Hall of Fame: C-D

Brett Carney

Ames (Athlete) 2010

Brett Carney was successful at any distance he ran and in any venue he participated. He had great success in individual events throughout his career, but it seemed that if Brett Carney had a baton in his hand, he could find that extra gear that track coaches like to talk about.
During his career at Ames High School and his All American career at Iowa State, many of Brett’s highlights were running relays on Drakes blue oval. He ran on winning sprint medley, 4×8, distance medley, and 4 x 1600 relays there during his career.
But the 4 x 1600 Drake Relays victory for the Cyclones in 1989 stands out. Brett was cooling down, from a race that finished just 40 minutes earlier, when Coach Bill Bergan told him someone was sick, and he was about to make his competitive mile debut, in a loaded field, headlined by a foursome of All Americans from LSU that was going to go after the Drake Relays record. Brett was going to run 3rd and Cyclone All American Jon Nuttal would anchor. Carney took the baton about 5 meters back of the LSU runner, who was an All American at 1500 meters. The plan was to close the gap, run a stride off the pace and throw it down with 200 to go, if there was anything left in the tank. The plan worked to perfection. Brett blew past the LSU runner, the crowd exploded and his 3:58 split gave the Cyclones a 25 meter lead. Nuttal took the baton and sealed the deal.
In a post race interview, Brett said, “when they announced my split, I couldn’t believe it. I was just trying to keep up with LSU and ended up running the race of my life.”
You see, Brett Carney could run anything and run it well. But the 800 was his bread and butter. He finished 3rd in the state meet as a sophomore in 1985. Won the 800 and ran on the winning 4×800 as a junior, then proved he was one of the best ever during his senior year. During his final high school campaign, he was named the Drake Relays Outstanding High School performer; At state, he won his second 800 title, led the sprint medley relay to a state title with his 1:50.4 leg; and his 1:50.2 anchor led the Little Cyclones 4 x 800 team to a victory in 7:44.06, which 23 years later, still stands as the states all time best. He also helped Ames win two state team titles during his 4 years, and still hold 3 school records.
After an outstanding career at Ames High, Brett moved across town, to the Iowa State campus, to write another chapter in his life. One as a 6 time Big 12 Champion and a 2 time All American, all in the 800. During this award winning time in his life, the Cyclones were 6 time Big 12 team champions.
If we were to pick out a year that identifies Brett’s career, it would be 1988-89. In the fall he was a member of the NCAA Champion Cross Country team. During track he was the Big 12 indoor and outdoor 800 champion. The Cyclones won the Big 12 indoor and outdoor team titles. He was both an indoor and outdoor All American in the 800. He finished 8th in the 800 at the USA National Outdoor Championships and he ran on the winning 4 x 8, 4 x 1600 and Distance Medley relays at Drake.
Brett is still a part of 6 Iowa State records. That 3:58 is the schools fastest 4 x 1 mile split; he ran on the record setting Distance Medley and it was with that bread and butter distance that he set school marks in both the indoor and outdoor 800 meter run and indoor and outdoor 4 x 800 relay.
After graduating from Iowa State, Brett had a successful coaching career at Johnson County Community College, Missouri Valley College and Buena Vista University.
He is married to his lovely wife Tabitha and has 2 sons and a daughter.
Brett is back in Ames, coaching at his high school alma mater and working with his former collegiate coach, and fellow Hall of Famer Bill Bergan at Championship Productions.

Clyde Carney

Centerville 1980

Cathy (Carroll) Oerter

Collins (Athlete) 1990

The year was 1970 at the State Track & Field Outdoor Meet and the expression was C C C. Cathy Carroll from Collins. All she did was win four events at the Meet. Collins started girls’ Track & Field in 1969. Cathy finished fourth in the 220 at the Federation Meet her junior season. Her senior season was a banner year for her. At the State Meet she won the 60, 100, 200, and the long jump. She scored all of the 24 team points, that was good enough for the team to place third . She was the only girl to win four events at the State Meet. Not at all bad for a girl that had only competed in Track & Field for two years. Cathy also won the 100 at the Drake Relays. Won the 100, place second in the 220 and long jump at the Federation meet. Placed fourth in the 100 and third in the 220 and long jump at the National Federation Meet in Wichita, Kansas. She attended Iowa State University where she was the first woman to start in a Women’s Track & Field Team. She held the records in the long jump and sprints. In 1976 she was second at the National indoor meet at Madison Square Gardens and was a member of the USA Team that competed in Russia. In 1989 she placed third in the long jump at the World Vetrans Games. Cathy married four time Olympic Discus Gold Medalist Al Oeter. She is still helping coach long jumpers around her homes in New York and Florida. She has interests in writing children’s books and making porelain dolls.

Kim Carson

Des Moines Roosevelt (Athlete) 2003

Kim was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Sheila Carson and Steve Carson on March 12, 1974. She was raised in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1992. Kim had a superb high school career in track and field. She is a former State Record holder in the 100 Meter Hurdles. She was an eight time State Champion outdoors and a four time State Champion indoors. Kim was a 2 time State Pentathlon Champion as well. She set 4 meet records in the Des Moines City Meet during her sophomore season in the 100 Meter Dash, 100 Meter Hurdles, Long Jump, and as member of the 4 X 100 Meter Relay. She won the Drake Relays Long Jump title and ran on three relay reams that won Drake championships as well. She was selected as the Drake High School Athlete of the Meet. After completing her high school career, she continued her career at Louisiana State University. During her stay at LSU, she continued to have an extraordinary career on the track. She won two National Championships and was a seven time All-American. She was the American Collegiate and American record holder in the 55 Meter Hurdles. Kim won three SEC Championships. She was also the Silver Medalist in the 100 Meter Hurdles in the Junior Pan American Games, She also ran on the 4 X 100 Meter Relay Gold Medal Team in the Junior Pan American Games. Kim now lives in Des Moines and runs the Solid Foundation Inc. She is the second one of her family to receive this honor. Her father was a 1987 inductee to the Hall of Fame.

Steve Carson

Red Oak (Athlete) 1987

As far as track and field fans are concerned, the most famous Carson to hail from Southwest Iowa isn’t the “Tonight Show’s” Johnny. No, the Corning born but Nebraska raised comedian didn’t stay in Iowa long enough to make the kind of impression that Steve Carson did at Red Oak in the early 1960’s. Competing on predominately dirt and cinder surfaces, this individual was a contributing factor for three Hawkeye, eight conference crowns, and three district championships from 1960-63. Some of his high school records include: 220 dash curve – 22.4; 440 dash – 49.9; 180 yard low hurdles – 20.1; long jump – 23′ 8 3/4″ (in 1963) which was an Iowa prep record that stood for nearly 20 years. From high school, Steve went to Iowa State where he was selected indoor All-American in 1965-66-67 and outdoor All-American in 1967. Steve, whose best time in the 440 yards – 45.6 for 400 meters, won two big eight titles and was one of only three ISU athletes indoors and outdoors to win a conference track title between 1966-67. His school record in the 440 stood for 16 years until `1984 when Olympian Sunday Uti broke it. Now a driver education teacher and youth track coach in Des Moines, married and the father of four, is still making an impression on track, thanks to this curious creation of athletic expression called the Iowa Games.

