University of Minnesota Athletics
Edelen Named to USATF Hall of Fame
10/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – University of Minnesota alum Leonard “Buddy” Edelen, who became the first man to run a marathon faster than two hours and 15 minutes in 1963, is among the USATF National Track & Field Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
Edelen, who passed away in 1997, will be posthumously inducted during the second annual Black Tie & Sneakers Gala in New York City on Nov. 3.
A native of Harrodsburg, Ky., Edelen was a two-time All-American and a two-time Big Ten champion for the Gophers as a competitor for the cross country and track programs. He recorded top-10 performances at the NCAA cross country meet in both 1956 and 1957 to earn All-America honors (his fourth-place finish in 1957 is the second-highest finish by a Gopher in program history) while he also won the 1957 Big Ten cross country title. Edelen added a Big Ten title in the two-mile track competition in 1958.
His crowning achievement came in 1963, however, when he became the first American in nearly four decades to set a world marathon record – running a 2:14.28 to win Britain’s Polytechnic Marathon on June 15, 1963.
Edelen went on to win the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon by nearly 20 minutes and finished sixth in the event at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Edelen was inducted into Minnesota’s ‘M’ Club Hall of Fame in 2001.
About the USATF National Track & Field Hall of Fame
The USATF National Track & Field Hall of Fame was established in 1974 and is the premier honor for Athletics athletes, coaches and contributors. The hall is currently maintained by The Armory Foundation in New York City, which opened in January 2003.
Proceeds from Black Tie & Sneakers Gala support USATF’s Elite Mentorship Program. The program connects USATF elite athletes with business executives, former athletes and career coaches to prepare them for success after their competitive careers conclude.
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