California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Chris Clark was a five-time NCAA Division II All-American — four times in track & field and once in cross country — for the Vulcans from 2007-2009.

He becomes just the eighth men’s runner to receive Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame recognition.

“I am definitely honored and flattered because it does not seem like I have been out of school that long,” Clark said. “This also makes me think of the other good athletes that competed at Cal and it’s definitely a great honor to be joining such a distinguished group.”

Clark finished eighth in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs at the 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also won the 2009 PSAC 10,000-meter outdoor championship and was the 2008-2009 PSAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. At the time, he became just the third Vulcan track & field standout to earn this honor, joining fellow Hall of Fame inductees Brad Rager ‘08 and Brian Ferrari ‘84.

Clark was also selected as the 2009 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Athlete of the Year.

He still holds the school indoor records for the 3,000-meter (8:19.48) and 5,000-meter (13:58.51) events, which he set in 2008 and 2009, respectively. His time in the 5,000 remains a PSAC indoor record.

In 2008, he earned indoor NCAA All-American honors in the 5,000-meter run.

In cross country, Clark finished fourth at the 2008 NCAA Division II Nationals after winning the PSAC and NCAA Division II Regional titles.

His Cal U coaches were current Vulcan cross country and track & field leader Daniel Caulfield and former track coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Roger Kingdom.

Clark transferred to Cal U from Clarion University, where he also ran for Caulfield.

“It was a big deal when I transferred and it wasn’t made primarily about athletics,” he said. “However, I was running really well for him (Caulfield) at Clarion. He told me how good I could be so when I came to Cal U I just wanted to see how fast I could get and really never thought of the success or awards.”

Clark received the PSAC’s inaugural PSAC Sportsmanship Award in 2008-2009, and was a 2009 College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) Academic All-American, the program’s first runner to receive this honor.

The sportsmanship award is given to one male and one female student-athlete that exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship and who has demonstrated the values of respect and integrity through a specific action ideally directed toward an opponent.

At the 2009 PSAC outdoor track & field championships, Clark told Jeff Weiss from Slippery Rock that he would take the lead and help set the pace for the runners since Clark had already qualified for the NCAA Nationals. Both Clark and Weiss posted a national-qualifying time in the 10,000-meter run at the conference meet, which is uncommon in the event.

“Jeff and I were both good friends and it seemed like the honorable thing to do,” Clark said. “If you don’t make connections and support other people during the rigors of competing I think it’s a waste of time.”

Clark earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education/biology and a master’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in wellness and fitness, along with his teacher certification.

After graduating from Cal U, Clark ran competitively for Puma, the New York Athletic Club, and ZAP Fitness Foundation. He competed in the 2012 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials, and finished 82nd out of nearly 300 runners in his first-ever marathon race. His best finish professionally was 10th place at the USA 20K Championships in 2011.

Today, Clark is a science teacher at Atholton High School in Columbia, Maryland, part of the Howard County Public School System.

“I definitely felt very well prepared and I even met people while working the Cal summer running camps, which helped me get my job,” said Clark. “Not only did my training at Cal help, but I also made professional connections there.”

He also is head coach head coach for Atholton’s boys’ cross country and track & field teams.

He has guided the Raiders’ cross country squad to consecutive Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Class AAA second-place team finishes. The track team finished eighth at last spring’s 40-team state meet.

Clark praised Caulfield, who he still calls on for coaching advice.

“I lost my dad when I was 15 years old and Coach Caulfield is the closest thing I’ve had as a father,” said Clark. “ He’s just a really good guy who has changed my life in so many ways and I would not be where I’m at if it wasn’t for him.

“He’s the best coach I’ve ever run for who sees the big picture and wants the best for an athlete as a person. He’s still a mentor for me as I coach and has done a lot for a lot of people.”

Caulfield believes Clark’s Hall of Fame honor is fitting.

“I’m just proud of him because he obviously had talent and the intelligence to put it all together,” Caulfield said. “I’ve never seen anyone that works harder than him, which I believe is a defining characteristic.

“Chris is a fantastic all-round individual who I consider like another son because of the way he treats my wife and I and his alma mater.”

Clark is originally from Hadley, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Commodore Perry High School, where he completed in cross country, basketball, and track & field.

He returns to campus each summer with his team to participate and serve as a guest speaker at the Cal U Cross Country Camp.

“I’m proud and feel it’s important to maintain a strong connection to Cal U and the cross country and track & field programs,” Clark said. “I enjoy coming back and keeping up on the school’s progress.”

He and his wife, Jillian, reside in Catonsville, Maryland.

updated 4/8/16