Hall of Fame induction: 2020
Dan Foran first laced up his track spikes in the Spring of 1982 as a Sophomore at Mt. Pleasant High School. He wasted no time in establishing himself as a top runner in Delaware winning his first of THREE State Titles at 3200 meters.
In the Fall of 1982, Dan broke into the DE cross country scene as he battled Hall of Famer, Eric Hamilton, throughout the season. He earned All-Conference and All County honors. Unfortunately, a hip injury sustained in the Blue Hen Conference Championship kept him from competing at States that year. Dan managed to finish 2nd in the Blue Hen Championships despite his season ending injury.
In the Spring of 1983, Dan won his second State Title in the 3200 meters clocking a 9:21.4. That time was a pending state record. A week later at the Meet of Champions, Eric Hamilton eclipsed that time by .1 in a race in which he credited Dan for pushing him to break the record. Dan finished second in 9:24.2.
Dan’s Senior year in cross country (1983), he was undefeated in Delaware competition. He finished 2nd at the Golden Apple Invitational at Van Cortlandt’s 5000 meters course clocking a 16:07.
Dan established two course records that season clocking a 16:14.5 en route to winning the first New Castle County Championships at Carpenter State Park. A week later, he broke the course record at Brandywine Creek State Park clocking a 16:14 at the Blue Hen Conference Championships. He also lowered his Bellevue time to 15:46 that season.
Dan was the Division 2 State Champion and winner of the W. Frank Newlin Award for clocking the fastest time at the State Meet: 16:07 at Killens Pond State Park.
Years later, Dan was one of 7 runners named to the N5CTA All Decade XC Team for the 1980’s.
In the Spring of 1984, Dan was undefeated at 3200 meters. He finished 5th at Penn Relays in the 3000 meters clocking a 8:39.6 (which is still ranked 8th on the DE All Time List) He was County Champion and won his third State Title at 3200 meters.