Hall of Fame induction: 2000
Lee Kauffman, a member of PCVRC since 1985, is one of three Hall of Fame inductees this evening. He is originally from New Jersey, graduated from high school in Minnesota and moved to Delaware in 1975.He attended the University of Delaware where he was a member of the varsity baseball team and graduated with a degree in Physical Education in 1980.
He took up running seriously in 1982 when he ran his first road race, the Mayor’s 10K. He has consistently been moving toward the top of his age class, particularly after he joined the Master’s ranks in December of 1997. He was voted Runner of the Year for 1997 as he won the New Year’s Day Five Miler (28:23), Kid Shelleen’s 10K (34:29) and the Marathon Summer Series #1 (16:57). That year Lee also took the top spot in his age group at the Spring Thaw Five Miler (28:08, The Cherry Blossom five Mile Run (27:07) and the Delaware Marathon (2:48:36), being the first Delaware resident to finish.
Lee received outstanding Running Achievement Awards for 1990 and again for 1996. He was Runner of the Month in June 1989.
He joined the Executive Board during the Antonini Administration where he had been chairperson of the Public Relations Committee and then took on the job of Co-Race Director of the Delaware Distance Classic, along with DaveFarren. Lee was instrumental in designing the 15k Course that winds through the Riverfront Development Area and finishes in front of Frawley Stadium. Although job and family commitments forced Lee to curtail his involvement somewhat, he was there on race day – shuttling volunteers to designated areas, and then he toed the starting line, finishing in a time of 55:21, placing third among all masters, 7th overall and the first PCVRC finisher.
Lee participated in the USATF Grand Prix Series, finishing ninth overall and first in his age group. Lee also set a personal record in 1999 at the 5K for Bruce, clocking an impressive 16:27 and taking the overall master title.
Lee is a dutiful trainer, logging an average of close to 80 miles per week yet can always be counted on to help coordinate weekly training runs and run with “slower runners.” Lee is always at the finish line yelling words of encouragement and is truly a worthy inductee into PCVRC’s Hall of Fame for his continued support of the club and his exceptional running accomplishments.
