Hall of Fame recognition certainly isn't anything new for Bill Rodgers or Patty Catalano Dillon.

Among the highlights of Rodgers' brilliant road racing career included induction to the Long Distance Running Hall of Fame and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, both occurring in 1999. He also joined the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000.

Three times Rodgers was ranked as the No. 1 runner in the World in the marathon by U.S. Track and Field News and he also was the runner-up finisher in the 1975 balloting for the Sullivan Award, which goes to the nation's top amateur athlete of the year. The '75 recipient was swimmer Tim Shaw.

Dillon, once regarded as the country's greatest female runner, is a member of the Honolulu Marathon Hall of Fame, a race she won four times and set a course record on each occasion. In 2002, she became a member of the Road Runner's Club of America Hall of Fame.

Despite all those laurels, their induction into The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Hall of Fame following Saturday's race in Wheeling, brought warm responses from both of them.

"The Wheeling race will always have a special place in my heart. I love coming here every year,'' said Rodgers, the four-time winner of the Boston and New York Marathons. "This is a special honor because of how much I enjoy the race and the hills. I also appreciate the efforts of the committee and everyone involved who have helped this race survive for 28 years.

"I'm already looking forward to coming back here next year and running in the 20K.''

Rodgers, winner of the inaugural Wheeling Distance Race in 1977 and on two other occasions, limited his participation to the 5K Run and Walk for Your Health this time. After suffering a broken leg during a training run last August, Rodgers was concerned about reinjuring himself on the downhill portions of what is considered to be the most challenging 20K race courses in the country.

He took a leisurely run around the 5K layout and finished sixth overall in 18:03, which was good enough for first place in his age group (55-59).

Dillon won the Open Division female title in 1980 and '81. Her first trip to Wheeling saw her establish an American 20K record of 1:08:36.

Some hard times, including battles with bulimia and depression, resulted in a long hiatus from the the road running circuit for Dillon, who is on the comeback trail.

She remembers the good times well, including her trips to Wheeling. "It was so great coming back here this week,'' Dillon said. "I've never forgotten my two victories and the fans. This is a wonderful honor to be included on the Ogden 20K Hall of Fame. It certainly is one of the special highlights of my career,'' Dillon added.

The one-time American "Queen of the Roads'' also limited her participation this year to the 5K Run, which saw her place third overall in 21:13.

The inaugural Ogden Classic Hall of Fame included a total of 10 participants. Bill Van Horne, deceased sports editor of the News-Register, was honored for his coverage of the distance event that earned the praise and appreciation of the greats of the road racing world and the local runners, as well. Accepting on Van Horne's behalf was his widow, Gladys Van Horne.

Also inducted were seven of the area's well-known runners, including two "Ogden Ironmen Club'' members, Steve Habursky and Mitch Toto. They were joined by Joe Sarver, Lance Tarr, Mike Hudimac, Bruce Smith and Becky Droginske.

All were long-time participants in the event. When asked about the local Hall of Fame members, race director Howard V. Corcoran said: "The Ogden 20K is filled with tradition, and these people are the tradition of the race.

Special Hall of Fame plaques were presented to each inductee during the post-race banquet at WesBanco Arena.