Western New England University

Gary Crowley is the first men’s cross country performer to be inducted into the Downes Athletic Hall of Fame. The Springfield, MA native ranked among the top distance runners in New England during his three years competing for the Golden Bears. He helped the team compile a 9-4 record and a seventh place showing at the NAIA New England Championship in only its second varsity season in 1981. Gary emerged as the team’s top runner the following season serving as a team captain and placing seventh at the NAIA New England Championship. In his final year Gary captured the prestigious Pop Crowell Invitational title with a time of 31 minutes, 36 seconds over the 10,000-meter course. He also set a new home course record of 27:33.9 for 5.12 miles. Gary placed fourth at the NAIA Regional Championship and participated in the NAIA Championship in Kenosha, Wisconsin, becoming just the second Western New England runner to qualify for the National meet. He capped his outstanding career by being the only student-athlete in the East selected to the NAIA Academic All-America Team. Gary, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, works for the United States Postal Service in Springfield, MA. He and his wife Susan are the parents of Caitlin (15) and Connor (11), and reside in East Longmeadow, MA. With Gary in the above photo are (from left) University president Anthony Caprio, Peter Stasz L'77 (the President of the Greater Springfield Harriers Club) who presented Gary, and athletics director Mike Theulen.