CSU Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

At the end of each calendar year, the club has a recognition party to which all members are invited to celebrate accomplishments of the past year. December of 1998 saw the inauguration of the CSU Running Section Hall of Fame with the induction of its first members, Larry + Sara Mae Berman. Nearly every year since, the recognition party has been the setting for new members to be inducted into The Hall. A speech enumerating the CSU accomplishments and contributions of the inductee is followed by the awarding of a commemorative plaque and a rousing ovation from club members.

Gordon MacFarland (2014)

Long-time Cambridge Sports Union member and Brookline resident Gordon MacFarland, age 65, was inducted into the Cambridge Sports Union Hall of Fame on Saturday, December 6, 2014.

A member of CSU since 1999, Gordon is a life-long runner who has run competitively in New England since 1985.  He was ranked 3rd nationally in his age group by USA Track and Field in 2009, 2011, and 2013.  He is founder of the Vermont City Marathon and been involved in the management of various road races. Gordon has been a model of consistency and commitment to running over the years, encouraging both veterans and newcomers to the sport.  Following his passion for running, Gordon recently retired from a career in financial management and now works for Marathon Sports.

Sue McNatt (2013)

Long-time Cambridge Sports Union (CSU) member and Needham resident Susan McNatt, age 46, was inducted into the Cambridge Sports Union Hall of Fame on Saturday, December 7, 2013. A member of CSU since 1990, Susan McNatt has been a tremendous asset to the running community, in addition to an active and dedicated contributor to CSU. She has a long track record of competitive running over the past 30+ years, including being on the national all-American team at the Kinney (now Foot Locker) high school championships in the early 1980s, and competing as a Division 1 scholarship athlete at Northwestern University. She finished in the top 20 at the highly competitive Tufts 10K in the late 1980s. More recently she won the USATF New England Cross-Country Series masters’ division in 2012.

But impressive as Susan’s running resume is, CSU also honors the personal qualities that make her one of the most highly regarded runners in New England. A physical therapist by vocation, Sue is always generous with her time and knowledge, and brings a warm energy and positive outlook to every running experience. She has volunteered at countless events and advised and encouraged dozens of runners, both veterans and newcomers to the sport. A mother of three, Susan is also an avid cross-country skier and an active member of the Needham community. For several years she has captained a team for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Needham, Dedham and Wellesley, raising thousands of dollars to benefit cancer research, support, and programs.

Susan joins prior-year inductees Larry and Sara Mae Berman (co-founders of CSU) and 1984 Olympic marathoner Eleonora Mendonca in the CSU Hall of Fame, as well as Duke Hutchinson, Pat Robinson, Henry Finch, Lisa Doucett, Sumner Brown, Diane McLaughlin, Catherine Farrell, Jon Waldron, and her husband Terry McNatt, inducted in 2012.

Terry McNatt (2012)

For more than twenty years, Terry McNatt has been the face of CSU in the New England Running community – an ambassador for CSU Running who is both respected for his competitiveness and consistent excellence and admired and for his loyalty, generosity, and friendliness.

Terry has been CSU’s top runner and has led the men’s racing team for a longer period than any other runner in Club history. In the fifteen years from 1998 to 2012, the USATF-New England Association has held 120 Championships in Road Running and Cross Country – from 5K to the Marathon. As a member of CSU’s Racing team (competing regularly against the Club’s top runners), Terry has been the top CSU finisher in approximately 70 of those races. In addition, Terry has regularly competed for CSU in the Lake Winnipesaukee Relay, and in the New England Pub Series Grand Prix, where he has been the top CSU finisher every year he has run, including multiple years he has been the overall Series Champion.

And perhaps what is even more remarkable is how Terry’s times have held up over that time. In 1992, Terry’s best road 5K time was 15:25. In 2012 – twenty years later – he’s still running 5K’s in 16:45. That’s a drop of only 4 seconds per year… for two decades. And as he approaches 50, he still trains as hard as ever and shows little sign of losing his enthusiasm, his love of competing, or that smooth, efficient stride that he used to outkick teenagers in local races.

As impressive as Terry’s running resume is, it is only one of the reasons he is one of the most respected runners in New England. He is also incredibly loyal and remarkably generous. As an MIT alumnus, he has appeared in over forty MIT alumni vs. varsity track and cross country meets. He has volunteered at countless CSU events, handed out beer at countless recognition parties, and written hundreds and hundreds of workouts for his CSU teammates. Terry is one of the most generous, approachable, and kind runners around. Terry will run any workout with any person at any pace, and never once make you feel like he’d rather be running at his pace instead of yours. Likewise, Terry will show up on the darkest, coldest nights to run hills or intervals or tempo runs, and make you feel like there’s no better place in the world to be at that moment. For all of his teammates over the years, Terry has been the one most important steady presence in our running lives – our model for how to train, how to race, and how to enjoy running to the fullest.