Roger Colglazier

Davenport Central (Athlete) 1980

Roger Colglazier, graduated from Abilene Christian in 1972 after serving as captain of the Wildcat track and field team. He was a three-time winner of the John Sasport Memorial Award as Abilene Christian’s outstanding track and field performer in 1970, 1971 and 1972. He earned all-America honors in 1969, 1970 and 1971 in NCAA Division I for the mile relay, and he also captured the Bud Clanton Memorial Award at ACU in 1971 as the track and field team member with the best grade point average. He was the first ACU student-athlete to compete in the World University Games, and he ran on the winning USA 4×400 relay team at the Games in Italy in 1970. Before coming to Abilene Christian, he was a Six time high school state champion from Davenport, Iowa. A versatile athlete, he competed in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 for the Wildcats and held the school record in the 400 hurdles.
Roger had an outstanding track and field career. As a Sophomore ran on three state hampionship relays; Mile Relay, 440 Relay & 880 Relay. As a Junior he ran on the indoor tate champion mile relay, fell during the 440 got up and still finished 5th, anchored the Drake Relays mile 880 relays to the championships. He was the state 440 champion in 48.0 (State Record) and nchored the mile relay to the state title and state record. As a Senior he anchored the state ndoor mile relay champions in 49.1, set a state indoor record in the 440, won the 50 yd Dash nd set the Mississippi Valley 300 record. He won and set records in the Mississippi Valley onference meet in the 440 and 220.
Following High School he competed in the Mexico Invitational in Mexico, Missouri placing first in the 440 in 48.6 and 2nd in the 100 in 9.8. He chose to enrolled at Abiliene Christian University and was recuited by twenty-six Colleges and Universities including Drake, Iowa, ISU, Missouri, Indiana, Cornell Univ., Navy, Stanford, Ohio State, Kansas, Kansas State, Purdue, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan and Tennesse. At Abiliene Christian he was a Divion 1 All-american, Champion in the 200 and Mile Relay at the world University Games. He graduated in 1972 with a B.A. and followed with a Masters Degree from the University of Texas in 1976.

Colburn “Cole” Collinge

Cedar Falls 1974

Dr. E. Wayne Cooley

Des Moines 1989

Dr. Cooley is a graduate of Coon Rapids, Iowa High School, with his undergraduate college education at Simpson and a degree from Buena Vista College. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Morningside College. He was a commissioned naval officer with the Armed Forces during World War II. After returning to public life, he coached football and track at Nevada, Iowa until 1950, at which time he served for one year as a professor at Grinnell College. From 1951 through 1954, he served as assistant to the President of Grinnell. In the spring of 1954, Cooley accepted the assignment as Executive secretary of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union, which embraced one interscholastic activity, basketball. In the following 35 years, the program has been expanded to include interscholastic track and field, softball, golf, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and cross country. The program being the leader and envy throughout the United States in girls’ interscholastic athletic development. In 1963, the Board of Directors of the Iowa High School Speech Association asked that he serve as their Executive Secretary. He has served as their Executive Vice-President in addition to the Athletic Union Leadership. In addition Dr. Cooley: 1. Serves as a member of the Drake Relays Executive Committee. 2. Has been named to the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame. 3. Served as chairperson of the Iowa Heart Association. 4. Serves on the administrative Board of the Family Church. 5. Has served as Vice Chairperson of the Iowa Games since its conception. 6. Is a director of the First Federal Bank of Storm Lake. 7. Serves as an appointed member of the United States Olympic Committee. While serving as national president of the United States Track and Field Federation, an organization embracing the school-college community of the United States, his leadership was substantial in resolving the two decade conflict over control of the nation’s amateur track and field administration, successfully merging the conflicting parties into the Athletic Congress of the United States, a governing body for both national and international amateur track and field. Dr. Cooley did have one small request. The record book from the Boy’s Iowa High School Athletic Association records states his having been the coach of two state championship teams in track and field – 1949 and 1950. “This is of significant memory and pride to me,” he said, “as I coached high school track four years, and the team winning state championships two of the four. This proves I am not totally directed toward the distaff side of high school athletics.” A long-standing family commitment to church and school education surfaced upon the death of his wife of 37 years in 1982, when, along with his two children created sustaining memorials with an Iowa college, high school, and the family church. In 1987 he was remarried to the now Wendy Wykoff-Cooley.

Phil Coppess

Oxford Junction (Athlete) 2014

More often than not, when a track coach tells a young runner that he is “more fit for the marathon,” than a regular season track event, it is because the lad is a bit slow and the coach doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. This was not the case when Coach Bill Kackley conveyed his opinion to a gangly, young distance runner by the name of Phil Coppess.

Coppess did not go out for track until his sophomore year in high school. Despite the late start, he showed he had running and racing ability by winning 5 state titles, one coming in cross country and four in track, before graduating in 1972 from now defunct, Oxford Junction High School. But, it was the talent he showed after reaching the age of 27 that shocked everyone; everyone but Phil Coppess. Phil is a great story. He has a storyline that is better than many movies about distance running that have ever hit the big screen. He is a common ordinary factory worker now living in Clinton, Iowa who never gave up on his dream. Coppess took up running again in 1980, he trained hard while working in the factory and raising a family as a divorced father of three. While training with the likes of Gregg Newell and Jim Ijms, his times dropped like a rock and the medals, trophies and records began to multiply.

In 1981 he won the Drake Relays Marathon, the Huntsville, Alabama Marathon and the Chicago Marathon, in 2:16, beating two time Olympic Marathon medalist Frank Shorter along the way. After Chicago, Shorter had this to say about Coppess: “Phil may get mad at me for saying this, be he didn’t have a heck of a lot of talent, yet he ran nearly as fast as I did in the marathon. Our PR’s are very close. The reason is, he was willing to work, and that is what showed through in Phil”. 1985 was the magic year for the small town boy from northeast Iowa. He ran over 40 races that year. His times got better, at every distance, from the mile through the marathon. He won the Lincoln Marathon, and a marathon in Auckland, New Zealand. And 29 years later, Phil Coppess’ course records still stand. On Oct. 6, 1985, Coppess, was on his way to setting the course record at the Twin Cities Marathon with a winning time of 2 hours 10 minutes and 5 seconds. The second-place finisher was three minutes behind. Coppess’s time was the fastest by an American that year, and at the time, ranked him among the top 20 American marathoners ever, just ahead of Frank Shorter. Track and Field News named him the US Marathoner of the year. Twin Cities timed the 30K and 20 mile splits in route. Coppess’ 30K split was a world record time and his 20 mile mark set a new American record.

Coppess was an Iowa road racing legend. He became a fixture at the world renowned Bix 7, placing in the top 10 in 1981, 82, 83, 85 and 86. He took fourth behind Rob DeCastella, Bill Rogers and Frank Shorter in 1982 and was third behind Mark Curp and Rodgers in 1986. Coppess says his best road race in Iowa was the 1985 Dam to Dam 20K in Des Moines, where he set new PR’s for both the 10 mile and 20K. Both 10K splits were under 30 minutes in route to his winning time of 59:23. While he seemed unstoppable in races, by 1986 injuries did what competition couldn’t: Slow him down. Back problems came in 1987 and he was never the same after that, bringing his competitive running career to a complete halt in 1989.

Hiram “HI” Covey

Ames 1972 (Charter Member)

Hiram “Hi” Covey was born April 12, 1905 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was raised, competed for Oskaloosa High School and William Penn College. As many boys of his day, his father died when he was sixteen-years-old and had to work to support his mother and three younger siblings while he went through high school and college. Hi played football, basketball, and ran track of Oskaloosa High School from 1922-1925 were he captained the football team and won the State Meet 440-Yard Dash in 1925. Upon graduation Hi attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa and captained the football team in 1929. In 1930 Hi graduated and started his teaching and coaching career in Winfield, Iowa, moved to Odebolt in 1934, then to Cherokee in 1939, His 1938 football team won the league title and his track teams won league titles all five years., and on to Ames in 1944. As most coaches of that era, he coached all sports offered by the school district. Hi coached football, basketball, girls basketball, baseball, track and girls softball.

In the summer of 1944, Hi, with the help of some of his athletes including Rollie Knight, later a professor at Iowa State, built the Ames track and field facility off Lincoln Way. His Ames High track teams won every league meet but one during his tenure and also won the Iowa State High School AA Outdoor Track and Field Meets nine times – 1949, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1964, and 1965. His Ames teams also won the State Indoor meet each of those years as well but for 1955 when he returned the State Meet trophy after discovering an athlete that had turned twenty before the meet. In his career, he coached track thirty-one years winning thirty-one District and thirty conference team titles.

