Jonathan Cross

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 15, 2023

Jonathan Cross is being inducted into the Hawaii Running Hall of Fame for his running prowess and his contributions in enhancing the sport of running in Hawaii. Ever since he set foot in Hawaii more than 40 years ago, Jon Cross has been actively involved with running, either as a participant or as a supporter.

Jon ran for the University of Michigan in the 1970’s and was the two-time record holder in the 6-mile event. He still holds the indoor 6-mile record for the University of Michigan. In 1973, Jon ran the 6-mile event in the NCAA Track and Field Championships, one of only six freshmen in the nation who qualified. These achievements were the impetus behind his ranking of 17th in the nation in the 6-mile run by Track & Field News in 1974.

Jon excelled in other distance races as well, including the 1979 Boston Marathon in a time of 2:29:37. In Hawaii, Jon competed in many of the local races, setting course records along the way, including:

  • 1982 Norman Tamanaha 15k Champion in course record time (still 4th on all-time list)
  • 1982 Symphony 4-mile champion in course record time
  • 1982 Wahiawa Pineapple Run champion in course record time
  • 1982 Pepsi Challenge 10k, 3rd place
  • 1983 Barber’s Pt RRCA 20k Champion in Hawaii State record
  • 3 x Run for Diamonds 5-mile champion

Jon’s involvement in the Honolulu Marathon Association forever changed long distance running in the State. His contributions in this regard are noteworthy and substantial. He has been a member of the Honolulu Marathon Association since 1984 and Race Director of the Honolulu Marathon for 25 years. Jonathan has served as the Elite Athlete Coordinator (with Jim Barahal) since 1984. Before that time, only a few race directors, Cross and Barahal among them, believed that Africans could run well in longer distances, such as a marathon. He was instrumental in cultivating and recruiting elite African runners to run the Honolulu Marathon, which forever changed the face of “the people’s race” and thrust the local marathon onto the international arena. Participation by African and international runners is now one of the hallmarks of the Honolulu marathon, which, under their leadership, became one of the largest and most popular marathons in the world.

Jon has lived in Hawaii for 43 years and continues to practice dentistry in Kaimuki. He has two sons, ages 29 and 23, who are both bilingual in Japanese. Unable to run due to a foot injury, Jon enjoys swimming, lifting weights, and using exercise equipment. He also enjoys playing musical instruments, especially the ukulele and banjo.  

Gordon Dugan

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

Gordon Dugan was born in Illinois and grew up in Colville, Washington.  He started running in grad school in California, but really became a serious runner after moving to Hawaii in 1971. 

Gordon’s running forte was the ultra-distance races during a span of 37 years.  At the national level during the 1970s and 1980s, Gordon conquered the Western States 100 Miler seven times.  Four times from that race, he brought home the coveted Silver Belt Buckle, awarded to runners who completed the distance in under 24 hours.  In 1977, Gordon was the masters champion at the AAU 50-Mile Championship, held in Santa Monica, California.

In Hawaii, among many impressive finishes, the following are a sample of races won by Gordon:

  • 1975 Hawaii 50 Mile Run at Schofield Barracks
  • 1980 100KM Primo Relay Ultra
  • 1986 50 Mile Bud Light Ultra
  • 1987 50 Mile Bud Light Ultra
  • 1990 100KM Honolulu City Lights Ultra

In 2007, Gordon was one of three runners inducted into the Honolulu Marathon Hall of Fame.  Gordon and the other two were the only ones to have finished the Honolulu Marathon 34 consecutive years, including the inaugural race in 1973.  In 1985 and 1986, Gordon and his son, Patrick, won the father-son division in the Honolulu Marathon.  Amazingly, Gordon accomplished one of his last Honolulu Marathons in a walking boot.

Gordon served as president of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club two times in the 1980s.  In addition, Gordon helped guide the very first Ironman Triathlon, held in Honolulu in 1978.

Gordon earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in civil engineering at Washington State, and his PhD in Environmental Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.  Gordon is a University of Hawaii Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering.  Gordon and his wife, Barbara, reside in Honolulu and have been married for 68 years.  They have four children, Patrick, Suzanne, Daniel and Samuel.

