Rudy Chapa
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo Chapa (born November 7, 1957 in Hammond, Indiana
) is a Mexican-American businessman who had a successful school career as a runner
. He is the son of Mexican
immigrants. His father Rodolfo Sr. came to the U.S.
as a mechanic
through the Bracero program.
in Hammond, Indiana
, Rudy Chapa won the cross-country state championship twice in a row. The first time was in 1974, tying for 1st place in a time of 11:59.8 (2.5 miles) with fellow schoolmate Carey Pinkowski. The second came in 1975 with a time of 11:46.3 (2.5 miles). It was during his high school years that he formed part of a trio of runners from his school that all broke 9:00 minutes in the two-mile run, which he, Carey Pinkowski, and Tim Keough did in 1975. No other American high school before or since then has matched that feat. In 1976, Chapa first gained fame as one of the U.S.A.'s great high school distance runners, setting the still-standing national high school record
in the 10,000 meters, in 28:321. That same year he also won the Indiana state mile in 4:04.20, a time that held the state meet record until 2011, when broken by Center Grove
's Austin Mudd.
track and field
team at Hayward Field
. He went on to earn All American status six times in cross country and track and was a member of Oregon's 1977 national champion cross country team. In 1978 he won the NCAA
championship in 5,000 meters while running in front of his home crowd in Oregon. The next year he broke the American Record (AR) in the 3,000 meters at Hayward Field as well, running a time of 7:37.7 to break Steve Prefontaine's AR by five seconds. While at Oregon he became friends with future (now former) marathon world record holder, Alberto Salazar
, another Hispanic American distance runner.
After graduating from Oregon, Chapa attended Indiana Law School. While he won some local road races (such as the Sports Med 10K in 29:21 and the Double Eagle 10-Miler in 48:08 in October 1983) Chapa's only performance of note after leaving Oregon came in the 1983 New York City Marathon when he ran a time of 2:11:13 (for 7th place), the second fastest American marathon debut at the time (behind Salazar's 2:09:41 at New York in 1980). In 1999 he was inducted into the University of Oregon athletics Hall of Fame² and was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 2001.
After his athletic career, Chapa first served as the global director of sports marketing at Nike, Inc. He then left NIKE in 1999 in order to pursue his own entrepreneurial vision, which manifests itself today as SPARQ
(Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, Quickness), a sports equipment and media company.
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
) is a Mexican-American businessman who had a successful school career as a runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
. He is the son of Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
immigrants. His father Rodolfo Sr. came to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
through the Bracero program.
High School Career
While attending Hammond High SchoolHammond High School (Indiana)
Hammond High School is a public secondary school located in Hammond, Indiana. It is part of the School City of Hammond district.-Vision:Hammond High School provides students with the opportunity to develop attitudes, knowledge and skills suited to their individual needs so that they may be...
in Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
, Rudy Chapa won the cross-country state championship twice in a row. The first time was in 1974, tying for 1st place in a time of 11:59.8 (2.5 miles) with fellow schoolmate Carey Pinkowski. The second came in 1975 with a time of 11:46.3 (2.5 miles). It was during his high school years that he formed part of a trio of runners from his school that all broke 9:00 minutes in the two-mile run, which he, Carey Pinkowski, and Tim Keough did in 1975. No other American high school before or since then has matched that feat. In 1976, Chapa first gained fame as one of the U.S.A.'s great high school distance runners, setting the still-standing national high school record
High School national records in track and field
This is a list of the national records in the sport of track and field at the United States high school level.While these records have been compiled for over 100 years, there are varying standards for these records. The National Federation of State High School Associations compiles records based...
in the 10,000 meters, in 28:321. That same year he also won the Indiana state mile in 4:04.20, a time that held the state meet record until 2011, when broken by Center Grove
Center Grove High School
Center Grove High School is a four star high school located in Greenwood, Indiana, United States. The mascot is a Trojan, as are the names of all of its sports teams...
's Austin Mudd.
College
After high school graduation he went out west to run for Bill Dellinger's famous University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team at Hayward Field
Hayward Field
Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon's football team from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams since 1921...
. He went on to earn All American status six times in cross country and track and was a member of Oregon's 1977 national champion cross country team. In 1978 he won the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championship in 5,000 meters while running in front of his home crowd in Oregon. The next year he broke the American Record (AR) in the 3,000 meters at Hayward Field as well, running a time of 7:37.7 to break Steve Prefontaine's AR by five seconds. While at Oregon he became friends with future (now former) marathon world record holder, Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
, another Hispanic American distance runner.
After graduating from Oregon, Chapa attended Indiana Law School. While he won some local road races (such as the Sports Med 10K in 29:21 and the Double Eagle 10-Miler in 48:08 in October 1983) Chapa's only performance of note after leaving Oregon came in the 1983 New York City Marathon when he ran a time of 2:11:13 (for 7th place), the second fastest American marathon debut at the time (behind Salazar's 2:09:41 at New York in 1980). In 1999 he was inducted into the University of Oregon athletics Hall of Fame² and was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 2001.
After his athletic career, Chapa first served as the global director of sports marketing at Nike, Inc. He then left NIKE in 1999 in order to pursue his own entrepreneurial vision, which manifests itself today as SPARQ
Nike SPARQ
Nike SPARQ is the name used under a marketing relationship between Nike and SPARQ, under which Nike sells a line of cross training footwear, apparel and equipment....
(Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, Quickness), a sports equipment and media company.