HISTORY OF ST. JOE'S TRACK & FIELD
Track and field was first established in 1921. An interclass meet was held in the 74th Regiment Armory to pick the school’s first team, coached by Mr. Meeks. In its early years, the team competed in the Penn State Relays and held its own. In 1923, they were declared champions of private schools. The sport was discontinued in 1930 due to budgetary concerns and trouble scheduling other schools. For the rest of the 1930’s, the only track meets held were at the school’s annual Field Day, held every June.
Track finally returned in 1939, under coach John Barden. The team only lasted 4 years before being disbanded, one of many cutbacks the school had to make for World War II. The sport was reinstated in 1947, and was respectable if not dominant for the next two decades, winning two All Catholic titles in a three-year span.
Once Coach Bob Ivory came aboard, the track and field team developed into one of the most dominant dynasties in St. Joe’s history. Ivory began coaching the team in 1966, and in his third season, the team won the first of what would be eight consecutive All Catholic championships in his ten years at the helm. Ivory would also coach eight undefeated squads, including 56 consecutive victories at one point. Ivory’s overall record of 80 wins and 4 defeats cemented his reputation as one of the greatest track and field coaches in state history.
Ivory’s teams were built on teamwork, with each man contributing. In the 1969 
championships, St. Joe’s only won three individual meets, but they piled up enough points from second place finishes to win the title. In the 1974 championships, the school’s 77 points set an All Catholic record.
Ivory was replaced in 1976 by one of his old runners, James Roland. Under Mr. Roland, the track and field team worked diligently to maintain the high standards of excellence. Back to back undefeated seasons and three All Catholic titles in four years proved that their hard work paid off. Michael Diggins joined Mr. Roland in 1983, and the team won a stunning fifteen consecutive All Catholic Championships. Along the way, they also participated in the Waterloo Invitational, and the New York State Track and Field Championships.
In 1990, Coach Matthew Hellerer joined the track and field team, driven to maintain the tradition of excellence. He continued the streak of All Catholic Championships and led undefeated teams from 1992 to 1999. Since then, the team has been an annual contender for the Monsignor Martin and All Catholic titles.
