Henry Marsh

Inducted: 2001, athlete

Born: March 15, 1954 - Boston, Massachusetts

Events
1 mi. - 3:59.31
3,000 m steeplechase - 8:09.17

One of the greatest U.S. steeplechasers of all time, Henry Marsh still holds the American record in the event (8:09.17 in 1985). A miler while in high school, Marsh became a steeplechaser at Brigham Young University. His progress was slow until 1976, when he had his first breakthrough in the event, finishing second at the NCAA championships, second at the Olympic Trials and 10th at the Olympic Games. He won his first U.S. national title in 1978, became Pan American Games champion in 1979, and was ranked number one in the world three times -- in 1981, 1982 and 1985. He also was the top-ranked U.S. steeplechaser 10 times. He set the American record four times, culminating with his still-standing record in Koblenz, Germany, in 1985. He was on the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams, achieving his best result of fourth at the Los Angeles Games. Overall, he represented the U.S. 19 times in international competition, including the 1983 and 1987 World Championship teams. A graduate of the University of Oregon Law School, Marsh practices law, writes motivational books, and lectures on health and stress management.

Records Held
American Record: 3,000 m steeplechase - 8:09.17 (August 28, 1985 - )

Championships
1976 Olympics: 3,000 m steeplechase (10th)
1984 Olympics: 3,000 m steeplechase (4th)
1988 Olympics: 3,000 m steeplechase (6th)
1976 Olympic Trials: 3,000 m steeplechase (2nd)
1978 U.S. Outdoors: 3,000 m steeplechase (1st)
1979 Pan-Am Games: 3,000 m steeplechase (1st)
1976 NCAA: 3,000 m steeplechase (2nd)

Education
high school: Punahoa (Honolulu, Hawaii), 1972
undergraduate: Brigham Young (Provo, Utah), 1978

Occupations
Attorney