Heidi Malles Bianco was raised in Lancaster and attendedHempfield H.S., where she excelled in track and field, settingnumerous records, some of which still stand. Following graduation,she enrolled at Franklin & Marshall College and quicklyestablished herself as a valued member of both the Diplomat fieldhockey and women's track and field teams. A four-year letterwinnerin both sports, Malles Bianco was especially talented in track andfield where she competed with distinction. During her freshmanyear, she recorded a team-high 81 points, won the Middle AtlanticConference (MAC) 100-meter hurdles (16.51 seconds) and 400-meterhurdles (1:06.17) championships, both conference records. Shequalified for the NCAA Division III championships in the 400-meteshurdles, where she finished 10th in 1:05.08.
In her sophomore year, Malles Bianco continued her mastery inthe hurdles races, scored 61 team points, and was named the teamMost Valuable Player. For the second consecutive year, she won theMAC 100 and 400-meter hurdles championships ad qualified for theNCAA Division III championships in the 400-meter hurdles. Shefinished seventh nationally with a personal best and F&M recordtime of 1:04.45. She also set a Williamson Field record in the400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:09.4 on the cider track. Sheregained the team leadership in points during her junior year byscoring 117 and was named team Most Valuable Player for the secondyear. During the limited indoor season, she set three F&Mrecords. The outdoor season produced a relay record for MallesBianco, who teams with Lois Lucente, Tracy Timony and Karla Gasperto run the 4x400-meter relay in 4:15.64.
She also won 11 consecutive 400-meter hurdle races during theregular season. For the third consecutive year, Malles Bianco ranin the NCAA Division III championship and placed ninth in the 400hurdles. Her senior year was a culmination of an outstandingcareer. She was named track and field MVP for the third consecutiveyear, continued her domination of the MAC championships, where shewon the 400-meter hurdles. She finished the season with a fourthappearance in the NCAA's, where she finished ninth in the 400-meterhurdles.
During the 1985-86 season, Malles Bianco had a hand inestablishing seven additional F&M records, including:4x400-meter relay in 4:12.72 (with Beth Horenkamp, Stephanie Hyson,and Terri Smith); 4x110-yard relay in 52.0 (with Marisa Weaver,Mary Kilgannon and Mary Ellen Gazda); 110-yard hurdles in 15.2;440-yard hurdles in 1:06.0; 4x440-yard relay in 4:12.9 (withHorenkamp, Smith and Hyson); the 4x100-meter relay in 51.0 (withWeaver, Gazda, and Cynthia Lange); and 400-meter hurdles in 1:04.2.During her career, Malles Bianco never missed a regular season meetand was undefeated in the 400-meter hurdles in those meets. Shegraduated in 1986 with a mathematics major and economics minor.
She currently works for the Wohlsen Construction Company inLancaster as their compensation and benefits manager. She alsoserved as an assistant track coach at F&M during the 1990 and1991 seasons.
