Vince Wojnar

Category
2009
About This Inductee

Vince first started competing in the Junior Olympics. He was Wilkes-Barre City champ in the 400-yard dash and long jump &120 yard high hurdles (meet record) in 1955. He was District 2 champ in the 440 yard dash in a meet record long jump and second in the 120 yard high hurdles in 1955. He graduated from Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre in 1955, and accepted a track scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. He was IC4A Indoor Mile Relay Champ in 1958 and 1959 (meet record in 1959). His best 400 meter time in the mile relay was 46.4 seconds (converted). He graduated form the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Mathematics in 1959. He served with eth Air Force 1960-1963. He was Military Air Transport Service Champ in the 440 yard and 880 yard runs in 1961. In the 1961 Air Force World Championships, he placed third in the 440 yard dash and seventh in the 880 yard run. In 1962 he was the Military Air Transport Service Champ in the 440 yard dash and 440 yard intermediate hurdles. Also in 1962, in the Air Force World Championships, he placed third in the 440 yard dash and the 440 yard intermediate hurdles. He competed for the Santa Clara Valley Youth Village a top rated team in California, in 1961-1962. Upon returning to Wyoming Valley, he coached track field at Wyoming Seminary in 1963. He taught at G.A.R. Memorial High School from 1964 to 1993 and started cross country there in 1964. In addition, he also coached track & Field there. From 1966-1969 he coached Maurice Peoples, an Olympian, at G.A.R. Memorial. Vince was on the committee to form Wyoming Valley Striders running club in 1975; the Club is now 34 years old and Vince is presently the secretary-treasurer. Vince was the Meet Director for the P.I.A.A. District 2 Cross Country Championship for 27 years. He is presently on the P.I.A.A. District 2 Committee for Cross Country and Track & Field (25 years). He has been a volunteer at the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington, D.C. and the Boilermaker 15 km in Utica, NY, Penn State track & field and cross country meets. Vince has been an official at Bucknell University cross country and track & field meets the last 20 years. Presently he is the Meet/Race Director for the Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run, the Cherry Blossom 5 Mile Run, the Spring 5.3 Mile Trail Run, the Summer 10 km Run, the Cliff Robbins Senior Memorial High School Cross Country Invitational Meet and the Fall 5.5 Mile Trail Run. Vince resides in Mountain Top area.