Gerry Lindgren

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

Olympian Gerald “Gerry” Paul Lindgren moved to Hawaii 44 years ago in 1980.  He has been active in the local running community coaching runners in his own Coconut Runners Club both on the track and road for many years.  He also led the 4-mile run from Niketown every Wednesday for more than 10 years until the store closed.  More recently he has coached for the Hawaii Running Project.  He has given talks to cross country teams at local high schools, at Mid-Pacific Road Runner events and has coached runners everywhere over the internet.  

Gerry’s running accomplishments as a world class champion during high school, college and beyond are well documented.  By the time Gerry moved to Hawaii he could no longer compete in national/ international competitions, plagued by injuries that hampered him throughout his career.  Still, he entered many local races often winning his age group and completed 14 Honolulu marathons.  

“I couldn’t let America down. I had to do my best.”

In 2022, the Collegiate Athlete Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame inducted Gerry in their inaugural event.  At the induction banquet they mentioned the 1964 USSR vs US Dual meet where the then 18-year-old in his first international meet beat the Russians in the 10,000.   At the time considered one of the greatest accomplishments in U.S. track history.  “I knew people would judge our system by this one race.  I couldn’t let America down.  I had to do my best.”

Another notable race occurred in 1969 at the Hawaii Invitational, AAU International Track and Field Championships, 2-mile race at Honolulu (Punahou track) between 18-year-old Steve Prefontaine, 23-year-old Gerry Lindgren, Frank Shorter and Marty Liquori.  Gerry wins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csZGZZMLkOc

Some say, possibly America’s greatest ever high school distance runner.

Highlights of Gerry’s running career:

  • 8 high school world records
    • 5000-meter record that stood for 40 years until 2004 (13:44, 2nd all-time U.S.)
    • Indoor two-mile record that stood for 49 years until 2013 (8:40, 2nd all-time in-doors, PR-8:34 in 1967)
  • 1964 Track and Field News Highschool Athlete of the Year
  • 1964 US-USSR Dual Meet (10,000, 29:17)
  • 1964 U.S. Olympic trials, Gold-10,000 (29:02)
  • 1964 Tokyo Olympics (10,000, 29:20)
  • 1965 World record – 6 miles (27:11)
  • 1967 USA Outdoor Championships: 3000 (1st), 3 miles (1st)
  • 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic trials
  • 1969 Hawaii Invitational 2-mile race, AAU International Track and Field Championship (8:45)
  • 11 time Collegiate All American
  • 11 NCAA championships/tittles.  Won all but one NCAA races he entered, the most in history at the time.
    • 1st 3-time individual winner of the NCAA cross country championships.
    • 1st collegiate distance triple crown – titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in the same academic year 1966-67.
    • Three-straight titles in both the 3-mile/5000 meters and 6-mile/10,000 meters outdoors, the first to do so in either event.
  • 57 American records – 3,000 (7:58), 5,000 (13:33), 10,000 (28:40), and 3-mile (12:53). He set the American records twice each in the 3,000 and 5,000.  Records encompass outdoor, indoor and cross-country.
  • 11 American high school records – 3,000 indoors (8:06), 10,000 (29:17), and 3-mile (13:17)
    • 1-mile (4:01) 2nd fastest in history in 1964

Inducted into the:

  • National High School Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1964
  • Washington State University Hall of Fame in 1978
  • Washington State Sports Hall of Fame in 1979
  • Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1999
  • National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2004
  • National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2006
  • Collegiate Athlete Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame Inaugural event in 2022
  • Hawaii Running Hall of Fame in 2024

Although Gerry’s most notable running achievements were outside of Hawaii when he was younger, it is through that experience and dedication to running that inspired those that ran with and were coached by him in Hawaii.  His induction into the Hawaii Running Hall of Fame is to recognize him for a lifetime of achievement representing the U.S and therefore Hawaii on the world and national stage as well as his many years of contributing to the local running community.

Gerry works at the University of Hawaii in the Building and Maintenance Department and lives in Hawaii Kai.  He enjoys gardening and is immensely proud of his Koi pond.

Silvia A. Martz

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

The incomparable Silvia A. Martz is being inducted into the Hawaii Running Hall of Fame as a Contributor. Many knew Silvia by her nickname “SAM” (which stands for the initials in her name). SAM was probably considered the mother of the running community in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Her level of support for the running community goes “above and beyond” what many would consider to be outstanding achievements in volunteerism. As a long-time member of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club, she worked at every MPRRC race and most major races on Oahu, seeing to it that the finish line was set up and operating flawlessly. Due to this knowledge, SAM also conducted clinics on how to run and manage the finish line and was responsible for encouraging and motivating countless people to become involved in volunteering for races.

