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Trenton Central -- Hurdles Mercer County boys’ scholastic track has been blessed with a bevy of spectacular performers in the high and intermediate hurdles, but in the early 1980’s, none was better than Trenton High’s amazing Barry McClain. In the 1980-81 seasons, McClain had a run for the ages, culminated by a tie for the national championship in the 110-meter high hurdles. McClain’s 13.62-second effort set school and county marks and earned All-State recognition.  Before that astounding feat, McClain won the Group IV indoor and Meet of Champions indoor titles in the 55 hurdles. Appropriately, he anchored Trenton’s Group IV state shuttle hurdles championship team and went on to win the Eastern States Championship in the same event. In the spring, McClain dominated the Mercer County track scene by taking the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles plus running legs on Trenton’s winning 4x400 and 4x800. He dropped to second at the Group IV meet in the 110 hurdles, but gained his revenge by taking the Meet of Champions crown in the event, while also taking second in the 400 hurdles in Mercer County record time. At Seton Hall University, McClain stayed true to his success level, earning All Big East and All IC4A honors in the hurdles. McClain competed in the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in 1983 and the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1984, and got to compete against two of the greatest hurdlers of all-time (Renaldo Nehemiah in the 110 hurdles and Edwin Moses in the 400 hurdles), an appropriate distinction for a Mercer County legend. Back to Class of 2025

Trenton Central -- Thrower The first Mercer County girl to win Meet of Champions titles in two different throwing events, Trenton’s Tara Hollowell was a fierce competitor who can best be described as a champion among champions. During her stunning reign from 1993-95, Hollowell earned three Group IV state titles and earned four All-State berths (two in 1994 and two in 1995; twice each in the shot put and discus). Following in the footsteps of perennial powerhouses Christine Williams and Lisa Morris, Hollowell incredibly managed to take Trenton’s already powerful throwing teams to another level. But for all those feats, one moment stands above the rest, an effort basked in drama that stands as one of the most clutch performances by a Mercer County thrower. The date was Thursday, April 27, 1995. In front of a packed house at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field, Hollowell trailed archrival Typhanie Bates of Williamstown going into the final shot put throw at the Penn Relays. At this moment of pressure and battling a stomach virus, Hollowell uncorked a throw of 41-9 ¼ to best Bates by ¾ of an inch, good enough for not only the title but the sixth consecutive New Jersey girl to bring home the crown.  With that effort, Hollowell (who won the All-Group title in the shot put in 1994 and All-Group discus in 1995) became the first Trenton High girl to win a Penn Relays title, an appropriate distinction for one of Mercer County’s greatest throwers. Back to Class of 2025

Special Contributor -- Sports Reporter A long-time favorite writer for the Trentonian Newspaper, George O'Gorman passed away in 2021. He is deservedly a member of multiple sports halls of fame, and in 2024 he was posthumously inducted into another: The Mercer County Track and Field Hall of Fame. Known by the nickname "Oge", O'Gorman began working for the Trentonian in 1976 covering various sports. One of the sports George emphasized was track and field --covering all of the Mercer County high school track teams. He was a reliable presence at dual meets, relays and championship meets, traveling the state to bring track and field news to the local area's readers. As Hopewell Valley's head track coach Aaron Oldfield put it, "“George was The Godfather of Mercer County sports reporting. He was very dedicated, very loyal. His knowledge base was remarkable and his passion was legendary. It seemed like he was the only one for The Trentonian that would cover track back in the day. He would do the honor roll, the weekly best marks for the season, every week. He knew everyone in the sport." Perhaps O'Gorman's relentless dedication to high school sports in the Mercer area was a result of the fact that he was a local guy. He was born in Trenton, he attended Cathedral High School, and he graduated with degrees from Trenton State College (TCNJ) and Rider University--all schools located in Mercer County NJ. A list of awards O'Gorman received tells the story of a reporter with immense integrity who was respected by his peers in the sports community. Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame Mercer County Softball Hall of Fame Mercer County Basketball Hall of Fame New Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame NJ Sportswriter’s Association Writer of the Year Honored by the Trenton Select Committee Board Member of the Delaware Valley Football Foundation Tony Pershchilli Media Award Winner Football Foundation Contribution to Youth Football Honoree Hamilton Twp. instituted George O’Gorman Award for the township school with the best overall athletic record Add to that list a well-deserved membership in The Mercer County Track and Field Hall of Fame to pay tribute the career of a great one. Back to Class of 2024

