Staten Island's finest middle-distance runner since Abe Kiviat, who won gold and
silver at the 1912 Olympics. Staten Island's only sub 4:00 minute miler, Charlie
ran for New Dorp and Indiana U. He holds multiple SI track records including a
2:25 indoor 1000 meter. He has the third fastest HS time at Van Cortlandt, a
12:36. Charlie's march to greatness in the mile was not easy.
He who spent much of his collegiate career restricted to running 800 meters, and
his early window to longer distances was constricted by chronically tender
knees. Nevertheless he ran sub-four minutes -- or its metric equivalent -- no
less than 15 times in his relatively brief career.
He was a six-time New York City champion at New Dorp HS and the first Staten
Islander to win a state championship. He held every NYC record at one time at
every distance from 1,000 meters to two miles. He was a two-time All America at
Indiana, and a six-time Big Ten champion in the 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters and
the steeplechase.
A 2001 inductee into the Staten Island Hall of Fame, Marsala ultimately ran 3:37
for 1,500 meters, the metric equivalent of a 3:54 mile.
