Mark Bockus was an outstanding track and field competitor for Worcester State College from 1973-1977. Hecompeted in numerous individualand relay events and was consistently among the top point scorers for all of his four years.

Individually, he competed in the 100, 200, 220, 400, 440, and 600 meter events. He also competed on numerous relay teams including the record-holding 440, mile, and sprint relay teams. Mark was a co-captain of both the indoor and outdoor track and field teams his senior year. As a freshman, he placed first in the MSCAC Championship 220 meter race and was the Worcester City champion in the 220 event.

As a sophomore, he repeated as the 220 MSCAC champion with a time of 22.9 and repeated as the Worcester City champion in the 220 with a time of 22.2. Mark helped break the 75-year-old Eastern Intercollegiate record in the mile relay with a time of 3:18.8. Mark was the second leg of the mile relay team that went on to reach the semifinals at the 1975 national championship meet. The team, comprised of WSC Hall of Famers Rich Riley ’76, ’00 and Art Belmonte ’77, as well as Don Ceminski, posted a time of 3:16 for a WSC record that still stands today.

As a junior, Mark helped the team to its first MSCAC championship since 1972. He set a MSCAC record in the 440 with a time of 49.1 and was the Worcester City champion in the 440. As a senior, he swept the 220 and 440 meter races at the Worcester City meet. In the mile relay at the MASCAC meet, the team won with atime of 3:23.1, with Mark posting a 49 second quarter. He earned All New England Honors at the New Englands and won the Eastern Intercollegiates, both in the 440.

It is with great pleasure that we induct Mark Bockus into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.