James Gilhooley

Induction Year: 1992

Category: Track & Field & Coaches

Location: Riverhead

James Gilhooley coached at Riverhead from 1950 to 1976 and won two state championships in 1958 and 1960 and 10 section championships in cross-country

He won 16 straight league championships and six section championships in track, where he also won 86 straight league dual meets.

In 1949, Gilhooley set the world record for flat track in the 600-yard indoor run at the Pioneer Club Championships; this record still stands today. He was inducted into the New York University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

He graduated from NYU’s School of Education in 1950 and was the star of the men’s track team where he anchored two national championship teams. He was five-time Metropolitan Collegiate Champion, three-time Metropolitan AAU Champion and five-time Penn Relay Champion. He was a member of two IC4A championship relay teams.

At Riverhead his teams were 176-21 record with 86 straight victories from 1958–1974. His teams won six sectional titles with four back-to-back championships from 1968–1971. His teams had two first place finishes in Suffolk County Relays. He retired as Riverhead High School athletic director.

Gilhooley also served in the U.S. Army after college.