Jon Waldron (2011)

A member of CSU since 1984, Jon has a track record of stand-out running performances across a wide range of distances and venues. he was a MA All-state cross-country runner in high school, ran a 2:30 marathon in 1991, won a U.S. Masters Indoor Mile Championship in 2002, and held the American M45 age-group record for the outdoor 3000 meters (9:04.05) from 2003-05.

But Jon is more than just a stand-out runner in his own right. At CSU’s annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, fellow runner Terry McNatt described Jon as a true Renaissance Runner – a personal mentor to many other runners, a high school cross-country and track coach at Concord Academy, a writer-blogger-philosopher about running and about life, and someone who integrates his love of running with his interest in music, writing and life as a whole. As Terry said, “Jon is always more interested in your training and accomplishments than his own… He is a listener and thinker in coaching and in life.” Jon helps the Club out in a myriad of ways, most notably embracing the sport of running and leading a long and successful running life of his own. In short, he is and has been an inspiration to us all!

Catherine Farrell (2010)

A member of CSU since 1974, Catherine has been a tremendous asset to the running community, in addition to an active and competitive contributor to CSU. This past year has been a stand-out year: Most notably, she won this year’s women’s 60+ division of the USATF New England Grand Prix series, beating out competitors as much as five years younger. In fact, she has come in first or second in the Grand Prix series ever since turning 60 in 2005. Catherine also came in second in the 60+ division in the New England Runner Pub Series this year, and was first in her division three times previously. Catherine has run the Boston Marathon thirteen times, and 12 other marathons, with a Personal Best of 3:00:47, which she has decided is “close enough!” She is a loyal volunteer presence at CSU’s Thursday evening Fresh Pond races in the summer and helps the Club out in a myriad of ways.

Teammates and competitors alike note that – no matter what the conditions or challenges of the day — Catherine always shows up ready to race, determined to do her best.

Diane McLaughlin (2009)

A member of CSU for more than 30 years, Diane McLaughlin has been an active and competitive team member, helping our women’s teams win various Cape Cod/ Winnipesaukee Relays and USATF Grand Prix titles. In addition, she has been a tremendous contributor to the running community in many different capacities. In 1990, Diane was appointed co-chair of the CSU Running Section Steering Committee, guiding the running section to adopt a more “team- oriented” approach and overseeing the trial run of hiring a Club coach. In 1992, she co-chaired CSU’s Running Section Auction fund-raiser – a huge event that benefited from Diane’s organizational skills and steady hand.

Beyond CSU, Diane served as the women’s master team representative to the USATF-New England from 1989 through most of the 1990s. Diane has been a long-time fixture at the Fresh Pond road races: Throughout the 90s and beyond, she organized the Master women’s share of conducting CSU’s Thursday evening FP races. Since the death of Fred Brown in 1992, Diane has been a regular organizer of the Saturday morning Fresh Pond races (along with Phil Keeley and Joe MacDonald of the North Medford Club). Her dedicated involvement was officially recognized in 2005, when Diane received North Medford Club’s Fred Brown Cup.

Competitively, it seems as if Diane runs the Boston Marathon nearly every year, in a decisive way. (As a master runner, she ran 3:22:50 in 1991.) However, marathons are not long enough for Diane, for she has competed in a fair share of ultra-marathons, as well. She’s been an Iron Runner in the USATF-NE Grand Prix at least once (1999 – 2nd 50s individual finisher), and last year, even though she is not a fan of “off-road” running, stepped up to serve as a member of the CSU women’s 60s team that competed in the NE XC championship (just one of many examples of her team commitment).

Boston Marathon spectator teammates have noted – no matter what the conditions or challenges of that day, Diane is always smiling and upbeat. This is representative of Diane’s “inner glow”: the caring and positive outlook she imparts to everyone. She is an inspiration to us all!

Sumner Brown (2008)

Sumner has a long and distinguished running career with CSU, both on the track, on the roads, and in the mountains. He is the present holder of nine Single Age records — from 49 to 62 — at the infamous Mt Washington Road Race, held each June on the Auto Road (slogan: “it’s only one hill”). He also was the overall age-group winner of the USA Track and Field New England Grand Prix series in the Men’s Seniors division for three consecutive years, 1994, 1995, and 1996. He has been nationally ranked in masters age categories. In 2000 he was ranked first by USATF in the 55-59 age category.

Earlier in his illustrious running career, he was the #1 runner on the MIT Varsity X-Country Team for three years, served as captain of the MIT X-Country Team and Track Team, and was described as the greatest cross-country runner in MIT’s history by MIT’s “The Tech” on Nov. 17, 1965.

At Saturday night’s induction, Sumner’s exceptional running career and “Rules to Run and Live By” were affectionately summarized by running partner and fellow CSUer Jim Terry (here). Sumner received a plaque (serving double-duty as a pancake griddle for those post-run feasts) in recognition of his many outstanding running accomplishments, as well as a rousing ovation from Club members.

