Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame
As a member of the University's track and field team, Boris Pendergrass was one of the dominant hurdlers in the East during his career. Pendergrass was a three-time NCAA qualifier and semifinalist. He captured three IC4A championships in the 110 meter hurdles, and also captured one IC4A championship in the 55 meter hurdles. At the Metropolitan Championships in 1985, Pendergrass took first place in the 55 hurdles with a record-setting time of 7.0 seconds. In addition, Pendergrass was a key member of the school's hurdle relay team that set indoor and outdoor school records. The indoor mark, at the time, was the fifth fastest time in history, while the outdoor mark was the third fastest time in the world that year. While still at Rutgers, Pendergrass was invited to the 1984 Olympic Trials and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 110 hurdles with a personal best of 13.7 seconds. He also captured the 1982 USA Junior National Championship in the 110 hurdles and finished fourth at the Junior Pan American Games that same year. Pendergrass was also a standout wide receiver for the Rutgers football team, hauling in 53 passes in his career, including a combined 47 receptions as a starter during his junior and senior seasons.
