HR1471 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1471 LRB096 24285 KXB 43749 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize milestones in the lives of people of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Craig Virgin, three-time Olympic 10,000-meter runner and 2-time World Cross-Country Champion, has been elected into the U.S.A. National Track and Field Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Craig Virgin has deferred his induction until December of 2011 when the ceremony will be held at the U.S.A. Track and Field National Convention set for St. Louis, near his home and family; and

WHEREAS, He was raised on a family farm near Lebanon; he did not start competitive running until his freshman year at Lebanon High School; he went on to win 5 Illinois State high school championships in cross country, as well as the 2-mile and 1-mile track events in the old single-class school classification; and

WHEREAS, He still holds the Illinois State championships meet records in both the 3-mile cross country (13:50.6) and 2-mile track (8:42.6) events; he won his final 48 high school cross country races, setting course records in 47 of the 48 events; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, he broke the late Steve Prefontaine's national high school 2-mile record with a clocking of 8:40.9, a time that still ranks as the second fastest time ever turned in by a prep runner in an all-high school competition; he qualified for his first two United States national track and field teams while still in high school; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Craig Virgin of Lebanon on his election into the U.S.A. National Track and Field Hall of Fame; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Craig Virgin as a symbol of our respect and esteem.