Lisa Doucett (2007)

A long-time and prolific runner, Lisa is well-known throughout the
running community for her competitiveness and her dedication to the
sport. Lisa served as chair of the Cambridge Sports Union running
section for several years in the 1980s, and was an official
representative to the USA Track and Field (USATF) in the days when it
was known as NEAC. A talented and savvy mountain runner, in the late
1990s Lisa won the women masters’ division of the USATF New England
Mountain Running Circuit three years straight, and more recently she won
the seniors’ division in both 2006 and 2007. Lisa is also an avid
USATF Grand Prix runner who finished second in the women’s seniors
division in 2007 and has qualified as “Iron Runner” many times over for
running all seven races in the USATF Grand Prix series. A member of CSU
for nearly 30 years, Lisa’s encouragement and running performances have
provided inspiration to women in the Club for many years. She and her
husband Jamie are residents of Andover, MA and are avid cross-country
skiers as well as runners.

Pat Robinson & Henry Finch (2006)

Pat and Henry have been members of CSU since 1977, and have contributed to the Club in countless ways.

Pat produced the club newsletter for many years through the 1980s and ’90s, and has been the Treasurer of the Club since 1986. Furthermore, for years she has provided inspiration and informal coaching to women in the Club. She is also an accomplished runner in her own right; her best finish in the Boston Marathon was 2:51:03 (18th, 1979). In 1980 and 1981 she was the New England Marathon Champion, winning the 1980 Ocean State Marathon in 2:46:40 (PR). Throughout the years, Pat has helped organize CSU women’s teams for NE team championship races, and more recently she placed 2nd in the Seniors Division at the USATF New England Cross Country Championships 6K at Franklin Park.

Henry began his running career in high school as a hurdler and “general utility” team member, often scoring significant points for his team by placing in multiple events. After college, he continued to became an accomplished road, track, and cross-country runner in the open and masters divisions. Pat and Henry have two sons, Ben and Kelton, who are also accomplished cross-country and track runners.

Pat and Henry have generously hosted numerous CSU events at their home, including the always popular “CSU Soup Run,” which takes place in March each year and follows the Boston Marathon course from Hopkinton to Mile 18 and beyond.

Duke Hutchinson (2005)

Long-time Watertown resident Duke Hutchinson has been a member of CSU for nearly 20 years and is a past president of the club. For years he has served as volunteer coordinator
for CSU, handled equipment, uniforms, and apparel for the club, and managed
logistics for the club’s participation in the Boston Marathon. Duke is also an accomplished
runner in his own right and was 3rd in the Seniors Division of the 2005
New England Runner Pub Series.

Eleonora Mendonça (2000)

Ellie joined Cambridge Sports Union in 1974 and had an immediate impact on the women’s running scene in greater Boston by being a top finisher in road, track and cross-country races. Back in her home country of Brazil, Ellie had been an accomplished youth competitor in tennis and track. (She has set Brazilian records for 1500, 3000 and 10,000 meters as well as the marathon). She continued her dominate running in the U.S., finishing several times within the top 25 women at the Boston Marathon. In 1978, she was seventh female (2:52:49) and later that year placed fifth in the New York City Marathon in 2:48:45 (PR). Prior to the Olympics hosting a Women’s Marathon, Ellie competed in a number of Women’s International Marathon Championships (Atlanta, Ottawa, and Waldniel, Germany). The biggest highlight of her running career was representing her native Brazil running in the  first women’s Olympic Marathon (1984 – Los Angeles). The following year, Ellie continued her globe-trotting marathon racing by being invited to compete in the World Cup Marathon in Hiroshima, Japan.

Ellie’s PRs for the 5K is 17:50; 10K is 35:42 at the US Women’s 1979 Championship in Albany (Freihoffers). Ellie has also been “Queen of the Mountain”, finishing as first woman in the Mt. Washington Road Race three times in 1976, 1977 and 1978 (she is the only woman to run a course record twice, in 1977 and 1978).

Aside from being a front-runner in most of her races, she was also a leader and mentor of the CSU women’s team. During the later half of the ’70s and early ’80s, Ellie constantly organized CSU women’s team to successfully compete in Women’s International Marathon Championships (held in the US, Canada, England & Germany), U.S. and New England Road and Cross Country Championships (teams traveled to New York City, Albany, Columbus, OH), and in the annual Cape Cod Relay. Ellie has been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration for those who know her.

See the Cambridge Chronicle article about Eleonora Mendonça: “Always on the Run”.

Larry & Sara Mae Berman (1998)

Larry and Sara Mae are the founders of the entire Cambridge Sports Union (not merely the running section, but inclusive of the skiing and orienteering sections as well.) As a result, they hold the title of being the most veteran members of CSU at 46 years and counting. Sara Mae was the winner of the women’s race at the Boston Marathon 3 years in a row from 1969-1971. More on the Bermans can be found from the Boston Globe article here.