Dr. Ken Foreman to be inducted into National Track & Field Hall of Fame...

One of the greatest track & field coaching legends from the Pacific Northwest will add one more milestone to his illustrious career, as Dr. Ken Foreman (left/photo courtesy Seattle Pacific University), the long time coach at Seattle Pacific University and the founder of the Falcon Track Club, will be inducted into USA Track & Field's National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony is set for Saturday, December 5th at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held in conjunction with USATF's 2009 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Being inducted along with Foreman are athletes Joetta Clark Diggs, Andre Phillips, Willie Steele and Randy Williams.

"All of us at USA Track & Field congratulate these five talented individuals on their election to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame," said USATF Chairman and President Stephanie Hightower. "Their contributions have added tremendously to the legacy of USA Track & Field, and we all look forward to their induction ceremony next month in Indianapolis."

Foreman served as SPU’s head coach from 1950-57, 1965-78, and 1985-99. He founded the Falcon Track Club in 1955, and served as that squad’s coach in 1977.

Considered the patriarch of the Falcon family, Foreman also served as the Seattle Pacific athletic director from 1952-57, had three stints as the cross country coach (1950-56, 1964-71, and 1973-77), and also was the basketball coach from 1952-57.

Among the many athletes who excelled under Foreman’s tutelage was Doris Brown Heritage, a five-time women’s cross country world champion and already a USATF Hall of Fame member. He also coached Olympic athletes Kelly Blair-LaBounty, Lorna Griffin, Pam Spencer and Sherron Walker.

Altogether, athletes coached by Foreman won 14 AAU titles between cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, and collected 26 collegiate championships. He saw 13 of his Seattle Pacific teams finish in the top 10, was the head women’s track coach for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and served as the Team USA head coach at the 1983 World Outdoor Championships. In addition, he was the head coach of the U.S. world cross country team in 1967, 1970 and 1973.

In a statement released by USA Track & Field, Foreman said, "Actually, having been nominated twice and passed over, I was in total shock. I couldn't believe that I had been nominated again, let alone voted in to the Hall of Fame. It's very exciting."

Foreman is a charter member of the Falcon Legends Hall of Fame.

NOTE: Tom Surber of USA Track & Field, and the sports information office at Seattle Pacific University contributed to this report.