Cheltenham Athletic Hall Of Fame Inductees Named

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Class of 1997 graduate Tim Gerhardt — a prolific middle-distance runner for the Cheltenham Panthers — has been elected to the Pennsylvania High School Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Gerhardt will be joining four Cheltenham Hall of Fame inductees, including sprinters Chanel Brissett (Class of 2017) and Rowland Simson (Class of 1954), middle distance runner John Lewis (Class of 2015), and Coach Bob Beale.

The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, during the PIAA Track & Field Championship Meet at Shippensburg University.

“I was truly blown away and deeply humbled by the honor,” said Gerhardt, who ran track at West Virginia University. “Almost immediately, a rush of memories came flooding back. It was a powerful reminder of the journey, the people, and the moments that shaped my career.”

One of the most decorated boys track and field athletes in CHS history, Gerhardt was the two-time PIAA (3A) champion in the 800 meters; finished fifth at the USATF Junior Olympic championship meet in the 800M; recorded the fifth fastest outdoor time in Pennsylvania in the 800M in 1997; anchored Cheltenham's PIAA (3A) silver medal-winning 4x800M relay in 1996; ran a Pennsylvania-best (and fourth fastest in the US) 2:17.9 in 1,000 yards in 1997; won bronze in 1996 and silver in 1997 in the Philadelphia Track and Field Association indoor 800m; ran a Pennsylvania-best in the indoor 800M in 1997; and named to “Track & Field News” All-American fifth Team in the 800m 1997.

Gerhardt still runs these days, but at a different pace.

“My oldest son is a freshman at Central Bucks South, and runs track, which has definitely helped keep me moving. As best I can, I try to get in a few miles each day. We also compete together in local 5Ks, which has been a great way for me to stay active while sharing my love for running with him and watching him grow in his own running career," he said.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1995 to honor the elite individuals in the state’s distinguished track and field history.

A selection committee consisting of 30 coaches, officials, and journalists collects and reviews information about individuals who have been nominated.

Further research is conducted, and a new ballot is formed each summer. Voting by the selection committee takes place in the fall.

Each year, 6-to-12 athletes, one coach, one contributor, and one distinguished alumnus are inducted. Athletes become eligible for nomination five years after their high school graduation. Once nominated, a candidate remains under consideration in perpetuity.