Hi retired from coaching at Ames High in 1965 following a serious stroke suffered while teaching a sociology class. Hi was a Charter inductee into the Ames High School Athletics Hall of Fame, the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame and was posthumously inducted into the U.S.A. Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame.

Kay Cox (Hill)

Bedford (Athlete) 1996

Kay Cox was Miss track at Bedford during the middle 60’s. Before there were many all weather full meter tracks she set school records in the 100 yard dash in 11.0, 220 dash in 24.9, 440 dash in 62.1, high jump at 5’1″, long jump at 16’6 3/4″, was a member of the school record setting 440 relay in 50.8, and 440 yard medley relay in an Iowa all time record of 52.2. During these early years of Iowa Girls’ Track there were several events that are no longer run today. Kay set school and State records in the 80 meter hurdles – 11.4; and the 220 yard dash in a time of 25.0. She was a member of the 440 medley team with a time of 52.2, which is also an Iowa All Time Record. Her Senior year she won the 50 yard low hurdles, high jump, and the 50 yard dash at the Indoor meet – enough points to have her team place 3rd. In 1967 she won the Midwest A.A.U. Pentathlon with 3,897 points and placed 5th in the National Women’s Pentathlon in Haywood, California with 4,029 points which was an Iowa all-time record. Kay was a member of the Iowa Girls’ Track Club for three years and placed in nine United States Track and Field Federations as well as in the National Federation Meets. Her accomplishments at these meets are: 1965 – 4th in the high jump; 5th in the 440 yard dash; 6th in the 80 meter hurdles; 2nd as a member of the 440 yard relay. 1966 – 1st in the high jump; 2nd in the 60 meter hurdles. 1967 – 1st in the 80 meter hurdles in a time of 11.5, a National Federation record; 1st as a member of the 880 yard medley relay in a time of 1:45.9 (America’s best record). As a Senior, Kay ranked in the top 25 in the nation in 4 events as cited in Women’s Track and Field. The events were: 100 yard dash – time of 11.0 at Drake – tied for 17th place; 80 meter hurdles – time of 11.4 at Haywood, California – tied for 7th; high jump – 5’1″ at the Indoor Federation – tied for 13th; pentathlon – 4,029 points at Haywood, California – tied for 5th. In 1976 Kay was one of the first four inductees into the Iowa Girls’ High School Track and Field Hall of Fame. Kay Cox has become Kay Hill and is married to Brian Hill – past Head Coach of the Orlando Magic Professional Basketball Team. They have two children, Kim and Christopher. In her spare time Kay served as Head of the Orlando Magic Wives organization, served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation which allots a million dollars annually to youth oriented charities. She serves on the National Board of Directors for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation which raised over $200,000 this year for the foundation.

F.X. Cretzmeyer

University of Iowa 1977

Francis Xavier Cretzmeyer, won the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1936 for combined excellence in sports and classroom. Once enrolled at Iowa, it was all track and field. Lots of it. He regularly long jumped, high jumped, threw the javelin, ran the 120-yard high and 220 low hurdles. He would sprint when the needed. He never won an individual Big Ten title but set school records for points scored in a season (144 1/2) and a career (355) that still stand. His 220 hurdles times twice were near the top in the annual world lists but, he was often low hurdling and long jumping against Ohio State’s great Jesse Owens, world record holder in both events. After two years of coaching preps in Illinois, seven at Des Moines North and one as the Grinnell College track coach, he took over at Iowa in 1948 for 30 years. During those three decades, the Hawkeye’s won more than 60 individual league titles and claimed four National Collegiate meets. Four athletes made U.S. Olympic teams. Cretzmeyer’s prep coaching debut came in Harrisburg, Ill. in 1938. Ten years later, following seven years at Des Moines North High School and one at Grinnell College, he became Hawkeye coach. As Hawkeye coach, he turned out a few great athletes, particularly the distance runners. At the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Wheeler in the 1,500, Rich Ferguson in the 5,000, Deacon Jones in the steeplechase and Ira Murchison in the 100, he held a share of the world record, had all benefited from Cretzmeyer’s coaching. Jones also ran in the 1960 Games. Larry Wieczorek, a six-time Big Ten champion and four-time all-American in distance events, was another special star, along with high jumpers Bill Knoedel and Bill Hansen, middle distance aces Mike Mondane and Bill Frazier and others. Cretz called it quits at age 65, immediately after the conclusion of the 1978 league outdoor meet, the dedication event for the new track named in his honor. Arthritis in the spine had him painfully crippled. Cretzmeyer served as president of the United States Track Coaches Association in 1978.

Jim Crosman

Adel (IATO Official) 2004

Jim was born in Ogden, IA. and a graduated from Ogden High in 1953. He was a member of Ogden’s 1st track team and qualified for the state track meet in the 1/2 mile, the mile, and medley relay. While in the service and stationed in Japan, Jim was a member of the Yokohama area track team for 2 years. Jim began his track career in Adel in 1970 officiating at high school and Jr. High meets, remaining active in many of these meets yet today. He joined the Drake Relays Officials in 1971 working both the multi-events and the relays. At Drake, Jim works the long & triple jumps in the relays, and he became the Head Official of those events in 1975. Jim is still active as a Drake Relays official and continues to serve as the head official for the long & triple jump events and he holds a Masters Certification with USA Track & Field. Jim was the Head official for the Decathlon at the Jr. Olympics in 1985 and he worked as the head long jump official at the Jr. Olympics in 1995. Officiated the Masters Decathlon & Heptathlon championships in 1992. In 1995 Jim was inducted into the Drake Relays ” Wall of Honor” Jim served as referee of the Multi-Events at the Big 10 men’s indoor championships in 1997 and 2004. He was the referee of the Multi-Events at the Missouri Valley indoor championships in 1997 and served as a Long & Triple jump official at the Big 12 indoor championships in 1998. Recognized by the IATO for Dedicated Service as an official in 2002. Jim has officiated many indoor track meets at Iowa State over the past several years both at the collegiate and high school levels, plus he has worked several AAU & USATF meets. He has worked numerous track events, both large and small, at the Drake Stadium over the years and has work at both the boys and girls state track meets in excess of 30 years. Jim said that he has enjoyed each and every meet he has ever helped in. Quote, “I love those kids; just wish sometimes that I was one myself again”. Jim lives in Dallas Center. Jim is joined for his induction by his wife Shirley.

Scott Crowell

Mason City (Athlete) 1995

When it came to throwing the Discus – no one could do it better than Scott Crowell. Some accomplishments Scott achieved while attending High School at Mason City from ’76-’78 are:

1. From his Freshmen year through his Senior year he won all but 6 competitions he completed in. His losses were: 1 each as a Freshmen/Junior – each time he fouled out with no legal throw; 4 losses as a Sophomore with all losses coming to eventual Drake and State Champions. His Senior year he was undefeated in competition and set a “Meet Record” in every meet attended.
2. Every year was an improvement as indicated by his best throw by grades: Freshmen – 150′ Sophomore – 178’10” Junior – 185’9″ Senior – 207’6″
3. Big 8 Conference Discus Champion 3 times.
4. State and Drake Relays Champion 2 times each.
5. Set the National Discus record in 1978 of 207’6″ – a record he held until 1985. This distance is the State of Iowa Record.
6. As a Sophomore, he competed in the Junior Olympics in Nashville, Tennessee placing 4th behind three Seniors.
7. Scott was selected First Team All-American his Senior year by Track and Field News and Adidas. He was also the recipient of the Hertz #1 Award for the best athlete in the State of Iowa in 1978.

After High School Scott attended Iowa State University on a Track Scholarship where he continued to set records. A few of his college accomplishments include:

1. Holder of the Big 8 Conference Meet Record with a throw of 206’6″.
2. Holds the All-time Big 8 Conference discus record with a toss of 211’7″ which is also the Iowa State University Record.
3. He captured the Texas Relays Championships 2 times.
4. He was the NCAA Division I National Discus Champion in 1981 with a throw of 206’3″.
5. He was a member of the United States Olympic Festival Team in ’81-’82.
6. He was Team Captain his Junior/Senior years and received the “Meyers/Vincent” Award for Leadership his Senior year.
7. He is the holder of the “Top 10” best throws in Iowa State University history, all over 200 feet and at one time, in his Junior year, he was ranked 13th in the world.
8. Scott is the first thrower in Discus throwing history to set the National High School Discus Record and go on to become an NCAA Division I National Champion.
9. Even though the discus took up a lot of his college time, Scott still found time to study and received the “Athletic Award for Academic Excellence” as awarded by Iowa State his Senior year.

