Larry Rawson (r) introduces Don Kardong (l) and Greg Meyer during National Distance Running Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Greg Meyer's induction into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame wasn't the only Michigan highlight during Utica (N.Y.) Boilermaker weekend July 9-10.

Meyer, the last American man to win the Boston Marathon in 1983, joined 1964 Olympic 5,000-meter gold medalist Bob Schul and Olympic marathoner, writer and Lilac Bloomsday Run founder Don Kardong among Hall inductees honored Saturday in the historic Stanley Theater.

The next morning Meyer ran the Boilermaker - America's largest 15K road race with more than 11,000 runners this year - in 59:20, not bad for a 49-year-old coming back from injuries.

The Dexter resident wasn't the only Michiganian scorching Utica's streets that day.

Jacob Frey, of the Rochester Hills-based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, was the first U.S. finisher - following 18 Kenyans and one Tanzanian - in 47:02. Close behind came the second American, masters champ Paul Aufemberge, 40, of Redford, in 48:02.

Team Hansons' Dot McMahan and Carly Graytock were the second and third U.S. women in 54:40 and 54:50, respectively.

Doug Goodhue, 63, of Milford, finished close on Meyer's heels. He was the age 60-and-over champion with a 59:42.

General Motors - also from Michigan - served as the weekend's presenting sponsor, part of the automaker's return into grassroots events after a long absence. "Running is a perfect marketplace for GM to continue its message of good-quality product, good pricing and good health," GM Vice President of North American Communications Gary Grates said.

Greg Meyer - that other G.M. - knows about good health. A star at Grand Rapids West Catholic High School, he blossomed more under coach Ron Warhurst at the University of Michigan, where he dominated in cross country, ran the steeplechase, 5K and 10K on the track.

After college, Meyer took the advice of his friend Bill Rodgers and moved to Boston. There the 23-year-old ran to five U.S. records, from 8K to 25K.

Meyer reached his heights in 1983 with a 27:51 10K on the track, followed by winning Boston over one of the toughest American fields ever in 2:09:00.

Meyer's range was impressive. He was a sub-4-minute miler and marathon champion. His major-race victories included the River Bank Run 25K (seven times) in Grand Rapids, Detroit Marathon (1980), Cascade Run Off (1980), Chicago Marathon (1982), Boston and Cherry Blossom (1983).

He was a founding member of A.R.R.A, the first athletic union of road- racing athletes. In the early 1980s the group helped win the right to earn prize money, starting with the Cascade Run Off in 1980. After many members were banned from running T.A.C. (now USAT&F) events due to the "contamination rule" dealing with professionalism, the union "pushed" T.A.C. to institute a trust system, which eventually led to open competition and the prize money runners - including Frey, Aufdemberge and Goodhue - can win today.

Meyer retired from elite racing and worked nearly 20 years - first for Brooks, then Reebok - in the running industry. He is now a U-M alumni relations director, elite-athlete coordinator for the River Bank Run and Crim, and a more-than-interested follower in the fortunes of runners at Dexter High School, where his sons went. The Dreadnaughts are three- time defending Division 2 state champions in cross country.

Given Meyer's pedigree - and legacy to the sport - that is no surprise. MR