TERI ANDERSON
1953 -
Inducted - 2003

Competitor, coach, mentor -Teri Anderson of Leonardville was a true pioneer of women’s track and field in Kansas and later became of a champion for the rights of the disabled athlete. Anderson started running track as a freshman at Riley County High School in 1968 with the boys’ team because there were no organized girls’ programs in Kansas. One year after she graduated from high school, the first girls’ state track meet was held in Kansas. As a freshman at Kansas State in 1972, Anderson set an American women’s record in the 800-meter run - the first of numerous records. She led K-State to the 1976 conference title as a senior by winning four events. She later set the American and world record in the 5,000-meter run. In 1977, Anderson was named the head coach for women’s track and cross country at the University of Kansas where she coached six all-Americans and one national champion. She then spent five years (1980-84) at Texas as an assistant coach before being named the head coach for both sports at Penn State University in 1984. Anderson guided Penn State to eight track and four cross country titles and coached 20 All-Americans. Anderson retired from coaching in 1999 and became the coordinator for the Disability Recreation Programs at Penn State. In 2000, she started a Wheelchair track and field team and founded the first Disability Camps for Children. Anderson was inducted into the Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Born July 12, 1953 – Manhattan, Kansas. Graduated Riley County High School, 1971; Kansas State University, 1976; MS – University of Kansas, 1979.