MAC Hall of Fame Release

PHILADELPHIA - Ira Davis '58, a three-time Olympian and one-time American record holder in the triple jump, has been named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame, it was announced today. Davis is a member of the MAC's second Hall of Fame class and joins fellow track standout Al Cantello and basketball great Tom Gola as La Salle's representatives.  

Davis was a versatile track star who won the IC4A 100 yard dash championship (9.6 seconds) in 1958.  During the Penn Relays that year, he also became the 100 yard dash champion, as well as champion in the hop-step-jump (now known as the triple jump).

Davis broke many La Salle track records and once held the American record in the hop-step-jump (53 feet, 11 inches). He then participated in the 1956 (Melbourne), 1960 (Rome) and 1964 (Tokyo) Olympics and came within 2 centimeters of capturing a bronze medal in hop-step-jump in Rome (1960).  In 1964, he was named the No. 3 triple jumper in Sport Magazine's All-Time Track & Field Team.

Later Davis would coach track and field at La Salle.