Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Jack Saint Clair Honored at 2017 Belmont Hall of Fame Classic
8.29.17 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
PHILADELPHIA – On Saturday, Aug. 26 former Temple cross country coach Jack Saint Clair was honored at the 2017 Belmont Hall of Fame Classic. Saint Clair was inducted into the hall of fame in 2016 for the design of the Belmont cross country course and for years of dedication to the sport. Among family, current Temple cross country teams, as well as Temple cross country alumni, including members of the 1967, Saint Clair was remembered for his legacy in the Philadelphia running community.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Temple hall-of-famer Bill Mahoney's first-place title at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship in 1967. Alumni from the 1967 team gathered at Belmont Plateau on Saturday to honor the life of their late head coach and watch the Hall of Fame Classic races. In 1967, the MAAC hosted its conference championship at Temple's home course, Belmont Plateau. This season, the American Athletic Conference will host the 2017 cross country championships on the same course.
"It was amazing to see our current teams interacting with the alumni from the 1967 cross country team," said head cross country coach James Snyder. "I'm glad that our student-athletes had the opportunity to learn about who came before them and that their home course has not changed since the 1967 team ran it. The course at Belmont is distinctly different than other college cross country courses; it is difficult to run. The guys from that team always talk about how much of an advantage it is as a Temple athlete to be able to compete for a conference championship at Belmont and I hope it proves true for us in October when we host the American Athletic Conference Championship."
Temple's present team served as course marshals at the Hall of Fame Classic, guiding the runners through the three races.
"Belmont Plateau is our home course so no one knows the trails better than we do," said Snyder, who is also on the hall of fame selection committee. "Volunteering at this race is important to our team. The funds raised help ensure that our course is well maintained so that we, along with other teams are able to train here each fall. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation have done a tremendous job in maintaining our course; their efforts do not go unnoticed."
Founded by local running coach Dave Thomas, the Belmont Plateau Cross Country Hall of Fame honors the talented runners, coaches, officials and championship teams that have competed at Belmont in the past, while keeping alive the traditions of Philadelphia cross country for future generations.
"To run Belmont well, you have to be a bull!" - Jack Saint Clair
About Jack "The Saint" Saint Clair
Jack St. Clair was born and raised in Philadelphia. He attended La Salle College High School and Penn State University (1951). As an athlete, he competed in three NCAA National Cross Country Championships finishing 28th (1948), 35th in 1949, and was a member of the Penn State team that won the team championship in 1950 (16th).
"The Saint" was a member of five National AAU Cross Country Championship teams. He finished 21st in the world-famous Boston Marathon in 1953 and in the top 10 a number of times in the Yonkers Marathon.
St. Clair served as the head coach of Cardinal Dougherty High School from 1956-1968). During his tenure, he led Cardinal Dougherty to eight Philadelphia Catholic cross country championships and eight City of Philadelphia city titles. He also coached Cardinal Dougherty to the Eastern States Cross Country Championship (Van Cortlandt Park, NY) in 1958.
From 1976-1983. St. Clair served as the head coach of cross country and track and field at Temple University where he compiled a 104-32-1 record in Track & Field.
"Saint" is credited as the Belmont Plateau cross county course designer (along with Lou Nicastro/St Joes, Frank Wetzler/LaSalle and Jim Tuppeny/Penn & Villanova). He designed the college men's classic 5. 2 mile course (Flagpole, Parachute, and Surekill Hills) along with the 2.3 High course (later lengthened to current 3.1 mile). Colleges and later Philadelphia Catholic and Philadelphia Public League started competing on the course in 1963. The Belmont Plateau cross country course is still considered one of the premiere 'old style" courses and has everything a cross country runner could want featuring steep challenging climbs, rapid descents, grass and dirt trails and spectacular views of the Philadelphia skyline.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Temple hall-of-famer Bill Mahoney's first-place title at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship in 1967. Alumni from the 1967 team gathered at Belmont Plateau on Saturday to honor the life of their late head coach and watch the Hall of Fame Classic races. In 1967, the MAAC hosted its conference championship at Temple's home course, Belmont Plateau. This season, the American Athletic Conference will host the 2017 cross country championships on the same course.
"It was amazing to see our current teams interacting with the alumni from the 1967 cross country team," said head cross country coach James Snyder. "I'm glad that our student-athletes had the opportunity to learn about who came before them and that their home course has not changed since the 1967 team ran it. The course at Belmont is distinctly different than other college cross country courses; it is difficult to run. The guys from that team always talk about how much of an advantage it is as a Temple athlete to be able to compete for a conference championship at Belmont and I hope it proves true for us in October when we host the American Athletic Conference Championship."
Temple's present team served as course marshals at the Hall of Fame Classic, guiding the runners through the three races.
"Belmont Plateau is our home course so no one knows the trails better than we do," said Snyder, who is also on the hall of fame selection committee. "Volunteering at this race is important to our team. The funds raised help ensure that our course is well maintained so that we, along with other teams are able to train here each fall. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation have done a tremendous job in maintaining our course; their efforts do not go unnoticed."
Founded by local running coach Dave Thomas, the Belmont Plateau Cross Country Hall of Fame honors the talented runners, coaches, officials and championship teams that have competed at Belmont in the past, while keeping alive the traditions of Philadelphia cross country for future generations.
"To run Belmont well, you have to be a bull!" - Jack Saint Clair
About Jack "The Saint" Saint Clair
Jack St. Clair was born and raised in Philadelphia. He attended La Salle College High School and Penn State University (1951). As an athlete, he competed in three NCAA National Cross Country Championships finishing 28th (1948), 35th in 1949, and was a member of the Penn State team that won the team championship in 1950 (16th).
"The Saint" was a member of five National AAU Cross Country Championship teams. He finished 21st in the world-famous Boston Marathon in 1953 and in the top 10 a number of times in the Yonkers Marathon.
St. Clair served as the head coach of Cardinal Dougherty High School from 1956-1968). During his tenure, he led Cardinal Dougherty to eight Philadelphia Catholic cross country championships and eight City of Philadelphia city titles. He also coached Cardinal Dougherty to the Eastern States Cross Country Championship (Van Cortlandt Park, NY) in 1958.
From 1976-1983. St. Clair served as the head coach of cross country and track and field at Temple University where he compiled a 104-32-1 record in Track & Field.
"Saint" is credited as the Belmont Plateau cross county course designer (along with Lou Nicastro/St Joes, Frank Wetzler/LaSalle and Jim Tuppeny/Penn & Villanova). He designed the college men's classic 5. 2 mile course (Flagpole, Parachute, and Surekill Hills) along with the 2.3 High course (later lengthened to current 3.1 mile). Colleges and later Philadelphia Catholic and Philadelphia Public League started competing on the course in 1963. The Belmont Plateau cross country course is still considered one of the premiere 'old style" courses and has everything a cross country runner could want featuring steep challenging climbs, rapid descents, grass and dirt trails and spectacular views of the Philadelphia skyline.
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