHOLIC LEAGUE OPEN/ALUM
6,000 METERS METERS (2008- PRESENT)
NAME TEAM TIME MIN/MILE YEAR NAME OF MEET
ERIN DONOHUE UNAT 21:31.8 5:46 2015 JACK SAINT CLAIR MEMORIAL
*Overall Course Record for 5,000 and 6,000 meters
*****************************************************************************************************************
YOUTH AND JUNIOR COURSE RECORDS (RESEARCH IS NOT COMPLETED AT THIS TIME)
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