Nov. 11, 2008

PHILADELPHIA -- University of Houston track and field head coach Leroy Burrell will be enshrined into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday in recognition of his outstanding career as a world-class sprinter and collegiate coach.

A native of Lansdowne, Penn., - a suburb of nearby Philadelphia - Burrell joins twelve fellow athletes and one team as part of the fifth induction class into the Hall of Fame.

"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized for your accomplishments and to go into the Hall of Fame in your hometown," Burrell said. "It makes it even better that it's in an Olympic year.

"I haven't run a step competitively in more than 12 years, and there are still people who want to recognize you for what you accomplished. That means a lot to me."

Twice crowned the "World's Fastest Man," Burrell set the world record in the 100 meters with a time of 9.90 seconds at the USA Championships in 1991. After seeing his record broken, Burrell would reclaim the title, posting a clocking of 9.85 seconds just three years later.

In the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Burrell joined former Cougar teammate Carl Lewis to lead the US men to gold in the 4X100 with a world record breaking time of 37.40 seconds.

Burrell first rose to national prominence competing for the UH track and field team from 1986-1990, where he was a three-time NCAA champion and earned All-America honors 10 times.

As a senior, Burrell received the Jumbo Elliot Award as the nation's top track and field athlete, winning the NCAA Indoor Long Jump title for the second-consecutive year and finishing first in the 100m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships later that spring.

His time of 9.94 seconds at the 1990 NCAA Championships still stands as a school record.

After retiring from competition following the 1996 Olympics, Burrell returned to his alma mater to take over as head coach in 1998.

Over the last ten years, he has led the program to a combined 19 Conference USA Team Championships, while being named C-USA Coach of the Year 14 times as well as the C-USA Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Decade (1996-2005).

Burrell also has coached 39 NCAA All-Americans, continuing the program's proud legacy. In 2000, he was inducted into UH's Hall of Honor for all of his contributions to the school.