all_time_greats

Lon Adkins

Lon started running his junior year at Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle, OH. While his high school efforts were impressive (4:40 mile), his real success came on the roads. Adkins ran third and fourth man for Bob Schul for a year at Wright St. He gave up his eligibility to help coach at Vandalia Butler and concentrate on road racing. Lon has racked up some impressive numbers in the last 20 years. His PR's include a 14:39 5K and a 2:30 marathon. His most impressive run came at the Pittsburgh Great Race. Adkins ran perfect 15:06 splits en route to a personal best 30:12 10K and a top 50 finish in a race that featured 12,000 runners, including many of the country's best. The picture that accompanies this profile is of Lon and John Agnew crossing the finish line together in the 1988 Turkey Trot. The two tied for top overall honors in course record fashion 25:00. Lon is still actively coaching distance runners in the Vandalia area with the St. Christopher track team.

John Agnew

John has been one of the most consistent elite runners from the Dayton area ever. His running career spans nearly three decades. At Carroll High School, Agnew was a two-time state qualifier in cross country and recorded a 4:27 (Mile) and 9:37 (2 Mile) in track. He took his running act on to the Ohio State University. Agnew, a four year letterman, captained the Buckeyes CC team in 83 and 84 earning 2nd team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. In track he recorded PR's of 14:39 (5K) and 30:17 (10K) while earning three letters. Agnew returned to the Dayton area after graduating from OSU and immediately became a force on the road racing scene. John's highlights include his top Ohio finisher at the Columbus Marathon in 95/96, three consecutive Dayton River Corridor titles (95-97), and is known as Mr. Turkey Trot for his numerous victories on Turkey Day. In 2000 Agnew won the Air Force Marathon and was ranked as one of the US's top 50 marathoners (PR 2:22). Agnew is also entering his 20th season as Carroll's cross country and distance track coach. His teams have recorded several MML and district titles. John is still ranked as one of the top runners in the state. He and his wife reside in Bellbrook.

Jerry Apt

Jerry Apt has been one of the most consistent runners the area has ever seen. His running career began as a college weight loss plan at Ohio University in 1978. After shedding thirty pounds, Apt started taking his running to a new level. Jerry began training with two of the area's top teams, Athlete's Unknown and the Bob Schul Racing Team. Apt's performances continued to improve, and he established himself as one of the area's best. Twenty-five years and 65,000 miles later, Apt is still a top-notch runner. His PR's include a 16:00 (5K), 32:54 (10K), and a 2:44 marathon. Even more impressive, Apt has only been injured twice in his 25 year career. He has won dozens of races over the years and is a part of one of the area's all-time best master's rivalries with Englewood's Jack Lintz. Jerry is still and active member of the Bob Schul Racing Team. He is employed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and competes for Area B's racing team.

Iris Black

No other area female dominated the 80's than Spring Valley's Iris Black. Black, now coaching cross country at Bellbrook High School, was a nationally ranked masters' runner for years. Iris was the 1984 National Half Marathon Masters Champion (1:21:17). In 1985 she recorded a 17:50 5K at the Goodwill Industries 5K, making her one of the few female masters nationally to break 18 minutes in a 5K. Her victories include the River Corridor, Minster, Germantown 17K, and the Dayton 15K River Run. Iris holds the masters' record at the Mini Heart 15K and Lou Cox (19:01), plus she still holds the course record at the Piqua Heritage 5K. She continued running strong well into the mid 90's.

Rick Callison

Piqua alum Rick Callison was a force on the roads in the early and mid 80's. Callison was a DII All American at Southwest Missouri State in 1976 finishing 7th at the cross country nationals. He boasts PR's of 14:20 (5K), 29:30 (10K), and 2:11 (Marathon). Callison trained with the Converse Sports Complex team coached by Bob Schul for several years. Among his career highlights include three consecutive Minster 10k victories, three Dannon Yogurt 17K's, and an 8th place finish in the Boston Marathon (2:16). His exploits earned him a trip to the 1980 Olympic Marathon Trials in Buffalo. He finished 30th with a 2:17. Rick and his family reside in Piqua.