SAM also managed the Honolulu Marathon Association office for more than 20 years and was the custodian of important documents and files for the USA Track and Field Hawaii Association. She was so well-regarded by runners that after her death, the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club named a 5K race in her honor (“SAM’s 5K Memorial Run”) and erected a plaque on the pole across the finish line of the marathon course, which reads, “In Remembrance of Silvia ‘SAM’ MARTZ Who Worked the Finish Line of Countless Runs and Races June 28, 1992”. The plaque is periodically refreshed with fresh lei. The Honolulu Marathon Association dedicated the 25th running of the Honolulu marathon in her honor.

SAM also ran in many road races and was admired and beloved for the encouragement she gave to amateur runners; often being the only one cheering on the last stragglers as they crossed the finish line. SAM’s leadership in helping to set up and direct races inspired others to pursue roles as volunteer leaders in the running community. Her dedication to volunteering serves as a model and a reminder that it would not be possible to provide races and other athletic events without the support of volunteers like SAM.

SAM died in 1992 at the age of 69. She is survived by two daughters, Suzan Holmquist and Cynthia Martz, one son, Jasun Martz, five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, plus her “hanai” son, Jonathan Hake, also a longtime runner in MPRRC events.

Darlene Mota

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

Darlene Davis-Kinmore (formerly Darlene Mota) was born June 2, 1964. She was a dominant female road racer in Hawaii in all distances for nearly a decade starting in the early 1990’s.

Darlene arrived in Hawaii in the early 1990’s as a member of the US Coast Guard. After her time in the Coast Guard, Darlene made Hawaii her home and attended college and ran for the University of Hawaii- Manoa and Hawaii Pacific University. After graduating from college, Darlene worked in Hawaii in Sales and Marketing for the Hyatt and Hilton Hotels for 18 years. She raced and trained in Hawaii while becoming a National Class runner.

In 1993, Darlene finished 2nd in NAIA National Cross-Country Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In 1996 and 2000, she was a qualifier in the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials.

In 1993 and 1994, she was an NAIA All-American in Cross Country for Hawaii Pacific Univ.

In 1995, she represented the USA in the IAAF World ½ Marathon Championships in France as part of Team USA.

Among the awards that she earned were:

Quarterback Club Athlete of the Month

Honolulu Advertiser Endurance Athlete of the Year

Winner (many of them multiple) of nearly every major road race in Hawaii and State records in multiple distances from 5k to half marathon, some of which still stand today.

PRs:

5k: 16:36

8k: 27:22

10k: 34:35

GAR: 45:53

15k: 54:40

½ Marathon: 1:15:13

Marathon: 2:40:52

Besides her stellar running career, Darlene served as a coaching assistant for BOCA 1994-1996.

Darlene presently lives in Ridgefield, Washington and works for the USDA Forest Service. She is married to Brent Kinmore, from Mililani, HI. Darlene has a stepdaughter, Rylee, 19, a stepson Alex, 23, and also Snowball, 14, a stray cat found at Fort DeRussy Beach Park and Shea, 10, a long-haired chihuahua. Darlene runs about 50 miles a week, but no serious workouts or racing.

Rachel Portner

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

Rachel Portner started running in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1975 and fell in love with running right away. She was coaxed into running her first race, a 5-miler, which she ended up winning with a time of 29 min.

In 1981 Rachel moved to Hawaii with her family and quickly became one of the fastest female distance runners in the state. As a mother of four children, she always put her family first. But through her discipline and dedication to her sport, she somehow found the time for training.

Rachel qualified-for the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials at the Detroit Marathon, with a time of 2:50:41. She then went on to run her personal best marathon at the trials in Olympia, Washington in 2:46:51. Her two best Honolulu Marathons came in 1984 and 1985. She ran a 2:49:33 in 1984, 6th overall female and a 2:53:08 in 1985, 2nd overall female.

Most of Rachel’s road races were distances between 10K and the marathon, where she had great success. But she also enjoyed an occasional trail race and even an ultramarathon. She is a 5-time winner of the Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Marathon, and a 2-time winner and women’s record holder of the Run to The Sun; she was the first overall finisher (men and women) in 1993.

