Richard A. Swanker, HOF
Pronounced: r-IH-ch-er-d S-wae-nje-r
Biography
The Hall of Famer
PA Track and Field HOF - Inductee
Athlete
North Penn HS, 1966
Cross Country, Football, Winter/Spring Track
Swanker was an athlete in cross country, football and Winter/Spring Track while at North Penn High School.
He was Bux-Mont Champion in the pole vault in 1965 and Bux-Mont and District One runner up in 1966; placing 6th at the PIAA State Track meet.
Coach
North Penn HS, 1982-2005
Boys Winter and Spring Track & Field
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4X800m Relay National Indoor Champions 2001 & 2002
4X800m Relay Indoor State Record Holder, 2002
4X800m Relay records fastest time ever by a PA Track Team, 2005
Spring dual meet record 176-9 -1
18 Suburban One & Bux-Mont Championships
16 undefeated seasons, last 77 dual meets in a row
Penn Relays Distance Medley Relay Championship of America, 2002
Golden West Javelin Champion & Runner Up, 1984
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Penndale Jr. High: Coached Jr. High football team undefeated season & league champion; Jr. High Track Team two undefeated seasons and league Championships.
North Penn HS: Indoor Track: Seven individual Indoor State Champions; Seven times 4X800m Relay Indoor State Champions, 2002 4X800m team holds Indoor State record; two times 4X800m relay team Indoor National
Champions 2001 & 2002; 2005 4X800m relay team has the record for the fastest time ever run by a Pennsylvania High School Indoor Track team, 7:49.16.
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Spring Track: dual meet record – 176-9-1, 77 dual meet wins in a row, 1995 to 2005; 16 undefeated seasons; 18 Bux-Mont and Suburban One league Championships; 150 individual/relay Suburban One/Bux- Mont Champions; five District One Team Championships; 32 individual/relay
District One Champions; one PIAA AAA State Team runner up and one PIAA AAA State Track & Field Team Championship; 15 individual/relay State Champions; 1984 Golden West Javelin Champion and runner up; 2002 4X800m. Spring National Champion runner up.
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Penn Relays – two time All Philadelphia Area 4X400m Relay Champions, one Championship of America 4X100m relay final; seven Championship of America 4X800m relay finals, two times 1st American 4X800m relay team to finish; The only Championship of America ever won by North Penn was the 2002 Distance Medley Relay.
Honors & Awards
Inducted to Barton College Hall of Fame, 2007
He received his B.S. at Atlantic Christian College (Barton College)
5 PIAA AAA District One Track & Field Team Championships
PIAA AAA State Track & Field Team Championship, 2002
5 time Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association Coach of the Year
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(Courtesy of the North Penn Alumni Athletic Association '12)