Francis Marion University athletic officials have announced that
former men's cross country runner and track and field athlete David
Stafford will be the newest inductee into the FMU Athletic Hall of
Fame on Feb. 17, 2007.
A native of Hanahan, Stafford was a member of
the inaugural Patriot cross country squad in 1976, missed the 1977
season with an injury, and ran again in 1978. He was also a
member of the FMU track and field team for four years
(1976-79).
He earned the B.S. degree in sociology in 1980 and now resides
in Summerville. He has been employed by Federal Express since
1983.
Each of his years on the cross country squad, he was named the
team most valuable player, won the NAIA District Six individual
championship (time of 26:15 in 1976 and 25:32 in 1978), was named
to the All-District Team, and helped the Patriots to the District
Six team title. As a senior, he set the FMU course record
with a time of 25:34.
On the track, he earned team most valuable player honors twice
(1976 and 1978) and helped Francis Marion to a four-year team
record of 86-18. The Patriots finished second at the District
Six championship meet in 1977 and 1978 and placed fourth in
1976.
He was named to the All-District track and field squad in 1979
for his accomplishments in the 880-yard dash and as part of the
mile relay team. By the end of his junior year, he held four
school records: 880-yard dash, mile run, 3-mile run, and 6-mile
run. His record time of 4:17.2 in the mile run still stands
today. Ten years after he graduated, he still stood fourth on
the all-time FMU track and field points list with
388.