Scott and his wife Laura have 4 children (all girls) and reside in Marshall, Minnesota where Scott is the Director of Student Financial Aid at Southwest State University.

Tait Cummins

Ute 1985

Born in Ute, Iowa in 1906, he skipped so many grades in country school, he graduated when he was 14 years old. He got his journalism degree from the University of Iowa and went to work as a reporter on the Cedar Rapids Gazette. In 1939 he was named Sports Editor, just in time to become good friends with Nile Kinnick and the Ironmen. In 1948, he became Sports Director of WMT Radio and later both WMT Radio and TV until his retirement. Tait was unusual in as much as he really cared about every young athlete he met and he spoke at thousands of banquets over the years. He devoted so much attention to high school sports, that he took a lot of ribbing from his self-styled sophisticated colleagues who though news had to come from big schools and colleges. He pioneered broadcasting in girls sports. While Tait knew most of the big names in national sports, he still considered high school sports to be where it all started and considered the young athletes to be just as important as established stars. His wife Dotty said “You picked a good guy to honor – I know he would be pleased.”

Kris Curnyn Hagedorn *NEW! 2022 Inductee

If you happen to be a person who won multiple state titles plus a Drake Relays title in high school; won Big 12 titles, set Big 12 records, and earned All American honors in college, what else is there really to say about your outstanding career?

Well, if you are Kris Curnyn Hagedorn a 1994 graduate of Jefferson-Scranton High School and a 1999 graduate of Iowa State, there is plenty.  She was an outstanding student and a very talented 4 sport athlete.

Like many junior high kids, Kris went out for track in 7th grade because most of her friends were too.  She knew track events weren’t going to be her specialty, so she thought she would give field events a try and joined the throws group.

She not only enjoyed the camaraderie of her teammates, she loved the competition.  

Qualifying to state in the discus, as a freshman and not placing, didn’t cut it for Kris.  She won as a sophomore, but that didn’t cut it either.  She not only wanted to win, but also wanted to have the best throw across all classes.  She did just that both her junior and senior years.  She also won Drake Relays gold in the Discus and silver in the Shot and she helped her team win 4 conference titles, 4 District titles and a first ever State team title for her school while winning 31 of 34 Discus competitions along the way.

At Iowa State, she immediately became a very important part of the Cyclone’s success.

Kris qualified to the NCAA championships seven times and earned All American honors in the Weight Throw, and the Hammer Throw.

She was a Big 12 champion and Big 12 record holder in the Discus, a four-time Iowa State Scholar Athlete award winner and over 20 years since graduating, she still on ISU’s Indoor All Time Top Ten lists in the Shot Put and Weight Throw Indoors and the Shot Put, Discus and Hammer Throw outdoors.

Kris works at Principal in Des Moines as a Product Manager.  She and her husband Josh, also a B12 champion and All American thrower at Iowa State reside in Adel.  Son Joey is a college freshman at ISU and daughter Lauren is a high school freshman at ADM.

Cliff Cushman

Ames (Athlete) 1979

1954 State Mile Champion. 400 meter Hurdles Silver Medalist in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. One of Kansas University’s greatest student-athlete heroes missed a gold medal by tripping over a hurdle in quest of such, issued a timeless challenge to us all, then fell from the skies over Vietnam. Capt. Clifton E. Cushman died in 1966 doing what he considered his patriotic duty – so typical of the incomparable Clif. He instinctively knew how to “do the right thing,” or at least try. Few tracksters have been as versatile as Clif, a member of KU’s 1959 NCAA outdoor national championship team and captain of a great 1960 crew. As a high schooler in Grand Forks, N.D., he won state titles in the long jump, high hurdles and mile. At KU, he was a fine cross-country runner as well as a world-class 400-meter hurdler. Numerous records. Cushman was voted the meet’s top performer at the 1960 Kansas Relays after he won the 400-meter hurdles in :51.2; ran a 1:53.8 half-mile leg on the winning KU two-mile relay team; led off the winning sprint medley relay team with a :48.5 quarter-mile; then anchored the second-place KU mile relay team with a :48.5 quarter. He was an even more outstanding citizen. In 1960, Clif won an Olympic silver medal at Rome in the metric hurdles and dedicated himself to taking gold in 1964 at Tokyo. But the ’64 U.S. team trials saw the favored Cushman trip over the fifth hurdle in the finals and fail to make the team. It happened on national television; thousands sent condolences. Typical Cushman … he responded with his now-revered “I Dare You” letter to young people, via the Journal-World and the papers in Grand Forks and Des Moines. Clifton E. Cushman letter “Don’t feel sorry for me. I feel sorry for some of you! … you watched me hit the fifth hurdle, fall and lie on the track in an inglorious heap of skinned elbows, bruised hips, torn knees and injured pride, unsuccessful in my attempt to make the Olympic team a second time. In a split second all the many years of training, pain, sweat, blisters and agony of running were simply and irrevocably wiped out. But I tried! I would much rather fall knowing I had put forth an honest effort than never to have tried at all. “This is not to say everyone is capable of making the Olympic team. However, each of you is capable of trying to make your own ‘Olympic team,’ whether it be the high school football team, the glee club, the honor roll or whatever your goal may be. Unless your reach exceeds your grasp, how can you be sure what you can attain? And don’t you think there are things better than cigarettes, hot rod cars, school dropouts, excessive makeup and ducktail grease-cuts? Over 15 years ago I saw a star – first place in the Olympic Games. I literally started to run after it. In 1960, I came within three yards of grabbing it; this year I stumbled, fell and watched it recede four more years away. Certainly, I was very disappointed in falling flat on my face. However, there is nothing I can do about it now but get up, pick the cinders from my wounds and take one step followed by one more, until the steps turn into the miles and miles of success. I know I may never make it. The odds are against me, but I have something in my favor – desire and faith. Romans 5:3-5 has always had an inspirational meaning to me … ‘we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.”

Wilbur Dalzell

Dubuque 1972 (Charter Member)

Wilbur Dalzell came to Dubuque in 1922 and began a coaching career that lasted through 1966. During his career at Dubuque Senior, he served as coach for the first all-star football game. He was a charter member and helped organize the Mississippi Valley Conference in Eastern Iowa. He also served as head football coach for 22 years. Under his guidance at Senior, 14 boys were selected to the All-State first team, and many of his athletes went on to play college football. Dalzell is the only coach to be named to the Iowa High School Coaches Hall of Fame in football, wrestling, and track.

Mike Dardis

Mike began his coaching career in Clinton during the late 1920’s. He moved to Davenport in 1931 as an assistant Football coach and assistant Track and Field coach under the guidance of Jesse Day. He coached the field events for Jesse and directed his athletes to 14 state field titles. Mike replaced Jesse as head coach following Jesse’s retirement in 1960, and remained the head coach until his retirement in 1964. His most notable team was the 1964 team that placed second at the state indoor meet and third at the outdoor state meet, with state meet titles that year in the 440 and 880 Relays and Shot Put (Terry Huff), who was also the Drake Relays Champion that year.

Robert Charles Davidshofer

Davenport 1972 (Charter Member)

Robert was born in Cherokee, Iowa where he graduated from Immaculate Conception High School participating in track and baseball. His college days were spent at Loras College in Dubuque where he was a 3 year Varsity Track performer. This individual has been teaching for 26 years and has been a dominant coach when it comes to winning meets. His cross country teams have won 181 invitational victories, six boys state titles (1965, ’66, ’75, ’83, ’85, ’86), 5 state titles in girls (1983, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88). He has received the state regional coach of the year title 5 times was name state coach of the year in 1986. He served as co-chairperson of the Eastern Iowa Conference in track and cross country from 1964-76.

