4.32 1977 IUP Mens XC Hall of Fame team

4.32 1977 IUP Mens XC Hall of Fame team

Author: Matthew Kleinosky September 19, 2026 Duration: 45:43

In this special reunion episode, members of the historic 1977 Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Men's cross country team gather to celebrate their upcoming induction into the IUP Sports Hall of Fame.

Matthew joins with 5 teammates of the 8 who ran at NAIA and NCAA D2 nationals: Andrew Pheiff, Jacob Hepp, Ken Trilli, Dan Cunkleman, and Richard Wolf ... to reflect on the historic season that brought home the state title and put IUP on the national map.

The panel revisits the grit and camaraderie that defined their collegiate careers, from 138-mile summer training weeks and the fierce battle for a top-seven varsity spot to the unique culture of the cross country house.

They share vivid memories of navigating brutal championship conditions—including the frigid Chicago Nationals, running road-course alternates in the rain, and turning to blue pantyhose to stay warm on race day.

The group also explores their relationships with Coach Ed Fry and Head coach / recruiter Coach Sutton, analyzing how Fry’s coaching philosophy developed overlooked high school runners into All-Americans and national championship contenders.

Looking back across the decades, they trace the enduring impact of those years on their lives, from careers in Olympic athletics, officiating, and the 1984 Marathon Trials to the lifelong bond forged through distance running.

With the induction weekend approaching, this conversation captures the humor, history, and unmatched depth of the squad that set the championship standard for IUP cross country.


Matthew Kleinosky hosts Running In The 70s, a podcast that steps off the beaten path of modern running culture to explore a pivotal decade in the sport. Instead of focusing on stats and records, each conversation is a journey into personal memory. You'll hear directly from the men and women who were there-cross country runners grinding through autumn mud, track athletes pushing the limits on cinder and early synthetic surfaces, and road racers who helped ignite the first mass-participation boom. Their stories capture the unique texture of the era: the training methods without today's technology, the rivalries, the sheer love of the run, and how the landscape of the sport was fundamentally changing beneath their feet. This podcast isn't just about nostalgia; it's about understanding the foundation upon which today's running world is built, told through the vivid, often surprising recollections of those who lived it. Tune in for intimate, meandering interviews that feel like sitting down with a fellow runner after a long workout, uncovering the heart and hustle of 1970s running one story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Running In The 70s
Podcast Episodes
4.01 New IUP coach Patrick Gildea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:01
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟕𝟎𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 - 4.01 Patrick Gildea He may have just been a twinkle in someone's eye in 1970 but Patrick Gildea is an SEC champ, past professional runner, USA World XC team member and ... the new Director an…
3.33 Dave Patrick - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:50
This feels like a gift to all of us from Dave Patrick - 1962, Kennwood HS, state champ, 2-mile relay natl record; Winner inaugural Penn Relays HS mile, 9 Penn Relays golds, 1966 Penn Relays MVP, IC4A Mile champ x 6, NCAA…
3.32 Dave Patrick Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:53
1962, Kennwood HS, state champ, 2-mile relay natl record; Winner inaugural Penn Relays HS mile, 9 Penn Relays golds, 1966 Penn Relays MVP, IC4A Mile champ x 6, NCAA National champ x 4, World records indoor 880 / 1000 yar…
3.31 Pete Romero [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:09
3.31 Peter Romero - 1967 Sports Illustrated " Faces of the Future", CIF 2-mile champ, Golden West 2 mile champ, 1971 UTEP 2 mile relay NCAA Natl Champs, coached High School TX XC state champs
3.30 Howard Skeggs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:46
Running in the 70s - 3.30 Howie Skeggs,1963/5th grade, 1969 Archbishop Molloy High School ... All American 2-mile relay, St. Johns U, 2 x team co-captain, 2-mile relay win Ohio State Relays 1974, coaching career
3.29 Julio Piazza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:27
1964, Brooklyn Hts, city "scrub" champ, 3rd fastest HSer at Van Cortlandt Park, UPenn/Team 3rd XC Natls, winner 1st Philly Distance Classic, winner Providence marathon, Italy Oly trials, 5 Ivy Yitles coach at UPenn, 27 y…
3.28 Mike Spinnler Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:56
Aomw crazy Intl stories! ... Mike Spinnler, 1971, Hagerstown Comm College Frostburg, JFK 50 miler 2 time winner, JFK 50 mile Director 1993- , coach from high school through ... 9x US Natl teams, Cumberland Valley Athleti…
3.27 Mike Spinnler Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:19
Mike Spinnler, 1971, Hagerstown Comm College Frostburg, JFK 50 miler 2 time winner, JFK 50 mile Director 1993- , coach from high school through ... 9x US Natl teams, Cumberland Valley Athletic Club coach/Co-ord since 199…
3.26 Doug "Shaggy" Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:37
Doug "Shaggy" Smith, 1960, marathoner 1980s-1990s, Canadian M35 Steeplechase record, "untouchable" Masters Steeple DFL streak, Photographer: ShaggysPhotos.com, Admin/Chair at various levels Masters Athletics Ontario & Ca…