SJU Athletics Photos

PHILADELPHIA (3/21/03) - Former Saint Joseph's cross country and track standouts Mike Diorka '70 and Sue Yagielski '96 are the two latest inductees into the University's Track and Field Hall of Fame. The duo will be enshrined at SJU's 25th annual Track and Field Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, March 22. A standout runner for Saint Joseph's College in the late 1960s, Diorka set the school record in the indoor two-mile run and was co-captain of the cross country team during his career. The Cornwell Heights, Pa. native and Father Judge High School grad returned to St. Joe's in 1978 as an assistant cross country and track coach after a successful stint at Great Valley High School. A Hawk assistant coach for a decade (1978-88), his unique personality and dynamic style made him a legend among a generation of Hawks. In addition to his coaching duties, he worked as assistant director of intercollegiate athletics for recreation and facilities at SJU from 1981-88 and also served on St. Joe's Alumni Board of Governors. He later went on to a successful stint in athletic administration at Tulane (1989-95) and has been the Director of Recreation at the University of Pennsylvania since 1996. Diorka received his master's degree in education from West Chester State College and his administrative certification from Villanova University, both in 1975. He recently work on a doctoral degree at Temple University. Yagielski (Ballston, N.Y./Greece Olympia), meanwhile, carved her niche as one of the greatest distance runners in Hawk history. The 1996 SJU grad capped her standout career by becoming just the second SJU athlete to earn All-East status in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in the same season. She earned Atlantic 10 Conference Performer of the Year honors in both cross country and indoor track as a senior, as well as being recognized as a third team Academic All-American and the A-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She also received the University's Class of 1950 (Top female athlete) and Senior Scholar Athlete Award (Highest GPA by a senior) Awards. The Hawk captain won the 1995 Atlantic 10 cross country meet after placing third as a junior. The squad's top funner her final two seasons she won six individual meet titles. Her 60th place finish at the 1995 NCAA Cross Country Championship ranks as the second best finish by an SJU runner in school history. In track, Yagielski earned all-East status and was a NCAA provisional qualifier in both the 3000 and 5000 meters as both a junior and a senior. In 1996 she set an A-10 and Rhode Island Fieldhouse record in the 5000. A marketing major, she became just the second SJU athlete to earn Academic All-America status in an at-large category. A four-time Academic All-A-10 pick, she captured third team Academic honors in both the fall/winter and and spring/summer seasons in 1995-96. After graduation, Yagielski served as an assistant coach with the women's program and is currently teaching and coaching in Rochester, N.Y.