Joe Falcon among 2025 class inducted into Hall of Fame

EUGENE – Arkansas distance legend Joe Falcon was among the 2025 class of 12 athletes inducted into the Collegiate Track & Field/Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame on Sunday evening, June 8, at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.

Falcon becomes the third Razorback in the Collegiate Hall of Fame, joining Erick Walder (2022) and Mike Conley (2023), among inductions over the past four years. Following the two Arkansas jumpers, Falcon becomes the first Razorback distance runner in the Hall of Fame.

A native of Belton, Missouri, Falcon won seven NCAA titles in a range of events from the 1,500m to the 10,000m. His performances included a distance Triple Crown in 1987-88 as he collected NCAA titles during the cross country, indoor, and outdoor seasons.

Winning the 1,500m (1988) and 10,000m (1987) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships made him the first athlete to win national titles with such a combination. His achievements helped Arkansas to six of the 40 national team titles compiled by legendary Razorback head coach John McDonnell.

Joe Falcon | NCAA Titles

Falcon’s racing style featured a powerful finishing kick and he set a pair of collegiate records in the indoor 3,000m at 7:46.42 in 1989 and as a member of the Razorbacks’ distance medley relay that won the 1989 Penn Relays title with Falcon anchoring in 3:53.8 for the 1,600m leg.

The distance medley relay outdoor collegiate record of 9:20.10 set by Arkansas remains the record to this day. The first three legs included Reuben Reina, Sr. (2:53.9), Charles Williams (46.4), and Robert Bradley (1:46.0).

Among 14 Southwest Conference titles for Falcon, he earned seven indoors. They included being on the 4 x 800m relay (1986), sweeping the mile and two miles (1987), and claiming the mile and 3,000m twice (1988 & 1989).

Outdoor SWC titles included 1,500m (1989), 5,000m (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989), and 10,000m (1987, 1988).

The 2025 Hall of Fame induction class also included 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).