More than 60 years ago, Dr. George Sheehan believed in the vision of a Catholic prep school for boys in Monmouth County.
Along with Peter Fleming and John Henderson, the trio founded the Christian Brothers
Academy in Lincroft with the help of the Brothers of Christian Schools, according to a CBA press release.
A nationally competitive running program soon followed, thanks to Sheehan
On Dec. 4, his impact on the CBA and the running back tradition was symbolized more broadly
than the life of a statue on campus.
The new statue of Dr. George Sheehan is a gift from his family as part of the almost
completed Sheehan Track and Field Complex. The statue is by the driveway
which leads to the new facility, allowing anyone passing through the campus to see it.
Perhaps even more symbolic, the statue is just a few dozen yards from the starting line of the cross country course that runs through the CBA grounds.
“As we near the completion of our new contemporary track, Dr.
Sheehan, it is only fitting that we honor him with this statue,” CBA President Ross Fales told the audience. “This statue will commemorate his contributions to the CBA and serve as an inspiration to our runners and other athletes.”
Sculptor Brian Hanlon’s statue of Sheehan shows the CBA co-founder in his
Manhattan Jaspers Classic Running T-Shirt. Sheehan was a standout track runner at Manhattan College, also managed by the Brothers, before establishing his roots in
Monmouth County, according to a news release.
In 1962, the academy cleared an area on its 157-acre campus to create a field for competition.
for the track and field team. It was officially named after Sheehan, who became the host
a voice in the running community and a visionary in the CBA youth program.
Years after his college days, he began running intermittently at the historic Round Barn with
CBA runners and ultimately completed multiple Boston Marathons and ran the world’s first sub-five-minute mile by a 50-year-old.
Sheehan was a renowned cardiologist by profession, but he soon became a best-selling author in connection with the running and fitness movement that took off in the 1970s.
During the unveiling of the statue, Sheehan’s sons spoke to the audience about the impact their father had on them and the CBA.
“CBA was hallowed ground for my father and continues to be for our family,” said Tim Sheehan.
Fast forward to 2022: The CBA Colts have more than 100 cross country state championships
country and athletics. Sheehan’s family remains active in the CBA community, and one of his great-grandsons, Andrew Chiles, currently attends the academy.
Chiles addressed the audience just before the statue was unveiled and said, “In my nearly four years here at CBA, I have had the pleasure of experiencing his legacy firsthand. He firmly believed that through running and any sport we can find our best selves. Enduring the daily struggles and working hard to achieve my goals, CBA has truly made me a happier person.”
According to a news release, the Sheehan Track and Field Complex is scheduled to open in the spring of 2023 in time for the outdoor track season.
