Chris Prior

Year Inducted: 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Personal Records:
5K ... 14:18
10K ... 29:02
Half-Marathon ... 1:04:30
Marathon ... 2:15

Whether on a training run or in a race, Chris was one of the strongest and most competitive runners to ever come out of Ohio. A soccer player who turned to running Chris excelled at a range of distances. He ran cross country and track at The Ohio State University.

After college he continued to improve as he ran with the Bob Schul Racing team and was a member of the Converse Racing team. One of the best marathoners in the country in his prime, Chris ran sub 2:20 marathons over the course of more than a decade. Some of his accomplishments include:

Won the Rocket City Marathon in 1987 and 1989

Won the Isle of Crete Marathon in 1989

Won the Steamboat Marathon with a course record

Chris and his father Ken still hold the record for the fastest father/son combo which they set in 1982 at the Boston Marathon (Chris 2:17 / Ken 2:34)

Chris qualified for four Olympic trials in the marathon and competed in three of them.

1984 USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Buffalo, NY

1988 USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Jersey City, NJ ... finished 15th

1992 USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Columbus, OH ... finished 12th

1996 USA Olympic Marathon Trials

Chris was known for his intense training and racing. His passion to compete and leave it all on the course was known by those who watched him race and those who raced against him. He resides in Colorado with his family.