2020 - 50th Class of Goucher, Lagat, McFadden, and McLeod

Developed in 1971, the RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inducts individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport of long distance running either through excellence in the sport or significant contributions to the sport.

Kara Goucher (née Grgason, born July 9, 1978), was a standout runner for the University of Colorado. In 2000, Goucher became the NCAA Outdoor Champion in the 3000 m and 5000 m, the NCAA Cross Country Champion, and also a 5000 m Olympic Trials Finalist (eighth). After finishing second in the 5K at the USATF Outdoor Championships in 2006, Goucher set PRs at all distances on the international circuit, running the World "A" Standard in the 1500 m, 5000 m, and 10,000 m. She finished third in the 3000 m at the 2006 IAAF World Cup in a new personal best time of 8:41.42. Her 3000 m time led the nation and her 10,000 m time ranked her as the 2nd fastest American woman of all time. At the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, she won the bronze medal in the women's 10,000 m event. Her career on the track culminated in 2008 when Goucher competed in the Beijing Summer Olympics in both the 10,000 m and 5,000 m. In the 10,000 m final, she placed tenth with a personal best of 30:55.16, and in the 5000 m she placed ninth with a time of 15:49.39.

Marie Letko in 1994. Goucher made her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon on November 2, 2008. She finished in 3rd place with a time of 2:25:53, becoming the first American, at that time, on the podium since Anne The next year, she placed 3rd at the 2009 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:32:25.

Following the birth of her son, Goucher returned to competition at the Arizona Half Marathon in January 2011, finishing second. In April of that year, Goucher returned to marathoning in Boston, where she placed 5th with a time of 2:24:52, setting a new personal best. Goucher qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics by placing 3rd at the U.S. Olympic Trials - Marathon in Houston, TX, with a time of 2:26:06. She would go on to place 11th at the 2012 Summer Olympics with a time of 2:26.07.

Bernard Kipchirchi Lagat (born December 12, 1974) moved to the United States from Kenya in 1996 to compete collegiately at Washington State University. While there, Lagat was an 11-time NCAA All-American, winning the 1999 NCAA Indoor Mile title in 3:55.65. Lagat first represented his native Kenya at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He would take home a bronze medal in the 1500 m. Four years later, he would improve on his performance at the Olympics, taking home a silver medal in the 1500 m at the Athens games for Kenya. Lagat also won his first gold medal in international competition that year, placing first in the 3000 m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

In March 2005, Lagat announced that he had become a citizen of the United States and would compete for his new country internationally. In 2008, Lagat represented the U.S. at the Beijing Olympic Games in both the 1500 m and 5000 m, but an Achilles tendon tear impacted his performances during the Games. At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Lagat was runner-up in the 5000 m to make his 4th Olympic team. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Lagat