Cary Palulis, your accomplishments in track and field and cross
country are storied at WPI and in New England. For four years, from
1964 to 1968, you were the benchmark to which all others'
performances were measured.
Among your accomplishments in track and field were three New
England and three Eastern half-mile championships. Only the then
freshman eligibility rule prevented you, probably, from winning
four times. Your time of 1:50.8 in the 880-yard trials of the New
England Championships at Boston College in your senior year still
stands unapproached as a school record.
Through your four years you were the leading scorer on the
Engineers track team and went undefeated in the quarter-mile,
half-mile and two mile runs, and in the mile relay, on which you
ran the anchor leg. In 1968 you anchored the school record-setting
mile relay team which went the distance in 3:21.2. At one time, you
weld four school records, including the 880, mile, two-mile and
mile relay. You broke school track records, then broke them again,
more then 20 times in your college career.
As a freshman, you compiled a 19-0 record and then followed that
with a 25-0 record in your sophomore year. During your junior and
senor year, you won 45 of 47 races.
on a very cold and rainy day in April of your senior year, you
tasted sweet revenge as you defeated Ethiopian Olympic star Sebs
Mambo in the mile, then only man to defeat you in that event.
Later in your senior y ear, you passed up your commencement
exercises to compete in the NCAA College Division Championships in
California, becoming the first WPI student ever to compete in the
event. Fate frowned on you that day, though, and within sight of
the finish line injury forced you out of the race.
Equally as impressive as your track accomplishments were your
cross country efforts. You broke no less then four course records
in four years and lost only six times during those four years.
Twice, you finished third in the New England Cross Country
Championships. Your teammates had such respect for you as a person
and as an athlete that they named you captain for your sophomore
though senior years.
Overshadowed by your track and cross country activities, but a
demonstration of your versatility as an athlete, was your one year
of varsity competition the tech wrestling team when the team needed
someone of your side.
Cary Palulis, it is with the greatest admiration and gratitude
that your alma mater honors you for your extraordinary athletic
achievements with your induction into the WPI Athletic Hall of
Fame.
