Coach Torpey Article

[Nick]

Posted on Mon, May. 30, 2005  In Philadelphia Inquirer





La Salle rounding up old records


It's another round of running, recruiting and researching at the La Salle University track and field offices.

Coach Charles Torpey and assistant Brien Bell are digging through dusty filing cabinets and flipping through dog-eared folders.

They're trying to compile the progression of school records in every event and a list of every La Salle track athlete's personal best.

The Explorers have a storied past. John Uelses was the world's first 16-foot pole vaulter in 1964, Al Cantello was the world-record holder in the javelin in 1959 (282 feet, 31/2 inches), and Ira Davis was an Olympian in 1956, 1960 and 1964.

Under Torpey's direction, the men's and women's teams are concluding another strong season. At the Atlantic Ten outdoor championships on May 8, the men placed second and the women third; they combined for 20 gold medals.

In the last cross-country season, Torpey's men and women won A-10 titles in dominating fashion, and St. Hubert graduate Rachel Papin won the women's individual crown. Torpey has been named the A-10's cross-country coach of the year eight times.

Sean Quigley, a sophomore from Braintree, Mass., has already qualified for the NCAA championships (June 8 in Sacramento, Calif.) in the 10,000 meters with a performance of 28 minutes, 59.10 seconds. Under Torpey, current La Salle assistant Brian Gallagher (Sterling) and Theresa Gallagher (Cardinal O'Hara) were all-Americans in 1998. Ten athletes have earned academic all-American honors since 1998.

While Quigley and a few out-of-state performers bolster La Salle, the majority of the athletes are from the Philadelphia region. St. Pius X graduate Ryan Fennelly of Pottstown ran 13:59.80 in the 5,000 meters on March 28 to break Brian Gallagher's 1998 school record of 14:00.33.

"We've been fortunate with Catholic League kids, men and women, sprinters all the way through distance runners," Torpey said. "You always want more."

A native of New Milford, Conn., and a graduate of Keene State, Torpey was the coach at Maryland from 1981 to 1988. He also coached Springbrook High to the 1992 Maryland 4A state title before arriving at La Salle in 1993.

"We ran against them some when I was at Maryland," Torpey said of La Salle. "Al Cantello [a La Salle graduate who coaches at Navy] said, 'Why don't you look into the position?' "

Torpey, a low-key and modest man, credits his athletes and assistants for the program's success. Irv Mondschein, the champion decathlete and former Penn coach, was once an assistant. Along with Bell and Gallagher, his current staff includes former Temple coach Charles Alexander and former Springfield (Delco) coach Dallas Alexander.

Hall of Fame. Clive Terrelonge, a 1994 graduate of Lincoln, was inducted into the Division III Track and Field Hall of Fame on Wednesday at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. The first inductee in Lincoln's illustrious history and a two-time Olympian (1992 and '96) for Jamaica, Terrelonge clocked 1:47.56 in the 800 meters in 1991, which still stands as the national meet record.

Finishing kick. The Shut Up & Run 5K and the Nike Zoom Mile are set for 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Bryn Mawr Running Company on 828 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr. Visit www.brynmawrrunningco.com... . The annual Media Five Miler will be held at 7 p.m. June 17. Call 610-566-4151... . At the first Run for the Sparrow 5K on May 14 at Valley Forge National Park, Tom Kershner was the top finisher in 17:32. Marie Barth was the first female to cross, in 22:44... . The Chalfont Challenge 5K is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 11. Visit www.bucks5kseries.com... . The Ocean City Police Chase 5K is set for 8 a.m. June 18 at the Ocean City Music Pier. Call 215-487-0770... . The Team Philly 26.2 coaching program is holding meetings at 7 p.m. June 14 and 16. Call 215-487-0770... . The South Jersey Athletic Club begins its annual "No Frills, Just Thrills" Summer Race Series at 7 p.m. June 7 with a 3.65-mile run at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken. Visit www.southjerseyac.org... . The Philadelphia Masters Track and Field Association opens its summer season at 6:30 p.m. June 7 at Plymouth Whitemarsh High. Visit www.pmtf.net.



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Author : Contact suburban staff writer Ira Josephs at 610-313-8002 or ijosephs@phillynews.com.