Trenton Central High School – Coach During a decade as head coach of TCHS, Coach Peter Morgan won 3 Group IV Track & Field State Championships.  They came in 1940, 1944 and 1945. In Cross-country his teams also won 3 NJ State Championships in 1941, 1942, 1945, and 2 National Interscholastic Cross-country Championships in 1941 and 1942. Morgan’s track team won the inaugural Conference Championship in 1939.   His teams continued to win the conference straight though until 1946—for 8 in a row. In the South Jersey Championships, Trenton’s team under Coach Pete won 7 in a row from 1940-1946.  Morgan also coached the 1946 Penn Relays Champions in the 2 Mile Relay. As head coach, Morgan mentored athletes to individual Group 4 state titles in the following: 1938 Al Kurlander 120 HH 1939 Paul Augustine Jav, Larry Falwell 440 Yds 1940 Johnny Bossman 220 YDS, Jack Hunt 220 LH & George Odgen Jav 1941 George Ogden Jav 1943 Ed Poreda 880 Yds & Robert Westover 440 Yds   1944 Ed Poreda 880 Yds, Hal Bannister 1 Mile Run, & Walt Antheil Jav 1945 William Fischer 880 Yds and Danny Ray 120HH 1946 William Fischer 440 Yds, and Jack Skokos 1 Mile Run 1948 Ron Groomes Long Jump          Morgan left TCHS to become Assistant Track Coach and Head Cross-country Coach at Princeton University.  He coached the Tigers until 1970.   After retiring from coaching he became Executive Director of the Mercer County Parks Commission. Morgan was a graduate of Notre Dame University Class of ’29 and played college football and track.  His football coach was Knute Rockne. MAJOR TITLES WON 3 STATE GROUP 4 T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS (1940, 1944, 1945) 3 STATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (1941, 1942, 1945) 2 NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (1941 & 1942) 7 SJ SECTIONAL T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS (1940 TO 1946) 8 BIG-6 CONFERENCE T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS (1939-1946) 2 MERCER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS (1937 & 1938) STATE RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP (1943) PENN RELAYS CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA 2-MILE RELAY (1946) Back to Historical Class

Trenton Central & Lawrenceville School – Athlete & Coach        Ed Poreda first attended Trenton Central as a student-athlete and later coached at The Lawrenceville School.  In between he attended La Salle Military Academy followed by Syracuse University. As an athlete at Trenton High, Poreda won the 880 Yard Run at the Group 4 State Championships in both 1943 and 1944.  In ’44 he not only broke the 2 minute barrier, but his performance helped Trenton in winning the Team State Championship for Group 4.   Poreda also ran Cross-country. In the fall of his Jr year he was part of the Tornados state and national champion Cross-country team of ‘42. Poreda served as the Head Cross Country and Head Track Coach at The Lawrenceville School from 1954 to 1994.  As a coach he won over 60 NJISAA titles, including an undefeated cross country season in 1966 where his runners finished five out of the top six at the county meet.   A member of The Lawrenceville School Hall of Fame, Poreda worked as a public school teacher in Trenton until 1982.  The Ed Poreda Invitational Track Meet is named in his honor. MAJOR TITLES WON 2-TIME STATE GROUP 4 CHAMPION 880 YDS (1943 & 1944) 2-TIME SJ SECTIONAL CHAMPION 880 (1943 & 1944) 2-TIME BIG-6 CONFERENCE CHAMPION 880 (1943) 1 MILE RUN (1944) Back to Historical Class

