Hall of Fame Inducts Seven at Minisceongo Gala
An elite racewalker, a national champion sprinter, a pair of state-ranking distance runners, a pole vaulting tandem, and a long-tenured official highlighted this year's class of inductees for the Rockland County Track & Field Hall of Fame.
The eighth annual ceremony took place May 21 at Minisceongo Golf Club in Pomona. Plaques of the 2011 class join the group's wall of honor at the Rockland Community College Field House in Suffern.
This year's inductees include Dave McGovern, Clarkstown North-1983; Juliet Brown Demeritte, Ramapo-1995; Mike Colangelo, Albertus Magnus-1975; Dana Dougan Hollar, Suffern-1988; Marvin Miller, Suffern-1954; Preston Pulis, Suffern-1955; and Fred Adler in the Coaches, Officials & Contributors category.
The 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dave McGovern is Rockland’s finest racewalker. He is one of only three Rockland track athletes to finish in the top five at the Olympic Trials, placing fifth in the 20K walk in 1992. He is also the only track athlete in U.S. history to qualify for seven consecutive Olympic Trials, spanning 24 years. He is a 14-time U.S. national champion at distances ranging from 10K to 40K, has represented the U.S. in 20 international competitions, including seven World Cup and six Pan Am Cup teams, and is a multiple gold medalist and 20K walk record-holder at the Empire State Games.
Juliet Brown Demeritte is one of Rockland’s foremost sprinters. She is a three-time New York State champion, in the 200, 300 and 400 meters, and a two-time runner-up (55, 400). A 16-time County champion, she set four County records in the outdoor 100 and 200 and indoor 200 and 400 and still ranks in the top three countywide in five events. At St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C., she ran on four NCAA Div. II national championship relays – 4x400 three times and 4x100 once – and placed third in the Div. II nationals at 400 meters.
Mike Colangelo competed for Ramapo for three years before transferring to Albertus his senior year. He won the 1974 New York State Class B individual cross country crown and led the undefeated Falcons to the State and Eastern States championships that year. Colangelo was also the 1975 New York State mile runner-up indoors, a four-time Rockland County and four-time Section 9 champion.
Dana Dougan Hollar was a 14-time Rockland champion, 12-time Section 1 champion and eight-time State Qualifier winner. She was the first Rockland girl to break 5 minutes in the 1,600/mile (4:58.97 1,600) and to sweep the Sectional cross country title four straight years. She also swept the 1,500 and 3,000 at the outdoor County meet three straight years, was State runner-up in the indoor 3,000 in 1988, and placed third in both 1987 state Federation cross country individual race and as a leg on Suffern’s 4x800 at the indoor nationals. She later starred at Penn State.
Suffern teammates Marvin Miller and Preston Pulis formed a dynamic one-two punch in the pole vault during the steel-pole era. They shared the 1953 New York State title in that event. Miller also finished second in the 1954 New York State meet at 12 feet, making him the second Rockland vaulter to clear 12 feet, and had a record 15 jumps over 11 feet. He also won three Section 9 Class B championships and finished fifth in the high jump at 1954 State meet, clearing 5-11.
Besides his state title, Pulis was a three-time Section 9 champion and two-time Rockland County titleholder, and reached a top height of 11-9. He also ran on Suffern’s Sectional champion 880-yard relay in 1952.
Fred Adler’s officiating career spans from high school to the elite level. He officiated the 2004 Olympic Trials in Sacramento and has worked high school meets since 1979, NCAA-level meets since 1982, and USATF competitions since 1988 as a Master official. He has been president of the Southern Catskill officials’ Rockland division since 1996 and was New York State Official of the Year in 1999. He has worked a total of 40 state high school cross country, indoor and outdoor championships, 16 national scholastic indoor meets, and has served in many capacities, including chief starter, starter, clerk, chief timer, chief field judge, chief finish, photo evaluator and officials coordinator.
Use the pull-down menu at the top of the page to see previous inductees.
The eighth annual ceremony took place May 21 at Minisceongo Golf Club in Pomona. Plaques of the 2011 class join the group's wall of honor at the Rockland Community College Field House in Suffern.
This year's inductees include Dave McGovern, Clarkstown North-1983; Juliet Brown Demeritte, Ramapo-1995; Mike Colangelo, Albertus Magnus-1975; Dana Dougan Hollar, Suffern-1988; Marvin Miller, Suffern-1954; Preston Pulis, Suffern-1955; and Fred Adler in the Coaches, Officials & Contributors category.
The 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dave McGovern is Rockland’s finest racewalker. He is one of only three Rockland track athletes to finish in the top five at the Olympic Trials, placing fifth in the 20K walk in 1992. He is also the only track athlete in U.S. history to qualify for seven consecutive Olympic Trials, spanning 24 years. He is a 14-time U.S. national champion at distances ranging from 10K to 40K, has represented the U.S. in 20 international competitions, including seven World Cup and six Pan Am Cup teams, and is a multiple gold medalist and 20K walk record-holder at the Empire State Games.
Juliet Brown Demeritte is one of Rockland’s foremost sprinters. She is a three-time New York State champion, in the 200, 300 and 400 meters, and a two-time runner-up (55, 400). A 16-time County champion, she set four County records in the outdoor 100 and 200 and indoor 200 and 400 and still ranks in the top three countywide in five events. At St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C., she ran on four NCAA Div. II national championship relays – 4x400 three times and 4x100 once – and placed third in the Div. II nationals at 400 meters.
Mike Colangelo competed for Ramapo for three years before transferring to Albertus his senior year. He won the 1974 New York State Class B individual cross country crown and led the undefeated Falcons to the State and Eastern States championships that year. Colangelo was also the 1975 New York State mile runner-up indoors, a four-time Rockland County and four-time Section 9 champion.
Dana Dougan Hollar was a 14-time Rockland champion, 12-time Section 1 champion and eight-time State Qualifier winner. She was the first Rockland girl to break 5 minutes in the 1,600/mile (4:58.97 1,600) and to sweep the Sectional cross country title four straight years. She also swept the 1,500 and 3,000 at the outdoor County meet three straight years, was State runner-up in the indoor 3,000 in 1988, and placed third in both 1987 state Federation cross country individual race and as a leg on Suffern’s 4x800 at the indoor nationals. She later starred at Penn State.
Suffern teammates Marvin Miller and Preston Pulis formed a dynamic one-two punch in the pole vault during the steel-pole era. They shared the 1953 New York State title in that event. Miller also finished second in the 1954 New York State meet at 12 feet, making him the second Rockland vaulter to clear 12 feet, and had a record 15 jumps over 11 feet. He also won three Section 9 Class B championships and finished fifth in the high jump at 1954 State meet, clearing 5-11.
Besides his state title, Pulis was a three-time Section 9 champion and two-time Rockland County titleholder, and reached a top height of 11-9. He also ran on Suffern’s Sectional champion 880-yard relay in 1952.
Fred Adler’s officiating career spans from high school to the elite level. He officiated the 2004 Olympic Trials in Sacramento and has worked high school meets since 1979, NCAA-level meets since 1982, and USATF competitions since 1988 as a Master official. He has been president of the Southern Catskill officials’ Rockland division since 1996 and was New York State Official of the Year in 1999. He has worked a total of 40 state high school cross country, indoor and outdoor championships, 16 national scholastic indoor meets, and has served in many capacities, including chief starter, starter, clerk, chief timer, chief field judge, chief finish, photo evaluator and officials coordinator.
Use the pull-down menu at the top of the page to see previous inductees.