Ellen (Ries) Davis *2019 Inductee

I attended a Track Coaches clinic at Williamsburg several years ago and IATC Hall of Fame coach Bob Mudd of North Linn was one of the speakers.  A question from one of the attendees was, and I will paraphrase a bit here, “Coach, your girls seem to be on a roll and doing lots of good things.  What is your secret?   Coach Mudd replied, “We don’t have any secret, but we do have Ellen Ries.”

Wouldn’t all coaches liked to have had an Ellen Ries on their team.

Ellen, the youngest of 4, got interested in athletics at a young age by watching her older siblings participate.  As a 7^th grader, she was excited to have the opportunity to run track with the 1500 being her go to event.

Ries’s parents kept her focused, her teammates kept it fun yet competitive and Coach Bob Mudd was the driving force to her commitment of being a champion on and off the track.

Ellen Ries had an amazing high school career winning 13 state track titles, a Drake Relays title and 2 cross country titles.  Of her 13 state meet wins on the Blue Oval 4 came in the 800 meters and 4 came as the anchor of the Distance Medley.

At the 2005 state meet the North Linn 4×8 team, of which Ellen would be the anchor, was jogging along the rail on the way to the starting line.  They were running in Heat 2 and the team that just won Heat 1 had put up an impressive time.  Coach Mudd, seated in the front row, stopped them.  Mudd looked Ellen straight in the eye and said, “It’s going to take a 2:13 anchor to win this.”   As the race ended, someone announced over the PA that Ries’s anchor was 2:08.9.

After her career at North Linn had concluded, Ellen was off to the University of Missouri, where she earned All Big 12 honors, qualified to the NCAA championships in the 1500 and was named a Big 12 Scholar Athlete.

But like any true champion, it was the experiences she shared with teammates that created the special memories.  Like the community pep rally after winning the 2005 state track and field team title or earning All Big 12 honors on the Tigers home track the same day as graduation.

Ellen Ries was one of those performers’ fans hoped would have to come from behind in order to win.  Not often did she have to make up ground but when she needed too, she could.

Ellen is employed by Hy Vee as a fulltime Sports Nutritionist, working daily with high school and college athletes helping them achieve their goals.  She is also a member of the West Des Moines Valley Cross Country coaching staff.

Ellen and husband Patrick currently live in Urbandale with young son Milo and Baby Davis #2 will be arriving soon.

Ron Davis

Perry (Athlete) 2010

Ron Davis re-wrote the record books during his career at Perry High school, and 45 years later some of those marks still stand.
In 1965 Ron won the long jump, the 60 yard low hurdles, and the 50 yard dash, all with record setting performances at the State Indoor. Perry finished 2nd in the team race, with Davis scoring all of their points. At the state outdoor meet he won the 100, 220, 440 and the 180 yard low hurdles.
During his illustrious high school career Ron held seven Iowa High School records, two National Federation Records and Class 3A all time bests in the 100 yard dash and the 180 low hurdles. His 200 and 400 times still stand as Perry school records.
Upon graduation, Ron took his talents to Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State, in Kirksville, Missouri and he never missed a beat. He graduated in 1969 as a four time All American, twice each in the 440 yard dash and the mile relay. The 4×4 and 4×2 teams he ran on still hold school records.
When asked to describe his contributions to track and field, Ron said, “I have a true love and devotion to the sport. At the time I thought I contributed all I had, not realizing I had so much more.”
Ron is now a retired Hennepin County juvenile probation officer, currently residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife Beverly. They have 2 adult children, Ron and Netrea and four grandchildren, Willie, Summer, Ty and Kyra. Ron is honored to be the son of Gail Davis, a citizen of Perry and an outstanding athlete in his own right. Gail is 95 and can still be spotted at most Perry High School sporting events.
In 2006 the Perry Relays was renamed the Davis Relays as a tribute to the Davis family for the contributions they have made too their hometown and its athletic programs.

Jesse Day

Davenport 1972 (Charter Member)

Jesse was a native of Nebraska. He participated in football, basketball, wrestled some and was an all-state tackle. He attended college at Grinnell concentrating on football with some track thrown in. Jesse played on Grinnell College’s un-defeated football team in 1917. Following college he Forest Grove, Oregon and coached football, basketball and baseball at Pacific University in 1919. The following year Jesse moved back to Iowa and Marshalltown were he coached football, basketball and track from 1920-1922. The opportunity then arrived to coach in a large school system and Jesse moved to Davenport in 1923. He was the head football coach at Davenport High from 1923-1945 recording a record of 153-43 with un-defeated teams in 1926 and 1941. Jesse also started his heralded track coaching career in 1923 as well. He continued to coach track and field for 15 years more following his retirement from football coaching. During his track and field tenure from 1923 through 1960 Jesse coached five state championship teams, ’31, ’35, ’42, ’47 and ’57, plus five state runner-up places and numerous invitational and dual meet championships. Jesse was inducted into the Football Coaches Hall of Fame and in 1989 into the Quad Cities Hall of Fame.

Bonnie (DeBoer) Wolterstorf

Hull, Western Christian (Athlete) 2012

You see Bonnie DeBoer won almost every time she got in the blocks, took a handoff or hit the long jump take off board. She was that good.
In her 4 years at Western Christian she ran about half of her meets on cinder tracks and the other half on all weather surfaces that were not near the quality that kids run on today. But regardless of the surface, if Bonnie was in the race, the battle really was for second
Despite graduating from high school almost 35 years ago, her personal records are still among the states all time bests and she still holds Western Christian records in the 100, 200, 4×100 and long jump.
As a freshman, Bonnie placed 5th the 100 and 200 at the 1975 state meet. Those results must not have set well with her as she came back to win both events in 1976, ‘77 and ‘78. She added the long jump and the 4×100 relay for good measure in 1977 and 78 for 10 state titles in all; and oh yeah, the girls state meet was just one class until 1977.
Her PR of 11.8 in the 100 is # 4 on the all time list; her 24.2 in the 200 is also # 4 and her best of 18-11 ¾ is still the 6th best long jump ever. With her on the anchor, Western Christian ran the 4×1 in a best of 49.1 in 1977, a mark that is just off of the current all time list.
Bonnie led Western Christian to state team titles in 1977 and ‘78. She was inducted into the Iowa Girls Athletic Union’s Hall of Fame in 1982 and the 1978 team was inducted in 1993.
After graduating from high school she attended Dordt College for 1 year before transferring to and graduating from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Sioux City. She has enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a registered nurse.
Bonnie is married to Kevin Wolterstorff and they have 4 very talented, athletic children. It is an ancient cliché’, but the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Trevor and Tyler play basketball at Dordt and Brooke and Abby attend Western Christian. Trevor and Tyler played on state championship basketball teams in high school. Brooke has played on state title winning basketball and volleyball teams. She is the reigning 2A champion in the 100, 200, 400 and 4×100 relay and was recently chosen as the 2A volleyball Co-Player of the Year.
Bonnie DeBoer was one of the best ever. She is very humble and doesn’t seem to be real comfortable when it comes to talking about her accolades or those of her children. But finding people who were willing tell stories of this ladies accomplishments was easy.
Her faith in God is very strong. She knows she was blessed with an incredible talent, and her opponents knew it too!