Trenton Central High School – Javelin Antheil smashed the state javelin record by throwing 200 feet 3 inches for the win at the Group 4 State Championships in 1944.  He eclipsed the record—set 3 years before by former Trenton thrower George Ogden--by over 20 feet.  Antheil’s record performance also propelled Trenton Central’s team to the 1944 Group 4 State Title.    Antheil's gold medal from the 1944 NJ State Meet Antheil also won the Conference and South Jersey Championships in Javelin in both the 1943 and 1944 seasons. After graduating from Trenton, he attended Drake University where he was known as Walter “Jersey” Antheil.  At Drake he was All-American in the javelin, placing 4 th  at the 1945 NCAA Championships.  He was the nephew of famed composer George Antheil.                  MAJOR TITLES WON STATE GROUP 4 CHAMPION JAVELIN (1944) 2-TIME SJ SECTIONAL CHAMPION JAVELIN (1943 & 1944) 2-TIME BIG-6 CONFERENCE CHAMPION JAVELIN (1943 & 1944) Back to Historical Class

Trenton Central High School -- Sprints & Mid-Distance                                                       Bill Fischer helped lead TCHS to two consecutive Group 4 Team State Championships in 1944 and 1945, and he was a 2-time individual state champion as well. In 1945 during his junior season at Trenton, Fischer won the Group 4 state title at 880 YDS.  The following year as a senior in 1946, he showed his versatility by moving down in distance and taking the Group 4 state crown at 440 YDS. Along with his brother Robert--who was a formidable runner in his own right--the Fischers helped lead the Tornados to tremendous success over multiple seasons. Between the years of 1943 to 1946, the brothers were primary contributors on a Trenton squad that won The State Relays in 1943, 4 straight Conference Championships from 1943-46, and 4 straight South Jersey Group 4 Championships from 1943-46. In addition to all that, William was the leadoff runner on Trenton’s Two Mile Relay team that won the Penn Relays Championship of America in 1946. After his graduation from Trenton, Fischer attended Lafayette College where he played football and competed on the track team.  He went on to work as a teacher and track coach at Middletown Township High School, and then a physics professor at Brookdale Community College.  Like his brother Robert who served in the Marine Corps, Fischer was a military veteran who served as a pilot in the United States Navy . MAJOR TITLES WON GROUP 4 STATE CHAMPION 880 YARDS 1945 GROUP 4 STATE CHAMPION 440 YARDS 1946 SJ SECTIONAL CHAMP 880 YARDS 1945 BIG SIX CONFERENCE CHAMPION 440 YARDS 1946 PENN RELAYS CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA 2 MILE RELAY 1946 Back to Historical Class

Trenton Catholic Boys’ High School - Coach Trenton Catholic was known as a basketball powerhouse by the late 1950’s.  However, before their hoops success they were a powerhouse in track and field, and their coach was a Franciscan Catholic Priest who went by “Father Corbin.” Corbin coached the Golden Wave to 2 Parochial A State Championships in 1948 and 1951.  In doing so, he mentored athletes to 9 individual state titles in a program built primarily on field events. Corbin tutored Paul Finnegan to back to back state pole vault titles in 1949 and 1950 as well as a state HJ crown in 1950.  John Zigrand broke the Parochial A record in shot put to win the 1950 state crown. He also coached state champions in 120 High Hurdles (Doederline, 1949), 220 Low Hurdles (Lindenthal, 1949) and javelin (Mccotter, 1951). Father Corbin left Trenton Catholic to serve as a military chaplain. After 18 months in the Korean War, he returned to the US and trained as a paratrooper with the Army’s 82 nd Airborne Division, earning the nickname “The parachuting priest.” In 1969, he received “The Soldier’s Medal” during the Vietnam War. When he retired from the military he established St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in North Carolina. MAJOR TITLES 1948 NJ PAROCHIAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP T&F 1951 NJ PAROCHIAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP T&F Back to Historical Class

Track official, former head coach Steinert Boys Track, elementary and high school administrator, graduate of Hamilton West 1966.

Former head coach Steinert Boys Track, former Mercer County Championships Meet Director, retired high school history teacher and veteran of The United States Marine Corps

Current Head Girls Track and Cross-Country Coach at Hopewell Valley, graduate of Steinert High School (1988,) and Rider University

Current Head Coach of Notre Dame HS Track and Cross-Country, high school administrator, and graduate of Steinert High School 1987