Hall of Fame
Kurt Dunkel was a two-time NCAA Division II runner-up in the javelin in addition to a two-time PSAC placewinner and four-time PSAC qualifier that was an integral member of two PSAC championship track & field squads at Shippensburg University.
As a senior in his final competition, Dunkel recorded a personal best throw of 216 feet, 6 inches to finish second at the 1998 NCAA Division II Championships. Also in his stellar senior season, Dunkel placed seventh in the javelin at the Penn Relays.
During his junior year, Dunkel also saved his best throw of the season for the national championships, with his second-place effort landing at 203 feet, 11 inches.
Dunkel is one of just two athletes in school history to earn multiple Top 3 national finishes in the javelin and the only one to do so with a new-style javelin. Matt Opilo, already a SU hall of famer, won a national title in 1978 and placed third in 1977 using the old-style javelin.
A four-time PSAC qualifier, Dunkel twice placed at the PSAC championships. In 1997, SU won a team championship with Dunkel placing fourth after a throw of 202 feet, 6 inches. As a senior in 1998, Dunkel placed second behind a teammate with a throw of 205 feet, 9 inches.
Dunkel was a freshman on the 1995 SU men’s squad that won a conference championship with at least one place winner in every event – a feat unmatched in PSAC history.
Following his collegiate career, Dunkel – a master of technique – has spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the Raider program. During his tenure, Shippensburg has had 15 All-America performances in the javelin. Included in that total is the 2007 championship of Nate Reider. Also, seven of Shippensburg’s javelin All-Americans finished with multiple All-America awards.
In fact, from 1998-2011, Dunkel has coached 168 conference place winners, 22 conference champions, 52 NCAA provisional qualifiers, 11 school record holders, six PSAC championship record holders and one Academic All-American.
As the primary overseer of throws with Shippensburg University, Dunkel has instructed 19 men’s conference champions and 23 runner-ups since 1999 in addition to five women’s conference champions and four runner-ups.
Dunkel has also worked in a full time capacity at SU as a mental health counselor in addition to a stint as the coordinator of academic support services for student-athletes. He currently works as an Interim Program Counselor for SU’s Academic Success Program. Dunkel is married to wife Kelly, and the couple has two sons – Andreas and Kieran.
