2004 Hall of Fame Inductee
The first American ever to win a distance event at a U.S.-Soviet Union dual meet, Gerry Lindgren was the U.S. national champion at 3,000 meters in 1967 and the 1964 national 10,000m champion. One of the most dominant collegiate athletes in history, Lindgren won 11 of the 12 NCAA events he contested while a student at Washington State University. He placed ninth in men's 10,000 meters at 1964 Olympic Games and was the 1967 USA 3,000m champion and the 1964 USA 10,000m champion. A three-time NCAA 5,000m/ three-mile champion, Lindgren was also a three-time NCAA 10,000m/ six-mile champion, a two-time NCAA Indoor two-mile champion and a three-time NCAA cross country champion. He set the six-mile world record in 1965 and set U.S. 3,000m & 5,000m records twice each. On July 25, 1964, in the event he is best known for, Lindgren outran two seasoned Russian runners, Leonid Ivanov and Anatoly Dutov, to win the 10,000 meters at the USA-USSR Track Meet in Los Angeles. Events 5,000 m - 13:33.80 10,000 m - 28:40.20 Records Held World Record: 6 mi. - 27:12 Championships 1964 Olympic Games: 10,000 m (9th) 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials: 10,000 m - 29:02.00 (1st) 1967 USA Outdoor Championships: 3,000 m (1st) 1967 USA Outdoor Championships: 3 mi. - 13:11 (1st) 1966 NCAA: 3 mi. - 13:34 (1st) 1966 NCAA: 6 mi. - 28:07 (1st) 1966 NCAA Cross Country: - 1741.40 m (1st) 1966 NCAA Indoor: 2 mi. - 8:41 (1st) 1967 NCAA: 3 mi. - 13:48 (1st) 1967 NCAA: 6 mi. - 28:44 (1st) 1967 NCAA Cross Country: - 1845.60 m (1st) 1967 NCAA Indoor: 2 mi. - 8:35 (1st) 1968 NCAA: 5,000 m - 13:47.20 (1st) 1968 NCAA: 6 mi. - 29:41 (1st) 1969 NCAA Cross Country: - 1739.20 m (1st) Occupations Coach