Richard Kimball the Benchmark: Five Decades of Chasing Greatness

As De La Salle celebrates six decades of excellence through its 60 for 60 campaign, one name continues to rise above the rest in Spartan distance running lore: Rich Kimball.

Ask nearly any varsity distance runner in De La Salle history to name the greatest Spartan runner of all time, and the answer is almost unanimous. Kimball’s achievements on the track and cross country course have become the gold standard, not just at De La Salle, but across the North Coast Section and beyond. His dominance is a major reason he was inducted into the De La Salle Athletic Department Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural class.

During his legendary 1974 season, Kimball accomplished what few high school runners have ever achieved: he won both the mile and the two-mile at the state championship meet. What makes that feat even more remarkable is the format of championship meets in that era. At the time, there were only about 80 minutes between the two-mile and the one-mile races. Today, athletes often have nearly three and a half hours between those same events. The dramatically shorter recovery window in 1974 meant Kimball had far less time to rest, refuel, and reset physically and mentally before doubling back for another all-out effort. Winning both races under those conditions elevates the accomplishment to an even rarer level of toughness and endurance.

He came tantalizingly close to breaking the mythical four-minute mile barrier and later became the first American to win a world championship in cross country. To this day, he remains the only De La Salle athlete to claim an individual world championship. His impact on the sport was so significant that he graced the cover of Runner's World.

More than five decades later, Kimball’s times still stand as benchmarks of excellence. In the 52 years since his state championship sweep, only one North Coast Section athlete, Cooper Teare, has run faster in the mile and two-mile. Teare went on to set NCAA indoor records in both the mile and 5,000 meters, underscoring the elite company Kimball keeps. Despite advances in all-weather track surfaces, cutting-edge shoe technology, sports medicine, and nutrition, Kimball’s marks remain firmly etched near the top of the record books.

Within the De La Salle program, generations of talented runners have chased his times. Standout performances such as Blair Hurlock’s 4:08 in the 1600 meters in 2014 and Trey Caldwell’s 8:53 in the 3200 meters in 2025 have come close, but no Spartan has surpassed Kimball’s marks from that remarkable 1974 campaign.

Though injuries ultimately curtailed his aspirations of becoming one of the greatest distance runners in American history, Kimball’s influence has endured. His legacy continues to shape the culture and expectations of Spartan cross country and track and field.

De La Salle teacher and cross country coach John Pelster reflected on that impact:

“What has it meant, as an athlete and a coach, to have Rich Kimball’s legacy out there? For one thing, it has always been a point of pride. To have a Spartan rank so highly in the section, state, and national history of distance running is amazing. The list of schools that can claim such a representative is short, indeed. In addition to that, Rich Kimball has always been a reference point for greatness. For the generations of distance runners who have followed him here, he has been the highest of targets to try to hit. If one can get anywhere near Rich Kimball, one is going to be in elite company.”

Just as meaningful as his records is his continued presence in the De La Salle community. Kimball has returned for multiple Alumni Runs and remains active in supporting the school’s fundraising efforts. Decades after his historic achievements, he is not simply a name in the record books. He is a living part of the brotherhood he helped elevate.

For 60 years, De La Salle has built a tradition of excellence. In distance running, that tradition still runs through Rich Kimball.