World-renowned track distance runner Gerry Lindgren begins his second season as an assistant coach for the track and field and cross country programs. Lindgren takes over for Andy McInnis, inheriting the duties of leading the cross country and distance runners. Lindgren’s previous coaching experience was as a club coach for the Honolulu-based Coconut Road Runners.
Considered by many as the greatest high school distance runner of all-time, Lindgren’s track resume is impressive. During his time as a high school cross country and track star in the early 1960s, Lindgren set eight world high school records and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the age of 17. Among his prep records, Lindgren’s most impressive was a 13:44, 5,000 meter run, a mark that stood for 40 years and was recently broken by Oregon’s Galen Rupp.
In addition, Lindgren won a 10,000 meter race in 1964 U.S. vs. U.S.S.R. meet against two seasoned Russian runners while still attending Rogers High School in Spokane, Wash. As a senior, Lindgren broke the high school mile record by six seconds and later broke the national indoor two-mile record by 49 seconds, a mark which still exists today.
After high school, Lindgren attended Washington State where his success continued; he won 11 NCAA championships, set 57 American Records and shared a world record with Billy Mills for the 6-mile with a time of 27:11.6 He also participated in numerous AAU meets during track’s heyday.
Lindgren finished his running career, racing professionally for the ITA for three years during the 1970s. Since his running days Lindgren owned a chain of retail sports stores. He has also written and published an autobiography and was recently inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
In his autobiography, Lindgren attributes his running success to his high school track coach Tracy Walters who often drove him to meets around the West Coast. Lindgren also claims to have inspired legendary track star Steve Prefontaine’s interest in running. He remains the only man to defeat Prefontaine during an NCAA Championship.
Lindgren, 59, is a 25-year resident of Honolulu. He enjoys gardening and running.