Rich Davis

As a kid Rich Davis started running delivering morning newspapers. Davis never imagined a morning paper route would propel him towards a decorated running career. Rich moved on from paper routes to being a member of the inaugural cross country teams of both his high school (in western PA) and Cedarville University. After college, Davis landed a teaching position in the Dayton area and began training with the Bob Schul Racing Team. Davis achieved success on the national level as a master's runner. His personal bests in the 5K (15:38) and 10K (32:49) were established in his 40's. Rich represented the US in two World Veterans Track and Field Championships in the 5000 and eventually was the only American to advance to the finals in Turku, Finland. Davis placed 9th in the 45-49 age group recording a 16:22. While competing in the 50-54 age group, Davis won a bronze in the 8K USTAF Cross Country Championships, a silver medal at the10K USTAF Master's Track & Field Championships, and a gold medal at the USTAF Master's 12K Road Race Championships. Davis has since retired from teaching and is currently the head coach for the University of Dayton Men's Cross Country Team. Rich is still running and is still actively involved with the Bob Schul Racing Team.

John Glidewell

Glidewell's father, Jim, was an outstanding runner himself. His passion for running quickly rubbed off on his two sons John and Dave. John's resume is impressive. He boasts a 28:40 10K and held the Mini Heart Marathon 15K record at 44:03 set in 1983. His most impressive area performance occurred during the 1982 Dannon Yogurt 17K (Now the Germantown 17K). Glidewell, 23 years-old at the time, was the first runner to average a sub 5 minute mile over the grueling course, finishing in 52 minutes and 27 seconds. John was also an Olympic qualifier in the marathon in the mid-80's. Even though Glidewell primarily raced nationally, he will always remain one of the area's greats.

Bret Hyde

The towering 6'5" Hyde ranks near the top of the area's all-time greats. An officer and graduate of the Air Force Academy, Hyde trained under local running great Bob Schul. His resume includes PR's of 14:02 (5K), 29:18 (10K), and 2:26 (Marathon). However, Hyde's specialty was the steeplechase. Bret was nationally ranked in the event for nearly a decade. He competed in the 1980 (8:56), 84 (8:26), and 88 Olympic trials. Bret was also a two time winner of the prestigious Minster Oktoberfest (86&87) in which he held the course record 29:19 until 1992. Bret was diagnosed with ALS and later lost his battle with the disease in January of 2001. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Dave Lee

Dave Lee was consistently battling to win races throughout the 80's and 90's (winning his fair share of them). Lee's running career began at Xenia High School (after transferring from Greenview). As a senior he recorded a 4:39 mile and 10:02 two-mile. After a stint in the military, Lee enrolled at Wright State and joined the cross country team. Over the next three years, Dave was one of WSU's top runners. After college, he became a force on the roads. His PR's include: 4:15 (mile), 9:37 (2 mile) 15:03 (5K), 31:03 (10K), and a 50:05 at the Mini Heart 15K. Lee also served as Ohio Runner's southwest editor. He also was a contributing writer for Running Times and Runners World. Dave has since moved to North Carolina but still keeps in touch with the Dayton area running scene.

Jack Lintz

In the fall of 1967, one of the area's all-time great running careers began at Springfield North High School. Jack Lintz began running cross country as a sophomore for North's Jim Rofles. Lintz credits much of his success as a runner and coach to Rofles. After an outstanding high school career, Lintz moved on to Otterbin College where he qualified for the both the NCAA Cross Country Championships (62nd as a senior) and the NCAA Track Championships. After graduating college Lintz landed a teaching position in the Northmont school system. While teaching and coaching Jack continued training and road racing in the Dayton area. He recorded PR's of 15:05 (5K) and 31:15 (10K) and over the past decade has established himself as one of the top master's runners in the state. His competitive longevity is nearly unmatched in area. Jack has been elected to the Dayton Athletic Association Running Hall of Fame and the Ohio Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. At Northmont, Lintz built the T-Bolts' cross country program into one of the state's best. The T-Bolts have collected two state cross country titles (Boys 95&96), numerous conference and district titles, and his program has sent dozens of runners to the college level. Jack is still coaching and racing.