Jim DeJong

Sheldon 2001

Jim De Jong was born in Humboldt, South Dakota, and graduated from Chancellor High School in 1955. During his high school career he participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He earned All-Conference honors in basketball. He describes himself as an average runner who just loved to participate. After graduation Jim attended Sioux Falls College. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1961. Jim started his career at Jefferson, South Dakota where he coached all sports. His boys track team won the 1968 Class B State Championship. He spent the next 5 years at East Monona High School in Moorhead, Iowa. He than moved to Sheldon High School in Sheldon, Iowa, where he served as Head Girls Softball and Girls Track Coach as well as Athletic Director until his retirement in 2000. Jim’s accomplishments as a coach are many. He has had numerous conference and district championship teams. His girls track team won the 1984 State Championship. He also coached several individual state champions including four event winner Tammy Warner in 1984. He started girls cross country in Sheldon and built two tracks during his career. Jim has been honored by several groups for his career achievements. These include being named Regional Coach of the Year three times and State Coach of the Year in 1984 by the IATC, Lakes Conference Athletic Director of the Year three times, NIAAA State Award of Merit 1998, and induction into the IHSADA Hall of Fame in 2001. Jim has served the Iowa Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches for twenty-two years as a regional representative and as the past Chairman of the Hall of Fame committee for 18 years. It is through his leadership that the Hall of Fame holds such a high and distinguish place in our state. It was under his guidance that we were able to compile the list of honorees and have the banquet we enjoy today. Jim told me when he asked if I would be interested in taking over as chairman, that he did so with the understanding that it would only be for a few years. He has been an inspiration to all of us on this committee and he has served as mentor to me these past three years. Jim’s service to our organization and to track and field in general is unparalleled. He has served very well and continues to do so both as a regional representative and as a member of the Hall of Fame committee. Jim has given of his time in other areas as well. He served as the State Secretary for the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association for 8 years. He is active in his community as well as with Sheldon High School even after retiring. He has serveas a mentor to others on how things should be done with dignity and grace. Mr. Jim De Jong inductee to the Iowa Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame 2001.

Ed Delashmutt

Fort Madison (Athlete) 2005

Ed DeLashmutt was born on March 26, 1958, in Kansas City, Missouri to Edward and Ruth DeLashmutt. Ed attended and graduated from Ft. Madison High School where he competed in Cross Country and Track & Field. Ed had an outstanding high school career in cross country and track& field. He placed third in the state Cross Country Meet his senior year. He was the Drake Relays High School 1500 meter champion in 1976 and still holds the record of 3:59.63. Ed also was a member of the 4 X 800 Meter Relay Drake Relays Champions. He won the Mile and was on the 4 X 800 Meter Relay winning team at the 1976 State Meet. He was the #1 ranked High School Miler in the nation in 1976 by the Sporting news. Ed won the mile in all three national High School Meets. He was the first high school miler to finish in the National AAU Championships in 1976. He holds the all-time best in the mile of 4:07.2. Ed also holds the Iowa State indoor mile record. After graduating from Ft. Madison High School, Ed went to Kansas State University to run for another Iowa great Jerome Howe. He transferred to the University of Iowa where he continued his running career. Ed won indoor mile championships in both the Big Eight and Big Ten. He holds the fastest time for 8000 meters at the University of Iowa of 24:50. Ed was an All-American in Track & Field in 1979. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Business Administration. Ed and his wife of 29 years, Tamara live in Omaha and have five children. They are Emily (Klauer), Edward, Aaron, Andrew, Nathan. They are also the proud grandparents of Hannah, Ryan, Edward and one on the way. Ed currently owns and operates two businesses The Direct Marketing Group and NebDoctors of Nebraska and Iowa. Ed DeLashmutt 2005 inductee to the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame.

Philip “Phil” Delavan

Glenwood & ISU (Athlete) 1982

Dale DeVault

Beaman-Conrad 1973

Dale was born in 1913 in Oskaloosa, Iowa and graduated from high school in 1931. He participated in track and football while in high school and was the first member of the Oskaloosa track team to break 2:00 in the half mile. Dale did not begin college until he was twenty five years old. He played football while at William Penn.
During World War II Dale was a Master Sergeant and flew fifty two B17 bomber missions. He was wounded by a Japanese fighter plane while serving as a turret gunner and for this was awarded a Purple Heart.

After the war Dale coached at Eldora and then moved to Conrad in the late fifties. The track programs at Eldora and Beaman-Conrad were always highly successful including state cross country championships. Dale’s strength was in being able to have large numbers of boys being involved in his programs and have those boys participate at the highest level. “Papa Bear” was a true leader and is fondly remembered by his boys. They would try to run through a wall if Dale asked them to.

Mike Dick

Urbandale (IATO Official) 2011

Everyone knows this person for his leadership skills and many of us may not be aware that he has been a registered Official in five sports for 42 years. Before achieving “a leadership role” at the state level he had coached Track and Field for eleven years.

Mike served on the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Board of Directors and was a MEMBER OF THE IATO Board of Directors in their initial years. After serving on the IGHSAU Board they had thought enough of his leadership style that he was hired as an Assistant Director for six years and was then appointed the Executive Director.

He has been given many honors which includes the induction in the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Softball and Volleyball and also in the IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. He received the IATO most prestigious award: The John Lowry Distinguished Service Award in 2005.

Cristy Dickerson (Hamblin)

Indianola (Athlete) 1997

Cristy Dickerson (Hamblin) was outstanding during her High School career at Indianola. Ron Werling, Cristy’s Coach, writes “Cristy was an outstanding Sprinter with a tremendous amount of natural speed, but the thing that made her the best sprinter for four years was her mental toughness and competitiveness. Some of her accomplishments: 3 time State Meet 110 meter Champ 2 time 200 meter Champ Held or was a part of 5 State Records 1 of 6 girls to win 4 events in one State Meet – 100, 200, Long Jump and Sprint Medley Relay – her 56.0 anchor split set a State Meet Record and presently ranks 7th all-time. Scored 70½ points in four State Meet appearances. Her 26½ points in one State meet is presently the second highest scored by an individual. She won 9 State Championships – 7 individual and 2 relay Ran on 4 Drake Relay’s Championship relays – her 4×400 anchor time is still a Drake Relay’s Record Holds Indianola High School Records in the Long Jump, 100, 200, Sprint Medley Relay, and 4×400 Relay Cristy was inducted into the Iowa Girls Union High School Hall of Fame individually in 1983 and as a member of the Indianola team in 1984 Inducted into the Indianola Hall of Fame in 1991 Ran the 100 in 11.88 Ran the 200 in 24.45 Long Jumped 18′ 4½” Cristy was one of the finest Track and Field girls to ever compete in the State of Iowa. Cristy was a part of 22 State Championships – 12 of which were individual. She was very instrumental in leading Indianola to 9 total State Team Championships in Indoor, Outdoor and Pentathlon. She was named to the High School All-American team in 1980. She attended the University of Iowa, but had her career shortened by injury. Cristy is presently living in Cedar Rapids with her husband Richard and two children Ashley and Andrew. She is employed as a Police Officer with the Cedar Rapids Police Department and was promoted to Sergeant in 1993. Know one has even eluded her in a foot race to escape. In her spare time she plays softball and helps coach her children in sports.

Art Dickinson

University of Northern Iowa 1974

Mr. Arthur Dickinson, Associate Professor, Emeritus, at State College of Iowa, was born on October 14, 1896, at Shellsburg, Iowa, was graduated from the State College of Iowa with the B. A. degree in 1917, and received the M. A. degree from the University of Iowa in 1933. Prior to joining the staff at State College of Iowa in 1924, he coached at Adair, Washington, and Marshalltown. For thirty-four years Art enjoyed an unusually successful career State College of Iowa as track coach and trainer. During his 18 seasons as head track coach and athletic trainer, Dickinson’s teams won 18 conference titles and compiled a whopping 128-14 won-lost dual record. Dickinson, who was considered an exceptional teacher of anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology of exercise, was honored by his alma mater by having a relays event named after him. For many years he was director of the Iowa State Teachers College Relays, later renamed the Art Dickinson Relays in his honor. Mr. Dickinson assumed emeritus status in 1963.

Blaire (Dinsdale) Puls and Brooke (Dinsdale) Schupbach

Note: Brooke and Blaire were inducted at the same time as cherished teammate Sara (Stoakes) Kvidera. This induction speech is also displayed under their names. 

When it comes to high school track teams in small-town Iowa, we have been blessed to watch some very good ones. Many times, these teams win titles with depth plus have that one individual they can count on scoring well in 3-4 events.

