Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Herbert Lorenz was a standout track and field athlete at Trenton State College from 1959-1963. To date, he is one of the greatest athletes in track program history and has also been referred to as a "master runner" and "revered ambassador" of the sport.
Lorenz competed in middle distance events and set school records in the 440 (49.7), 880 (1:54), one-mile (4:12), and two-mile (9:30) events. He also was part of the record-setting one mile relay. Lorenz was the team MVP for four consecutive years and was twice the co-captain of the TSC program. He also played baseball and was the team manager for the football team.
"Some of Herb's memorable moments at Trenton State College (now TCNJ), were while running on the track," noted his wife Irma, whom Herb met at Trenton State College. "Track and Field was a sport in which he excelled.
"Overall, Herb really enjoyed his tenure at TSC, whether on the track where he realized his athletic talents or in the classroom. It was in the classroom, under the tutelage of his professors, that he was able to become the kind of shop teacher who was highly respected by students, and colleagues."
After graduation, Lorenz continued to train and race, and in 1964, he moved back to South Jersey with his new wife Irma. He accepted a position as a shop teacher at Burlington Township High School and began a coaching career that was to last nearly four decades.
Although he was an exceptional coach, Lorenz was passionate about racing and continued to leave his mark in running circles. He was not only a great middle distance runner, but he also excelled in long distance. Not many can say they ran a mile in 4:02 and a marathon in two hours and 17 minutes.
Throughout the rest of the 1960's, he was a regular in AAU national track races at 3 and 6 miles and was twice a member of national teams sent to compete in the World Cross Country Championships. At the urging of ultra-marathoner Harry Berkowitz, Lorenz moved up to the longer distances. In 1971, he just missed making the Pan-Am team in the marathon, losing only to winner Kenny Moore and novice-marathoner Frank Shorter in the trials. In 1975, he set an American age-36 record of 2:17:43 in the Boston Marathon and in 1979 he won the master's division of the Beantown classic with a record 2:24:41.
Two years later, Mr. Lorenz was Masters Runner of the Year for ages 40 to 44, a new USA Track and Field category.
Lorenz is also a member of the South Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame, and the Burlington County Hall of Fame.
Some of Herb's memorable moments at Trenton State College (now TCNJ), were while running on the track. Track and Field was a sport in which he excelled. Herb was aware of several track records held by a TSC graduate that he considered personal goals. By the time he graduated he had bettered those benchmarks; setting records in the half mile, mile, and 2 mile. He loved being involved in athletics and appreciated the support he received from his coaches.
The Link LonkSeptember 18, 2020 at 08:32PM
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Hall of Famer Friday: Herb Lorenz - The College of New Jersey Athletics
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