PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Championship. The pinnacle of accomplishments for any athlete, no matter the era. For the first time in 41 years, Rutgers University Track & Field was able to reach that plateau when All-American pole vaulter Chloe Timberg captured the NCAA Division I Outdoor Title in 2024.
Several years ago, a group of Rutgers track & field's most prominent National Champions – the 1970 AAU Sprint Medley Relay and 1981 NCAA 2-Mile Relay, both in the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame – rallied behind Bobby Farrell, the Scarlet Knights' Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. Coach Farrell has built momentum in recent years with his reputation of dedication and success among the program's letterwinner base, ultimately leading to a landmark $100,000 gift from John Herma 'RC70, a member of that 1970 SMR.
"We have so much talent on this team and we're developing them to the best of our capabilities, but we need financial help to be able to get them all the resources possible," said Farrell. "We have equipment needs and substantial facility needs. $100,000 is a great start, but we have a long way to go to be able to catch up to our competition."
Herma himself described the excitement around the current program and how, coupled with the letterwinners' belief in Farrell as its leader, it has reawakened Rutgers track and field, inspiring him to give back. He ultimately hopes it inspires others to do the same.
"Those of us who have won national championships, they all talk about how they love Rutgers, not just track and field – it's an overall thing," said Herma. "There are so many people in the area who maybe were thinking about SEC programs but now have one of the best coaches in the nation and recruits are considering us for the first time in a long time. He's a leader who is inspiring without trying to inspire."
The impact of a donation like this to an Olympic sport, not just fiscally, has a massive impact on former, current and future members of the program. Two of Rutgers Track & Field's current standout student-athletes, Timberg and five-time All-American jumper Sincere Robinson, shed light on what it means to them personally.
"Having these donations, especially in an underrepresented sport, it just means the world to me to know that I do have that support and that I'm never going to show up [to practice or a competition] emptyhanded," said Timberg.
"This gift has done a lot for me, so thank you [John Herma]," said Robinson. "I think this gift allows the program to grow at an even faster pace. People will see the equipment we get; the [opportunities] it has given us as we compete and that should result in more people wanting to come here."
Another prominent letterwinner and member of that 1981 2-Mile Relay team, Walter Kirkland 'CC81, was the driving force behind that push to recharge the alumni base several years ago, leading to a unique crowd-funding effort that raised nearly $30,000 in support of Rutgers Track & Field. That pursuit, coupled with Herma's six-figure donation, as well as a gifts in the future, are poised to push the program to greater heights.
"It bodes well from a motivational perspective for fellow alumni and others to say, 'hey, somebody is stepping up with this donation,'" said Kirkland. "It is incredible, especially in times of such despair within the economy, that a person of John's stature would make such a significant donation to our program. Whether it's used for facility upgrades or recruiting, or both, it really is going to raise the bar for the Rutgers Track & Field."
One of Herma's teammates on that 1970 SMR, Tom Ulan 'RC71, shares similar sentiments with his counterparts, hoping simply that the idea of a gift of this magnitude to Rutgers Track & Field exemplifies the importance of building a program the right way and raising it up from within.
"This donation underscores the idea that the future of this program is built on the foundation of generosity, teamwork and the pursuit of quality," said Ulan. "A renewed sense of purpose across the coaching staff, student-athletes and alumni should lead Rutgers to new heights, both on the track and in the hearts and minds of its supporters. The next chapter for Rutgers Track & field will expand relationships and achievements across all involved with the program for generations to come."
Gallery: (3-11-2025) 2024-25 Track & Field Herma Gift Quotes
The hope of the letterwinners is coming to fruition even faster than they realize, even having that immediate impact on how Timberg and Robinson envision their futures with Rutgers Track & Field when they become alumni of the program in a year or two.
Timberg and Robinson both hope they are in positions to contribute to the program after their competition days are over, financially and with their time, and look forward to the fact that they too can inspire others to give those that come after, even better opportunities.
"[Supporting Rutgers Track & Field] just means coming back," said Robinson. "That's all it's about. Just giving back. We're just getting started."
The track and field program is in the midst of another stellar indoor postseason, most recently, competing at the 2025 Big Ten Indoor Championships where the team secured nine podium finishes, including a bronze medal in the 60-meter hurdles and three school records. For the fifth-straight year, Rutgers will send multiple qualifiers to the NCAA Indoor Championships with Timberg in the pole vault and Donavan Anderson in the triple jump.
Additionally, if you choose to support Rutgers Track & Field during the month of March, there are TWO different ways you can give, both of which will afford the Scarlet Knights the tools they need to succeed in the present and future.