At North Tama, just over 10 years ago, Coach Kent Hanser put girls’ teams on the track that were talented, plus had three of the best individuals our state has ever produced. Regardless of class or gender.

What Sara Stoakes and the Dinsdale twins provided Iowa high school track and field fans from 2005 to 2009 was nothing short of special.

They led the RedHawks to 4 consecutive class 1A state track and field titles beginning in 2006 after finishing 3rd in 2005. The first came when the Twins were sophomores and Sara was a freshman. That year this talented trio accounted for 6 event titles, with Brooke winning 4. In 2007 they led the team to crown number 2 with Blaire leading the way, winning 4 golds.

Sara won 4 times in 2008, the final season the Twins would wear the red singlets of North Tama. They scored 110 team points which stood as the best ever state meet score for Iowa girls OR boys until the Waukee girls put up 116 in 2017 and 122 last spring.

2009 was a special season. As special as they come. The Twins have gone, now making things happen at Nebraska, and it was up to Sara to keep this Redhawk machine rolling. She won the state cross country title in the fall, then led North Tama to the state track meet team title, by herself, in the spring. Yes, by herself. She won 4 events, putting up 40 points, winning the team trophy by 2 points.

The Twins finished their high school careers with 8 state and 3 Drake Relays titles each. Brooke won 2 state cross country titles and Blaire one.

Sara Stoakes was a 12-time state track champion, a 3 time Drake Relays champ plus a state cross country gold medalist. She won every individual running event at the state meet during her career but the 100 hurdles and the 3,000 meter run.

The numbers these 3 young ladies put together in their high school careers is staggering. They combined to qualify to the state track meet 46 times, winning 46 medals, 28 of which were gold. They qualified to the Drake Relays in 25 events, winning 25 medals, including 5 titles. They qualified to the state cross country meet a total of 12 times, coming home with 11 top 13 finishes, 4 individual gold medals plus a state team title and 2 other top 4 team finishes. They were a part of 4 consecutive state track and field team titles. Between the 3 of them, they hold Class 1A state meet records in 3 events. They also hold 6 spots on the Iowa Girls All Time lists in 3 different events.

They were as accomplished in the classroom as they were on the track and the cross country course. Brooke was named class Valedictorian in 2007 while Blaire took home Salutatorian honors. The next year Sara took home the title of Valedictorian.

Not bad for a small Iowa town of 1500 with no more than 50 students per graduating class.
I want to make sure that everyone knows that these 3 superstars were not the only members of these championship teams. Coach Hanser had other girls from which to pick and choose to fill needed spots on relays, but it was obvious North Tama’s dominating 4-year reign was in the hands of these 3 Hall of Famers.

Upon graduating from North Tama, Brooke and Blaire headed to Lincoln to compete for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. There they combined to win 11 All-Conference honors and were named to the conference All-Academic team 3 times.
Brooke is an accountant at Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance company of Iowa in West Des Moines and is the Head Girls Track and Field coach at Urbandale High School. She and her husband of over 6 years, Taylor, have 2 daughters, Brie who is 3 and one-year-old Indy with Baby Schupbach number 3 on the way.

Blaire lives in Hudson with Husband Channing Puls and is the Head Boys Track Coach for the Pirates. She works for CUNA Mutual in Waverly as a Compliance Analyst.

After high school graduation, Sara accepted a scholarship offer from Kansas State and moved to Manhattan where she won a B12 title in the outdoor 800 plus B12 All-Academic honors. She was also part of K-States 4×800 team that won the 2011 Drake Relays. Nebraska was also in that race with a team made up of Iowans: The Dinsdale Twins, Ashley Miller, and Ellen Dougherty. It was a great day on the Blue Oval.

Sara and her husband Taylor live in Huxley. Sara received her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State in 2017 and is a technical consultant for Micronutrients and travels the country providing technical support in mineral nutrition for dairy nutritionists.

Nanette “Nan” Doak (Davis)

Coralville (Athlete) 1988

Nanette Doak was a household name in the community and high school of Hedrick, Iowa. In the years of ’78-’80 she participated in softball, basketball, track, and cross country as well as being an honor student. Even though she was a success in other activities, running seemed to be her best area of performance. While in high school, she won several outdoor and indoor titles in the distances. This running ability brought he to the University of Iowa where she received many awards and set many records. A few of those records follow: 1. 9 time All-American. 2. NCAA champion in 10k. 3. Three times USA cross country team member. 4. Held world record for 3 miles indoors. 5. Four time Big Ten champion. 6. Recipient of the Southland Corporation Olympia Award. 7. Nominated for the Big Ten athlete of the year. 8. Nominated for the Vic Young Iowa Amateur award in 1988. Her success has continued after graduation from college. 1. In 1986-87 placed 3rd at the Orange Bowl in 10k. 2. In 1986 placed 6th at the World Cross Country championships. 3. 1988 State of Iowa Road Race champion (10k); 2nd place at Ashbury Park (10k); World Cross Country Team member Alternate for Olympic Team in (10k). Some of her best times in track are: 1500m – 4:18; 3000m – 9:04; 10k – 32:14. Some of her best road times include; 5k – 16:09; 10k – 32:47. Now married to Head Wrestling coach, Barry Davis – University of Wisconsin, Nan has been an inspiration to women’ track and cross country and is admired by all.

James “Jim” Duea Sr.

Ames 1994

Jim Duea was born in Des Moines to the family of Ben Duea who was coaching track at Valley High School in West Des Moines. Being a part of a coaching family, they moved to Fort Dodge where he attended school through his sophomore year and then moved to LaMesa, California where he graduated from Helix High School. There he was track captain and held the school record in the pole vault. He came back to Iowa to attend UNI graduating in 1960. While in college he was a sprinter and pole vaulter and at one time held the indoor pole vault record. His first coaching position was at Humboldt, Iowa as junior high football and assistant varsity boys track coach. In 1962 he started the cross country program as a voluntary coach and Humboldt became the first school in the North Central conference to have a cross country team. In 7 seasons as boys’ cross country coach his teams had: 28 wins in 33 dual/triangular meets; 1 major invitational win; 1 state mile team championship; 2 state mile team runner-up teams; and placed 3rd in the state meet in 1963. Jim also served as head boys track coach at Humboldt for 5 seasons during which his teams accomplished: 12 wins in 13 dual/triangular meets; 8 major invitational championships; 1 conference championship; 1 state indoor runner-up team; 1 state outdoor runner-up team. After 11 years at Humboldt he was encouraged by Hi Covey to apply for the assistant track coaching position at Ames. At Ames he served under John Sletten for 8 seasons as hurdle and pole vault coach, but in 1980, due to the necessity of bringing more equity to the girls track program, he became the girls head coach, a positions he has held for 15 years, as well as serving as sophomore football coach for 24 years. As head track coach, his girls’ teams have done very well: 18 wins in 20 dual/tri–quadrangular meets; 57 major invitational meet championships; 9 district meet championships; 12 conference meet championships (three-2nd place finishes); 3 state outdoor championships (’87, ’88, ’92); 1 state runner-up in 1994; four-3rd place finishes; 2 state indoor championships in ’89 and ’90. Ames has scored more points in the Iowa Girls State Meet than any other school. Most of these points being scored the past 15 years. Ames currently is undefeated in all meets except the state meet since the first outdoor invitational meet of 1987. Truly a sign of an excellent program. Jim says that this is an honor that is humbling when he realizes that so many athletes, parents, and fellow coaches have contributed so much to his life as a teacher and coach. His understanding family consists of his wife Joyce, son Jim, who has been the head boys’ track coach at Valley of West Des Moines ( the same position his grandfather held 50 years ago), and his daughter Joelle who is a teacher.

