David Berthiaume, you must be counted among WPI's greatest cross
country runners and its finest steeplechasers. In fact, you hold
one distinction that no other WPI athlete has ever achieved: you
are the only cross country runner in Engineers history to qualify
for the NCAA National Championships, a distinction achieved during
your senior year.
"David had a fabulous career at WPI," says his coach, Merl
Norcross. "Everything has to be right in order to qualify for the
NCAAs, and he was the only WPI cross country runner ever to reach
those heights. He is a very deserving inductee."
To make it to the nationals, you had to place in the New
Englands in the Fall of 1990. As the senior captain, you went on to
finish in the upper echelon of runners at the nationals, held in
Grinnell, Iowa.
You also made your mark in another forum-at the City
Championships. For three straight years, as a sophomore, junior,
and senior, you won the city cross country title. You also led your
teams to outstanding overall records. During your four years at
WPI, the team finished 54-3-1.
You also earned another distinction at WPI. You still hold the
WPI track record in the steeplechase, which you set in the
spring of 1991. The record, 9:24.7, is still listed on the walls of
Alumni Gymnasium. You also participated in the 3000- and 5000-
meter runs. During that time, the track team won 95 percent of its
meets.
An excellent student you graduated with distinction from
WPI with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. Today
you are a project manager for ProFlow Inc., a small manufacturing
firm in North Haven, Conn.
David Berthiaume, for your distinctive achievements in cross
country and track and field, it is an honor to induct you into the
WPI Athletic Hall of Fame.
