The La Salle College High School running program (Cross Country - Track & Field) is among the most storied in the entire Philadelphia area. Their is a rich tradition of success for the Explorers, not only in the Philadelphia Catholic League, but in Philadelphia, on the East Coast, and even Nationally.

Current Head Coach Pat Devine is in his 32nd year at the helm for the Explorers. During his tenure he has directed one of the most accomplished teams in the area, winning countless titles and awards. Most recently he has been the Philadelphia Inquire's XC Coach of the Year in '04 and '03. His teams have won 5 PCL XC Titles ('05, '04, '03, '97, '82), and Eastern State XC Title in '03, 4 PCL Indoor Track Titles ('99, '98, '97, '94), and one PCL Outdoor Track Title ('98). Additionally his Cross Country and Track & Field teams have won numerous PCL Northern Division Titles (both XC and Outdoor Track & Field) and PA Prep State Titles. He has coached numerous Individual PCL and PA State champions: Sean McGinley (PCL XC '05), Joe Fedorowicz (PA Indoor 800 '04), Mike Donahue (PCL XC, Mile, 2 Mile '99), Greg Bielecki (PCL 800 '99), Chris Ward (PCL 800 '98), Tom O'Connell (PCL 800 '96), Gil Smith (PCL 2 Mile '96), Jack Horgan (PCL XC '94), Kevin Scully (PCL Mile '91), Seamus McElligott (PCL XC, Mile, 2 Mile '86), Steve Gallagher (PCL 800, Mile '83), and John Mohrbacher (PCL 2 Mile '76). However, Devine's real coaching tallent can be seen in the success the Explorers have had in the Relay events. Devine's charges have won countless PCL Relay Titles. In the recent past he has had tremendous success at big meets such as the PA State Championship (in the 4x800: 3rd in '03, 3rd in '99, 2nd '98, 4th in '97, 1st in '96) , and Eastern State Championships (in the 4x800: 1st in '99). His runners have often been All-State and All-Americans in the 4x800 and Distance Medley Relays. The crowning moment was his '96 4x800 meter Relay team that finished 2nd in the Championship of America 4x800 at the Penn Relays and was the 1st U.S. team, earning Penn Relays watches.

Prior to Devine's tenure the famed Tom Donnelly (Class of '65) was Head Coach for 5 years, with Devine serving as his assistant. During Donnelly's stint at his alma mater the Explorers enjoyed even more success than they had when he was an athlete, winning back to back PCL and City XC titles in 1971 and 1972 (the only back-to-back XC titles in school history until 2003 - 2004), and scoring numerous individual PCL corwns in XC and on the track. Donnelly's personal record as an athlete at La Salle has been unmatched. He was a 4 time individual PCL XC champ (the only one in the history of the PCL), and a 3 time PCL Champ in the Mile on the track. He also won the Eastern State XC Championship setting the course record at hallowed Van Cortland Park.

While the Explorers certainly rose to new hights under Donnelly and became a fixture among the areas elites under Devine the bar had been set high even before that by athletes such as John Mastronardo, Jim Lomanno, John Gorman, Jim Bannister, John Bucley, Tom Gola, Joe Watmuff, Bob Kramer, Bob Walsh, Marty Stanczak, Phil Lembach (All PCL Champs). Undoubtedly we can continue to look for future La Salle runners to maintain and expand upon this long tradition of greatness.

The 13th Annual
La Salle College High School
Running Camp

For Male and Female Runners
going into grades 5th through 9th

Click here for the Summer 2017 brochure

Contact:
Mr. Greg Bielecki
8605 Cheltenham Avenue
Wyndmoor, PA 19038
Phone: (215) 402-4245
Email Coach Bielecki

The Philadelphia Catholic League Cross Country/Track & Field:

http://www.thepcl.org/

Track & Field Coaches Association of Greater Philadelphia:

http://www.geocities.com/tfcaofgp/

PA Track & Field Coaches Association:

http://www.ptfca.org/

PennTrackXC:

http://pa.milesplit.com/

Dyestat:

http://www.dyestat.com/

LetsRun:

http://www.letsrun.com/

Track & Field News:

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/tfn/index.jsp