Jump to content

Eric Cannon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eric Cannon
Personal information
Born (1967-03-02) March 2, 1967 (age 57)
Home townWilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Sport
SportTrack and field
EventHurdling
College teamPittsburgh
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Pittsburgh Panthers
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Silver medal – second place 1989 Provo 110 m hurdles

Eric Cannon (born March 2, 1967) is an American former track and field athlete. He is considered one of the greatest hurdlers in Delaware history.

Biography

[edit]

Cannon was born on March 2, 1967, and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware.[1][2] He attended Concord High School for one year before transferring to Delcastle Technical High School for his last three years.[3] There, he was a football player (at halfback) and standout track and field athlete, specializing in the hurdles.[3][4] As a sophomore in 1983, Cannon started setting school records (including a 7.46-second 60 metres hurdles run which was fifth-best nationally)[5] and won the state championship in the 110 metres hurdles.[6][7][8]

The following year, Cannon repeated as state champion in the 110 metres hurdles, while also being the state champion in the 55 metres hurdles and 50-yard dash.[6] At the start of 1985, he set a meet record in the 50-yard hurdles.[9] He then won the state championships in the 110 metres hurdles, 55 metres hurdles, 50-yard dash and 100 metres.[6] He competed at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships where he won the 55 metres hurdles and set a Delaware record that lasted for 35 years.[10] He also set a state record in the 110 metres hurdles that stood for 34 years.[10] He was widely reported to be among the best track and field athletes in state history, and The News Journal called him Delaware's "greatest high hurdler".[10][11][12]

Cannon accepted a full athletic scholarship to compete at the collegiate level for the Pittsburgh Panthers.[13] As a freshman in 1986, Cannon was an All-American, set the Pittsburgh record for 50-yard hurdles, and was named All-Big East Conference.[14] In his time at Pittsburgh, Cannon received six All-America selections, twice was a Big East champion and IC4A champion, and set four records still standing as of 2024.[12] He led Pittsburgh to its first Big East track title in 1989, with Cannon placing first in two events.[12][15] He won the 1989 Penn Relays in the 110 metres hurdles and came .02 seconds away from winning the national championship (placing second), running what was then the third-fastest time ever among college athletes in the U.S.[12]

After Cannon graduated from Pittsburgh, he worked as a clerk for a law firm and coached at Delcastle.[3]

Cannon was inducted into the Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000.[6] In February 2024, The News Journal ranked him 16th among the "30 greatest sprinters, throwers and jumpers" in Delaware history.[16] Later that year, he was selected for induction to the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Eric Cannon". World Athletics.
  2. ^ Reid, Ron (May 22, 1989). "George Mason wins IC4A title; Penn State is 2d". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Zabitka, Matt (January 11, 1990). "Delcastle wheels out big gun". The News Journal. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Hughes, David (December 2, 1983). "Wm. Penn an imposing obstacle for Delcastle". The Morning News. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Cannon fuels Delcastle". The Morning News. December 28, 1984. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b c d "Eric Cannon". Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame. May 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Cannon hurdles to record". The News Journal. December 28, 1983. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Hughes, David (April 6, 1984). "Cannon off to fast start for Cougars". The News Journal. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ "Cannon hurdles into record book". The News Journal. January 15, 1985. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ a b c d Holveck, Brandon (March 13, 2024). "Power lifter, Phillie Phanatic, sportswriter among Delaware Sports Hall of Fame 2024 class". The News Journal.
  11. ^ "Davis, Canno revealed talents to out-of-staters". The News Journal. April 30, 1985. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ a b c d "2024 HOF Inductees". Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. March 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Hughes, David (April 12, 1985). "Cannon receives scholarship to Pitt". The News Journal. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ Zabitka, Matt (February 23, 1987). "Pitt's Cannon firing out of starting blocks". The Morning News. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ Chevalier, Jack (May 8, 1989). "Pitt's Cannon prepars to hurdle law school books". The News Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ Holveck, Brandon (February 6, 2024). "Delaware's fastest runners: The 30 greatest high school sprint and field event athletes". The News Journal – via archive.is.