Skip To Main Content

Indiana State University Athletics

Hall of Fame

Parker

Steve Parker

  • Class
    1994
  • Induction
    2014
  • Sport(s)
    Cross Country/Track & Field
An athlete who made it look relatively easy to jump over a bar seven feet off the ground will be one of four individuals to be inducted into the 2014 Class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday. The induction ceremonies are sponsored by Old National Bank and will be conducted in the Sycamore Banquet Center.
 
Steve Parker (1991-1994), a high jumper for the Indiana State track & field team, will be joined in the 23rd Class by former track & field star Angie Menser-Lansing (1995 to 1998) along with Alpha Cleary, an administrator, teacher, and coach at Indiana State from 1958 to 1988, and Reggie Allen, a member of the Sycamore football team from 1978 to 1981.
 
“I made some very good friends at Indiana State,” Parker said. “My personal experiences and life experiences I encountered really molded me into the type of person that I am today.”
 
Parker was a two-time All-American who competed in the high jump for the Indiana State’s men’s track & field team from 1991 to 1994. The Sycamore placed fourth at the 1991 and 1994 NCAA Indoor National Championship and tied for 11th at the 1994 NCAA Outdoor National Championship.
 
His biggest competition may not have come from opposing teams but rather his own teammates especially another Sycamore All-American high jumper Steve Smith.
 
“Steve and I were friends in high school and both ended up at Indiana State,” Parker said. “The competition in practice with him and my other teammates really forced me to improve.”
 
Parker noted that the tough practices made for some great competition in actual meets.
 
“When you get to the level that Steve and I were at, you have to enjoy practices,” Parker said. “And that just makes you better in actual competition.”
 
A member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Track & Field team, Parker won two MVC high jump titles as he captured the 1994 indoor championship with a jump of 7-feet-2.5-inches and the 1992 outdoor title by clearing 7-feet-3.75-inches. He was also named to four All-Missouri Valley Conference squads (two indoor and two outdoor).
 
“I really enjoyed travelling and working with the coaches,” Parker said.
 
Parker ranks second in Indiana State history in both the indoor and outdoor high jump with his best jump indoors at 7-feet-4.5-inches (2.25 meters) and his best jump outdoors at 7-feet-5.25-inches (2.27 meters).
 
Smith was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
  • Two-time All-American
  • Competed in NCAA Outdoor National Championship
  • (1991, 1992, 1994)
  • Fourth at NCAA Indoor National Championship (1991, 1994)
  • Tied for 11th at NCAA Outdoor National Championship (1994)
  • Second All-Time in indoor high jump at 7-4.5”
  • Second All-Time in outdoor high jump at 7-5.25”
  • Won 1994 MVC Indoor Championship at 7-2.5”
  • Won 1992 MVC Outdoor Championship at 7-3.75”
  • Named All-MVC Indoor twice (1993, 1994)
  • Named All-MVC Outdoor twice (1991, 1992)
  • Named to MVC All-Centennial Team
  • Inducted into Hall of Fame October 9, 2014

 
Explore HOF Explore Hall of Fame Members