Four new members have been announced for induction into the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Hall of Fame.
The names were released Tuesday. They include Dr. Eric Anish, Jim Hommes, Christine Simpson and Joe Thomas.
The induction ceremony will take place during marathon weekend on April 30.
Eric Anish
A University of Pittsburgh medical school graduate, Anish completed his first Pittsburgh Marathon in 1991, finishing in 2:45:05. In 1992, he ran his personal best of 2:34:46. In 1993 and ‘94, he won the Pittsburgh Marathon 10K events. He returned to the full marathon in the Masters Division in 2009 and finished seventh with a time of 2:38:33. That same summer, Anish, a Squirrel Hill resident, won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the USA Masters Outdoor Championship.
In 2014, Anish won the Masters division of the Pittsburgh Marathon with a time of 2:44:07. He has also served as a member of the Pittsburgh Marathon Medical Advisory Board.
Jim Hommes
Jim Hommes won the Masters Division of the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2013, 2016 and 2018. A Forrest Hills resident, he coaches track and cross country at Trinity Christian School.
Christine Simpson
Christine Simpson continued her running career after high school, first at Community College of Allegheny County and then at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At IUP, she ran in the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships in 1985, where the IUP team placed third.
Simpson also qualified for nationals the following spring in the 10,000 meters. At the 1987 Columbus Marathon, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:47.
Simpson moved to Florida with her husband Doug and continued running until her death in a car accident in 2017. Simpson’s sister-in-law, Sally Mannas, will attend the ceremony on her behalf.
Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas won the mile event in 4:14 at the Pennsylvania State Championship in 1960. It was one of the best high school times in the country during that era. He ended up earning a scholarship to Southern Illinois University and achieved NAIA All-American honors in track and field.
Thomas went on to coach both track and cross country at Albert Gallatin High School, where he continues to coach cross country.
The Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon returns as an in-person event this year with both races scheduled to be run on May 1.
