Give credit to Hance, along with an assist to Ed Steingraber and Dave Casillas in their implementation of CSF cross country program in 1974. It was that year that the Runnin' Saints were first recognized as a marathon team. One year later, Hance, a two-time NAIA All -American, would finish second in the marathon race at the NAIA National Track & Field Championships in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He would also go on to finish third in 1976, just 20 seconds behind Steingraber. Getting back to 1975, Hance finished in the top 10% at the Boston Marathon (48th place), a race covering 26 miles and 385 yards, and also ran in the 15-mile Charleston (WV) Distance Run. One of the most popular distance races in the world, Hance finished 17th overall in the Charleston Run, which featured over 50 World Class runners. Many people who lived in Joliet in 1975 figure to know Hance considering he logged more than 6,000 miles running through Joliet that year.