Hall of Fame Profiles: Speed, versatility made sprinter Mike Viani a point-scoring machine
10/20/2022 4:19:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
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Orono, Maine -- If you happened to see Mike Viani out of uniform during his college days, you might have jumped to the conclusion that he was a football player.
At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he probably could have been an outstanding running back or linebacker.
"You could find him in the weight room once in a while," said his former coach, Jim Ballinger.
Instead, Viani preferred to use his blazing speed on the track and that's where he carved a niche for himself as one of the University of Maine's top sprinters of all time. His accomplishments for the Black Bears from 1985-89 have earned him a place in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
Viani, who during his college and high school careers competed as Mike Norman, was fast and versatile at UMaine under coach Ed Styra and then Ballinger.
At the time of his graduation, Viani held 11 school track and field records. He still owns a share of the Black Bears' 4x200-meter relay indoor team and the 4x100 relay outdoor squad.
"He was an excellent young man," Ballinger said. "And he had some very good luck on some relay teams at the University of Maine."
In the 4x200, Viani teamed up with Carl Smith, Thayer Redman and K.C. Latham to post a record time of 1 minute, 30.75 seconds in 1989.
The 4x100 mark of 41.68 seconds came running with Smith, Paul Richardson and Latham.
Viani said the camaraderie between him and his teammates and their competitive fire were instrumental in the success he achieved.
"I always thought it was an individual sport, but looking back on it I had some great teammates that really pushed me," Viani said. "We pushed each other and none of us like to lose."
Viani also has maintained a spot on the program's all-time top–10 list in four events. He ranks third in the 400 meters, eighth in the 500, fifth in the 200 and
Four of Viani's times still occupy positions on Maine's top-10 list, including marks in the indoor 400 (3rd) and outdoor 200 (5th). He is eighth indoors at 500 meters and eighth in the 400 outdoors.
Viani, who served as a team captain, also owns historical marks in events that no longer exist, the 300 meters (35.5 seconds) and 440 yards (49.42)
He began his track career at Ellsworth High School, which did not even have a track on which he could practice and compete. Cross country coach Steve Kaufman was instrumental in his early development.
At UMaine, Norman was a four-time All-ECAC honoree and three times was accorded All-New England accolades. He also twice qualified for the IC4A Championships and became the first Black Bear to run the 400 in under 49 seconds.
He was UMaine's leading point scorer in each of his final three years.
Viani credits Ballinger with helping motivate him to become the successful sprinter he was.
"Jim was a good coach and a great guy. He was a motivator," Viani said. "I was one of those kids that if you told me I couldn't do something, I had to go out and do it, just to prove that I could."
Viani has continued to give back to the sport he loves as the track coach at Central High School in Corinth, where he is a middle school social studies teacher and also directs the middle school cross country team.
He and his wife Beth have four children, daughters Jaeden and Julia and sons Brogen and Brayden.
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Orono, Maine -- If you happened to see Mike Viani out of uniform during his college days, you might have jumped to the conclusion that he was a football player.
At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he probably could have been an outstanding running back or linebacker.
"You could find him in the weight room once in a while," said his former coach, Jim Ballinger.
Instead, Viani preferred to use his blazing speed on the track and that's where he carved a niche for himself as one of the University of Maine's top sprinters of all time. His accomplishments for the Black Bears from 1985-89 have earned him a place in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
Viani, who during his college and high school careers competed as Mike Norman, was fast and versatile at UMaine under coach Ed Styra and then Ballinger.
At the time of his graduation, Viani held 11 school track and field records. He still owns a share of the Black Bears' 4x200-meter relay indoor team and the 4x100 relay outdoor squad.
"He was an excellent young man," Ballinger said. "And he had some very good luck on some relay teams at the University of Maine."
In the 4x200, Viani teamed up with Carl Smith, Thayer Redman and K.C. Latham to post a record time of 1 minute, 30.75 seconds in 1989.
The 4x100 mark of 41.68 seconds came running with Smith, Paul Richardson and Latham.
Viani said the camaraderie between him and his teammates and their competitive fire were instrumental in the success he achieved.
"I always thought it was an individual sport, but looking back on it I had some great teammates that really pushed me," Viani said. "We pushed each other and none of us like to lose."
Viani also has maintained a spot on the program's all-time top–10 list in four events. He ranks third in the 400 meters, eighth in the 500, fifth in the 200 and
Four of Viani's times still occupy positions on Maine's top-10 list, including marks in the indoor 400 (3rd) and outdoor 200 (5th). He is eighth indoors at 500 meters and eighth in the 400 outdoors.
Viani, who served as a team captain, also owns historical marks in events that no longer exist, the 300 meters (35.5 seconds) and 440 yards (49.42)
He began his track career at Ellsworth High School, which did not even have a track on which he could practice and compete. Cross country coach Steve Kaufman was instrumental in his early development.
At UMaine, Norman was a four-time All-ECAC honoree and three times was accorded All-New England accolades. He also twice qualified for the IC4A Championships and became the first Black Bear to run the 400 in under 49 seconds.
He was UMaine's leading point scorer in each of his final three years.
Viani credits Ballinger with helping motivate him to become the successful sprinter he was.
"Jim was a good coach and a great guy. He was a motivator," Viani said. "I was one of those kids that if you told me I couldn't do something, I had to go out and do it, just to prove that I could."
Viani has continued to give back to the sport he loves as the track coach at Central High School in Corinth, where he is a middle school social studies teacher and also directs the middle school cross country team.
He and his wife Beth have four children, daughters Jaeden and Julia and sons Brogen and Brayden.
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