Mark Belger is a former American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 middle distance

Middle distance track event

Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...

 runner. In High School he set the American record in the 880 yards. While attending Villanova University

Villanova University

Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...

, Belger set the record of winning ten Penn Relays

Penn Relays

The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...

 golden watches.

Early life

Belger grew up in Bellmore, New York where he attended Wellington C. Mepham High School

Wellington C. Mepham High School

Wellington C. Mepham High School is a high school located on a campus in Bellmore, New York. It is the oldest of three high schools in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District...

. He was born to a strict, middle-income family. After being unable to continue playing the sports of Wrestling, Soccer, and Football due to various injuries, he turned his sights to running where he was met with great success.

High school career

After being told by his father that he was required to participate in an after school activity, Belger joined the Mepham track team under coach Paul Limmer. During a President Kennedy fitness test

President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition , is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sport"...

, Belger won his first trophy in a 600 meter dash. Following this, Belger typically ran middle distance events, consisting of the 600m, and the 880 yard dashes, though he unwillingly stepped up to longer distance and cross-country

Cross country running

Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...

 events. During this time, Belger won various County and State title. Most notably, Belger received national fame by setting the then high school record in the 880 yard dash.

Success in college

Belger attended Villanova where he continued to run during his four years. During his career he primarily ran the 800m dash, as well as different legs of relays, racing up to four or five races in a single weekend. While at Villanova, Belger set the world record for the most Penn Relay Golden Watches ever won. Belger was undefeated in his ten competitions.

Belger continued to run successfully for Villanova, placing fourth in the 1976 US Olympic Trials. Two years later, Belger was the NCAA champion in the 800m dash.

Postgraduate Running, and Later Life

In 1980, Belger was set to run for the United States in the Olympic Games, yet missed the opportunity due to the boycott of the games that took place. Afterwards, Belger began traveling to participate in major races around the country and the world.

After graduating, Belger worked as an economic analyst in Boston, predicting the price of raw materials for the auto industry and other developers. Belger now lives in Pacific Beach, CA with his wife Mimi. His two daughters, also runners, received college scholarships, following in his footsteps.