Rachel also had a passion for coaching. She wanted to help others have the same positive experience that she had with running. She coached the intermediate students at Punahou for two years, and then worked with Duncan MacDonald coaching at the varsity level for the next four years. She then accepted a position of head coach at Sacred Hearts Academy and coached four more years.

Rachel is married to Bernie Portner and they have four children. Maya, Talia, Liat, and Elan.

Running Achievements:

First place finishes:

6:12:0658.26 kmKahuluiRun to the Sun
3:46:29MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:43:08MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
5:39:0858.26 kmKahuluiRun to the Sun (Overall)
3:38:26MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:40:23MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:19:44MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:12:51MarathonKailuaWindward
36:1010 kmHonoluluWomen’s 10K

PRs:

36:10:0010KHonoluluWomen’s 10K
2:46:51MarathonWashingtonUS Olympic Trials

Coaching:

  • Punahou Intermediate students, 2 years
  • Punahou Varsity students, 4 years
  • Sacred Hearts Academy, head coach 4 years

John Salmonson

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

John Salmonson was an accomplished runner who placed the utmost value on leadership, mentoring, and inspiring other runners to achieve what may have been thought impossible. Winning races was not a priority for John; sharing his love for running, particularly trail running, and encouraging others were his greatest achievements.

Johnʻs running lifetime was shared with his wife, PJ. They were married following their completion of the Vermont 100-mile race in 1989. They participated in all of life’s events together thereafter.

John arrived in Hawaii in 1974 from Santa Cruz to start his new business that continues to thrive today under the reigns of his son, Eric. John began running during his early years in Hawaii and completed his first Honolulu Marathon in 1981. In typical “Big John” fashion, he coached and trained a small group of close friends to complete the 1982 Honolulu Marathon together, then literally, tethered together as a bunch of reindeer for the Reindeer Run in 1985! Soon after, he tried trail running and quickly was pulled to the lure of ultra running.

John accumulated over 100,000 lifetime miles of running in Hawaii and around the globe on his many adventurous runs. Other marathons completed include Maui, San Francisco, Pikeʻs Peak and Volcano. Ultramarathons are where John excelled and felt most comfortable. John completed distances from 50K to 100 miles, 8-day relays, and 10-day running adventures, including the Lewis and Clark relay across Washington State, the Golden Circle Super Marathon (10 marathons over 10 days) in Russia and Haleakala Run to the Sun several times. John started the tradition of running your age in miles on your birthday by running home from Haleiwa on his 40th. Later, when John planned more birthday runs in places like Molokai, Maunakea, Mauna Loa, Kalalau, Lanai, and Saddle Road, there was always a big gang there to support him, learn from him, and celebrate the beauty of running together in the natural environment.

When running was no longer possible for John, he led the trail running movement in Hawaii and commanded that HURT develop events for the people of Hawaii. John boldly moved forward directing both road runs and trail runs. He directed many races such as the Schofield 50 Miler, Capitol 50 Miler, Honolulu City Lights, HURT 100, HURT Trail Series races, and Haleakala Run to the Sun for its final seven years. When John was the race director, everyone benefitted from his endless optimism and can-do spirit. More than a few HURT 100 finishers have John to thank for believing in them and inspiring them.

John supported and mentored many young and novice Hawaii ultrarunners in their attempt to conquer big races all over the world.  Anyone needing training plans, advice, and encouragement would go to John, who was always generous in sharing his wisdom and experience. John gave generously of his time and experience to Hawaii’s young runners by coaching at Mid Pacific for three years.

Most important to John was sharing his love of trail running, inspiring runners to go beyond their perceived limits, provide support and fellowship, and to develop a community-concious running group. HURT was born out of that love and devotion to the running community, his desire to give of himself, and his respect for Hawaii’s aina. HURT remains the ohana that John envisioned, with his protégées carrying on in his memory and perpetuating HURT’s mission to enhance long distance running and trail runs and to provide fellowship and support among Hawaii’s running community.

Running accomplishments:

  • 4 x Western States 100 finisher – PR 24:36:00
  • 3 x Run to the Sun 36-mile finisher – PR 7:28:39
  • 3 x American River 50-mile finisher – PR 9:06:32

John now rests on the trails that he so loved, and his family couldn’t imagine any better place for him to stay in eternity. The thousands of people that he has introduced to trail running and have received his encouragement over his lifetime feel his spirit there and hear his voice saying,
“We Wouldn’t Want it to be Easy”.