Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

 
When it comes to distance running, he is no average Joe. As a senior at Uniontown High School in 1960, Joe Thomas was one of the best high school distance runners in the nation. In 1960, he ran the third-fastest mile of any runner in U.S. high school history with a time of 4:14.9 seconds at the Mount Lebanon Invitational. To this day, Thomas is one of the most decorated distance runners in the history of the WPIAL. He claimed gold three times in the mile, two times in the 880, once as a member of the two-mile relay team, and twice in cross country at the WPIAL level. Then, he advanced to the states to take PIAA gold in the mile twice. Combined, that totals a dozen gold medals. Even more impressive, he set WPIAL and PIAA records in both sports. Thomas enrolled at Southern Illinois University and the wins followed. As a freshman, Joe won the NAIA National Cross Country Championship in record time. He also led the Salukis to an NAIA team title. While at Southern Illinois, Thomas also set a conference record in the two mile run. He returned to Western Pennsylvania and became Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach at Albert Gallatin High School.