George Nicholas

George Nicholas ran for Dayton Meadowdale High School from 1978-1980. In cross country he placed first in the state for three years and broke the state record each year. In track, George had a mile time of 4:13 and two mile time of 9:01. While in college (North Carolina State) George earned All-American status in track and cross country three times. He also competed in three World Cross Country Championship Meets. As a 17 year-old senior at Meadowdale, Nicholas ran the 1980 Dayton River Corridor Half Marathon clocking in an incredible time of 1:06:09 smashing the age group record. George was inducted into the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996.

Kristy Orre

Orre began her brilliant running career at Northmont High School. She ran for Hall of Famer Jack Lintz. While running for the T-Boltz, Orre won three state cross country titles, three 1600 track titles, and two 3200 titles. Kristy continued her outstanding career at the University of Kentucky. She won two SEC championships in cross country and was an 1988 All-American helping the Wildcats to a National Cross Country Championship. In track, Orre recorded a 16:21 5K for the Wildcats. At the age of 18, Kristy finished third at the River Corridor (1:15:20) beating several elite runners. She won the event the following year. Orre also won three consecutive Minter 10K's, recording the second fastest time in the distinguished history of the event (33:25). Kristy lives in Beavercreek. She still runs but does not compete.

Chris Prior

Chris Prior began running in college to get fit for Ohio State's soccer team. Prior quickly found out that running was his niche. After two injury plagued years running for the Buckeye's cross country and track teams, Chris gave up his eligibility to run for Bob Schul's Converse Sports Complex Team and later when on to train with Jeff Rawlins and Rick Callison. His resume is impressive: 14:18 (5K), 29:02 (10K), 64:30 (1/2 Marathon), and a 2:16 (Marathon). He also established himself as one of the area's all-time greatest marathoners. His victories include: Rocket City (87& 89), Isle of Crete (89), and the Steamboat Marathon (course record). Prior qualified for the marathon Olympic trials in 84, 88 (15th), and 92 (12th). Chris and his father Ken also set the father-son record at the 1982 Boston Marathon (Chris 2:17/Ken 2:34). Prior moved to Colorado in 1989 to train in altitude. He has since married and know teaches at Boulder High School. Chris has not raced since 1995, but still runs around 5 miles a day.

Ken Prior

Ken Prior owned and operated his own masonry business for many years in the Dayton area. Runners remember how Mr. Prior owned masters' competition in the 80's and early 90's. Kenny didn't get the running bug until age 39. In less than three years Prior exploded onto the road racing scene. He boasts personal bests of 16:00 (5K) and 32:26 (10K), however, the longer the distance, the tougher Ken would run. Prior held the JFK 50 miler Ohio record for 15 years. The father-son record Ken shares with his son Chris set at the 1982 Boston Marathon is even more impressive. The Prior's recorded a combined time of 4 hours and 51 minutes (Chris 2:17 and Ken 2:34). Ken rates his 54:00 performance at the rugged Bobby Crim 10 Miler in Michigan as one of his top performances, along with his 1:12 half marathon at Philadelphia in 93. Ken has retired from his business and moved to Colorado with his wife Pat. The 63 year-old Prior recently won the 60-64 age division at the Boulder 10K in Colorado (50,000 participants).

