Whitehall head cross country and track coach Brandon Hampton didn’t take to recognize that he would have an instant permanent relationship with former head coach Mike Lelko.

“I worked with Mike for a short amount of time at WCMS (Whitehall-Coplay Middle School), as well as one year (his last) coaching cross country, but he immediately became someone I valued as both a friend and mentor. If not for him, I may not be coaching at Whitehall (cross country or track) at all.”

Hampton’s declaration is one of many around the Whitehall sports community in praise of Lelko. He coached the Zephyrs’ cross country and track programs for 15 seasons before he turned it over to Hampton.

“During my first year coaching cross country, so many coaches had great things to say about him and what he did for the program and school, as well as the EPC and District 11,” added Hampton.

Lelko’s life has been one of commitment and service.

The trickle-down effects from those qualities have been a multitude. His teams didn’t always have the state medal winners, but they followed a path of determination and pride that Lelko instilled in them.

He was - and still is - a prime example of how nice guys don’t finish last. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t attest to that. Being a former police officer in the community, Lelko has been a staple on a few fronts, being a Coplay native.

His laid-back personality, and his ability to listen have proved to be one of his valuable assets.

“He’s an all-around kind, outgoing, and genuine person who can have a conversation with just about anyone,” pinpointed Hampton. “I vividly remember how highly everyone spoke of him at the middle school and how much he was missed when he retired from working security there.”

Yet, running has been Lelko’s passion.

In high school, Lelko blazed his own trail as a team captain for the Zephyrs. He gained a bronze medal in both cross country and track his senior year.

He still has some vivid memories of his high school days.

“I’ll always remember my teammates and my coach,” reflected Lelko. “We had a really good team in 1974 and qualified for states. Only Easton beat us. Coach Tom Grammes was an excellent coach, role model, and mentor.”

Lelko continued running at East Stroudsburg University, Lelko, who also was a team captain there, helped his team place second at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in 1979, their highest ever place in school history.

Being a police officer didn’t deter Lelko’s running. He was a frequent participant and leader of Whitehall’s squad in competitions. He was a two-time champion.

In 1988, Lelko and two other officers went to Australia to compete in the international police Olympics, and he came home with a silver in the 800-meter race.

Today, his running days are behind him, but the memories will have a long shelf-life. Lelko retired from his runs three years ago, and he power walks four miles every morning. He also used his mountain bike as much as possible.

Lelko admittedly is enjoying his retirement.

“It has been great,” beamed Lelko. “We have been traveling a lot. We have an Octoberfest Germany trip planned for late September.”

Like any great coach, Lelko knew when it was time to pass the torch to Hampton as he did in 2023.

“It was time to move on from coaching,” mused Lelko. “It gets to be a year-around commitment between cross country and track. Laving was easy with Brandon Hampton taking over. He picked up right where I left off, and he is doing such a great job with the kids.”

Hampton’s transition certainly was made easier by a legendary Whitehall lifer.

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