Paul Gansle is a Masters Track and Field champion, the longest tenured varsity head coach in Colonie Central High School history, and a role model to South Colonie children for nearly a half century. Gansle taught Physical Education in the district for 47 years before retiring in 1997. A runner and hurdler for SUNY Cortland, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Gansle was a varsity running coach at Colonie High for 32 years for the outdoor and indoor track and cross country teams. He ended his coaching career with 256 cross country dual meet victories, 28 invitational wins and 15 Section II championships in track and cross country. He also coached many other high school sports over the years, and continued to support South Colonie track and field well into retirement. Outside of the sporting arena, Gansle was a decorated lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. As a long-time athlete, Gansle won numerous Masters Track and Field championships competing since 1984 in the Empire State Games, Empire State Senior Games and the Long Island Senior Games. He holds many meet records in these three meets. He was awarded the Adirondack Association’s age-graded Grand Prix Award for track and field from 2000-2003. His highest personal achievement came in 2003 when he won the U.S. Masters Indoor National Championship at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston jumping 4-feet, 11-1/4- inches in the high jump at the age of 61. His state and national masters’ highlights also include winning the 100-meter run, 200m, 400m and 300m hurdles, and being a part of three winning relay teams at the 2002 state masters. Locally, Gansle organized and laid out the course for the Village of Colonie’s Mayor Trophy 5K Run, which was run annually for 15 years on Columbus Day. He is also the founder of the annual South Colonie Elementary Cross Country Meet, still in existence today. His five children are all Colonie Central High School graduates.