Jeff Rawlins

Jeff began one of the area's most impressive running careers in Tipp City, OH. Rawlins still holds the school record for the 2 mile (9:24) and placed 4th in the state in Cross Country his senior year. He continued his running career for Malone College where he was a three time All-American. He currently holds the Malone College record in the Marathon (2:17:39). Jeff boasts PR's of 14:17 (5K), 29:20 (10K), and 2:16 (marathon). He's recorded four sub 2:20 marathons and has qualified for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. Jeff has held numerous course records in the area: 24:56 (Brookville Picnic 5 Mile Run), 15:09 (Independence 5K Run), and 15:42 (Lou Cox Masters Record). His victories include the River Corridor, ORRRC Marathon, Dayton Night Run, Minster, and the Rocket City Marathon. Rawlins lives in Tipp City and is currently a member of Alliance Running. He is still training and competing at an elite level.

Ron Rohrer

Ron Rohrer ranks as one of the area's all-time greats. An all-around standout athlete for Brookville High School, Rohrer played football, basketball, and ran track. Ron was a member of the Blue Devils' 1957 state championship mile relay team. However, it wasn't until 21 years later (1978) that Rohrer emerged as a competitive road racer. At age 38, he began an outstanding running career that still continues today. All of Rohrer's PR's were set at the masters' level. They include a 16:34 (5K age 48), 34:41 (10K age 47). and a 2:43 marathon (age 44). Some of his top performances include: 17:41 (5K age 55=86%), 1:19:06 (Half Marathon age 55=87%), and 2:46 Marathon (age 51=86%). Rohrer was inducted into the DIAA Running Hall of Fame in 2004. He is currently the head cross country coach at Springboro High School. Ron has turned the Panthers CC program into one of the area's best.

Wally Seager

Wally Seager, a major in the U.S. Air Force, burst onto the running scene with his 1979 victory at the Dannon Yogurt 17K. He won the event again in 1983. Training under Bob Schul, Seager recorded several sub 30 10K's and finished 9th at the 83' River Corridor (1:05:38). Wally was a two-time Olympic trials qualifier with a PR of 2:13 in the marathon. He was inducted into the DAA Running Hall of Fame in the 80's. He, too, has sinced moved out of the area.

Bob Schul

Bob Schul has been the most influential runner in the Dayton area. Schul holds the distinction of the only American to win the Olympic 5000 meters, which he accomplished in Tokyo in 64. After graduating Milton Union High School (4:34 mile), Schul walked on at Miami University. His college career was interrupted by a stint in the Air Force. It was during his service in the military that Schul came of age. His PR's include one-time American records in the 5000 (13:38) and the 2 mile (8:26). Schul returned to the Dayton area where he has coached for the last 30 years. He's trained some of the area's best runners: Bret Hyde, Wally Seager, Gordan Sanders, and Mike Michno. Bob also found time to do some road racing. Some of his more impressive performances came in 1987. At the age of 50, Schul ran a 33:55 at Minster and a 1:16:04 at River Corridor. Bob and his wife Jane live in Dayton. He is currently the head track and cross country coach at Wright St. University.

Kelli Trick

Kelli Trick emerged as one of the top female runners in the area in the late 80's and early 90's. An outstanding high school and collegiate swimmer, Trick began running in 1985 and met husband, Mark, at a road race. She quickly caught the racing bug. Kelli boasts PR's of 18:18 (5K), 38:08 (10K), and a 3:24 marathon. Trick won many races over her running career including the inaugural Brookville Picnic Run, an area favorite.

Mark Trick

Mark began running at age 26 to stay in shape. After a not-so-fast debut at the Vandalia 5 Miler, Trick began to get serious and was soon hooked. The Vandalia grad worked his way up to the front pack. Mark's best year occurred in 1986. He recorded PR's of 15:24 (5K) and 32:22 (10K). His 1988 top 10 finish at the Turkey Trot (26:01) remains one of his best performances. Two years later he recorded his marathon PR at Rocket City (2:49). Trick met his wife Kelli at a road race. The two formed one of the area's top husband-wife duos. Mark is still racing and remains one of the more competitive masters runners.