Joe Falcon among 12-member 2025 Hall of Fame class

FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback distance legend Joe Falcon is among a 12-member class chosen as 2025 inductees into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The induction ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 8, at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon. The induction ceremony is free and open to the public and will be held three days prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. A free stream on RunnerSpace will be available.

Falcon becomes the third Razorback in the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, joining Erick Walder (2022) and Mike Conley (2023) from the first two classes that were named.

The 2025 induction class includes Amy Acuff (UCLA), Cathy Branta (Wisconsin), Bert Cameron (UTEP), Joaquim Cruz (Oregon), Diane Guthrie (George Mason), Larance Jones (Truman), Madeline Manning (Tennessee State), Scott Nelson (Washington), Suzianne Reid (Texas), Gillian Russell (Miami, Fla.), and Spec Towns (Georgia).

Falcon’s collegiate career included seven individual NCAA titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track seasons, as well as being a member of six national championship teams under Razorback head coach John McDonnell.

Arkansas swept four consecutive NCAA Indoor teams titles from 1986 to 1989 with Falcon a member of the team. The Razorbacks also won NCAA cross country championships in 1986 and 1987.

In 1987, Falcon won the NCAA Indoor 3,000m title, then claimed the 10,000m title at NCAA Outdoor, closing with a scintillating 55.1 on the final lap. In the fall of 1987, Falcon completed his personal NCAA triple crown in winning the NCAA cross country title, a year after finishing as runner-up in the 1986 race.

The 1988 season included a sweep of the mile and 3,000m in Oklahoma City at the NCAA Indoor. Falcon won the 1,500m title during the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In 1989, Falcon defended his NCAA Indoor mile title.

Falcon remains the only man in NCAA meet history to win national titles in both the 1,500/mile and the 10,000m.

On the Arkansas all-time list, 36 years after he completed his collegiate career, Falcon ranks No. 7 indoors in the mile (3:56.77) and 3,000m (7:46.42). On the UA outdoor all-time list, Falcon ranks No. 4 in the 1,500m (3:35.42).

Named the Penn Relays Outstanding College Male Athlete in 1988 and 1989, Falcon was inducted into the Penn Relays Wall of Fame in 2000.

Falcon was a member of five winning relay teams at the famed Penn Relays. Twice he ran the anchor leg on American records set by Arkansas in 1988 for the 4 x 1,500m and the Distance Medley relays. The Razorbacks also set a World best in the DMR and still standing collegiate outdoor record of 9:20.10 with Falcon supplying a 3:53.3 anchor leg.

In 2016, Falcon was inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame with an Arkansas class that included Frank O’Mara and Bev Lewis as well as Dan Hampton, Quinn Grovey, Kevin McReynolds, and Lee Mayberry.

A NCAA cross country champion in 1987 on Virginia’s Foxfield course, Falcon won the 10,000m race by five-plus seconds in 29:14.97, and bettered the previous course record by 19 seconds. The Razorbacks also secured the team title with a score of 87 points over Dartmouth (119) and Wisconsin (120).

In 1986, with Falcon finishing as runner-up after tripping on a sprinkler head on the golf course while in the lead during the final stages of the race, Arkansas claimed the national championship with 69 points over Dartmouth (141) and Boston University (147).

As a freshman in the fall of 1985, Falcon led the Razorbacks to a NCAA runner-up team finish in cross country as he placed seventh. Arkansas totaled 104 points in finishing behind Wisconsin (67).

As a professional in 1990, Falcon continued to display his range among distance events. He won the 5,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in June, then in July claimed the Oslo Dream Mile in 3:49.31, the fastest time posted that year. The 3:49.31 performance currently ranks as the No. 9 performer on the American all-time list.