Wally Duffy

Shenandoah 2003

Wally was born to Walt and Pat Duffy in Ottumwa, Iowa on July 11, 1961. He was raised in Shenandoah, Iowa and graduated from Shenandoah High school in 1979. He participated in many activities in high school. He was Salutatorian of his high school class, a member of the National Honor Society and the DAR Good Citizenship Award winner. Wally’s high school career was outstanding in both cross country and track and field. Here is a brief glimpse at his many accomplishments. Wally placed 7th as a freshmen, 4th as a sophomore, and 3rd as a junior in the State Cross Country Meet and he was the individual State Champion in Cross Country as a senior in 1978. He also won the Hawkeye 8 Conference title in 1978. Wally also enjoyed a successful career in AAU National Cross Country Championships placing 7th in 1977 and 5th in 1978. He also completed the Omaha Marathon in 1977 as a junior in high school with a time of 3 hours and 18 minutes which was good enough for 77th. Wally was a High School Cross Country All-American in 1978. His track career mirrored his success in the fall. He placed in the top ten all four years of his high school career in the 3200 meter run. He placed 8th as a freshmen, 3rd as a sophomore, and 1st both his junior and senior years. His time of 9:07.6 is still the all record. He also placed 2nd in the 1600 meter run one hour later in a time of 4:20.2. He won the 3200 at the 1979, Drake Relays after finishing 3rd as a junior and 8th as a sophomore. Wally also won the Prep International Invitational 3200 meter run with a time of 9:08 and was 6th in the Golden West Track Meet with a time of 9:21. He won the Hertz #1 award in 1979. He continued his career at the University of Illinois for two years. During this time he was 11th in the Big Ten meet as a freshman and had a 10,000 meter time of 29:41 as a sophomore. He finished his career at the University of Nebraska. During his career at Nebraska, Wally finished 4th in the Big Eight Cross Country Meet and an all-American placing 29th overall and was the ninth American in the NCAA Cross Country Meet. He improved his time in the marathon by running an outstanding time of 2 hours 19 minutes and 7 seconds. He also ended his college career with a personal best of 29 minutes and 21 seconds for 10,000 meters. Wally was an Academic All Big Eight in 1984. He was also the MVP for the Nebraska Track & Field Program and the recipient of the Boucher Award for academic excellence in 1984. Wally had a nine year career in the military and he ran for the Fort Gordon distance running team from 1991- to 1993. He received his BS degree from the University of Nebraska in 1984 and is Medical Degree from Vanderbilt University in 1989. Since 1998, Wally and his wife Rosalie with their three children Matthew, Grant and Will, have made their home in Lincoln, Nebraska. Wally is the President and owner of Premier Psychiatric Group.

Clyde Duncan

Des Moines (Athlete) 1985

Clyde Duncan graduated from North High School in Des Moines. During his high school career he was State Champ in the 100-200-440 dashes for three years. He attended and graduated from Texas Southern University at Houston, Texas in 1969. While at college he received NAIA All-American honors for four years. His coaching career of 17 years has included stops at Texas Southern University, Wiley College, Grambling State University, Madison High school, the University of Houston and the head Track and Field/Cross Country coach for men and women at Arizona State University at Tempe, Arizona. His list of outstanding individuals he has coached include: Carl Lewis, Kirk Baptist, Cliff Wiley, Stanley Floyd, Anthony Ketchum, Cletus Clark, Rodney Milburn, Fred Taylor. He has coached the 4 x 100 relay team to an NCAA record in a time of 38.58. He has been inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame.

Jim Duncan

Drake 1975

Find the green hat and you find the announcer for the Drake Relays. He sat next to the track announcing the record paces and told the east side to bring those runners around. Jim Duncan was most famous as the Voice of the Drake Relays, Duncan influenced many sports, many participants, many coaches, many students. Born in Clearfield and didn’t go to school until he was 10 years old. He was taught by his mother. He graduated from high school when he was 14. Jim attended Drake, earning a track scholarship. At an age when he should have been running against high school boys, Duncan was the Missouri Valley Conference 440-yard champion. On March 27, 1989, Duncan suffered a heart attack. He died 10 days later at age 77. Jim’s philosophy may have been that memory beats the devil, but in truth it has been the voice. Imitators good and bad keep the Voice of the Relays alive. Tom Kroeschell said it best, “Think about that: The guy’s been gone for years and his impression is still very deep in everyone, people still do it all the time. Will be doing those for as long as we live.”

Ira Dunsworth

Davenport Central 1981, (Official) – 2003

Ira W. Dunsworth was a member of Davenport High School track team, winning three consecutive state championships; 1952-1956 member of University of Iowa track and cross-country teams, serving as captain his senior year to finish second in Big Ten Conference; science teacher and Track & Field and Cross Country coach at Central from 1960 until retirement in 1995. His teams won seven outdoor, three indoor, and one cross-country state championships; four time State Coach of the Year; five time District Coach of the Year; one time National Regional Coach of the Year; three time National District Coach of the Year; inducted into the Iowa Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 1983 and QC Times Sports Hall of Fame in 1995; President, National Iowa Varsity Club.
B.A. – University of Iowa 1956 and a M.A. – University of Iowa 1966
State Outdoor: 7 Championships and 7 Runner-up finishes
Sate Indoor: 3 Championships and 1 Runner-up finish
State Cross Country: 1 Championship and 1 Runner-up finish
State Mile: 3 Championships and 1 Runner-up finish
Districts: 13 Championships and 3 Runner-up finishes
Conference: 42 Championships
Invitational Championships: 153
Drake Relays Champions: 32 and 21 runner-ups
Dual Meet Record: 221-32 (87%)
31 State Indivual Champions and 22 Relay Champions
District coach of the Year: ’73, ’78, ’82, ’91 ’92
State Coach of theYear: ’72, ’74, ’76, ’83
National Regional Coach of the Year: 1975
National District Coach of the Year: 1979, 1985, 1993
Conferenc Coach of They Year: ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’92, ’93, ’94
National Federation rules Committee: 1976-1979, 1983-1987
State Track Advisory Committee: 1963-1995
Drake Relays High School Jury Committee: 1978 – present
Scholastic Coach Magazine Coach of the Year: 1987
Nationla Fedaeration Officials Association: 1987 – Present
Quad CitY Times Hall of Fame: 1995
Senior All-Star Spotlight Meet Honorary Coach: 2003

Tim Dwight

Iowa City (Athlete) 2010

We have all used, or at least heard, the old cliché “They are small in stature, but have a big heart”. No one exemplifies that description better than our Hall of Fame inductee, Tim Dwight.

When Tim reached Southeast Junior High in Iowa City, and ran 51.9 in the 400, everyone involved in athletics knew he was special, but no one could have predicted just how special he would turn out to be.

His talent and accolades at the Junior High level, had City High football coach Larry Brown and Hall of Fame track coach John Raffensberger salivating as they dreamed about the impact this young man could have on their programs.

But even these men, with all of their experience and knowledge, were in awe of what this 5’ 8” 180 pound powder keg could do on the football field and on the track.

A story that everyone likes to remember is when he was brought up to the Varsity as a 9th grader for a first round playoff game vs. Davenport Assumption. He played in the second half and his first carry ever went 80 yd’s for a touchdown.

Tim Dwight became a household name across the state of Iowa during his 4 years at City High. He became a household name across the nation in his 4 years at the University of Iowa, and he became a household name around the world during his rookie season in the NFL, when he ran back a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl 33 while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tim excelled at everything he did in athletics, and still excels in everything he does, since retiring from the NFL. But it is for the time he spent in a track uniform at City High and the University of Iowa, that we honor him today.

The list of accomplishments is staggering:

12 time state champion. No one has won more. Four of those titles came in the 200 meter dash, and three in the long jump.

10 Drake Relays titles.

At one time he held All Time state records in the 100, 200 and the Indoor 400 meter dash.

His 20.8 200 is still #1 on the list, his 10.2 100 meters is now #2 , his 23-11 in the long jump is #4 and he is #7 in the 400 hurdles after running 52.29 to win a state title in only the 4th time he ran them in his life!

He was a 2 time Drake Relays Outstanding performer, 3 time Gatorade State Track Athlete of the Year, and 1 time Gatorade Midwest States Athlete of the year.

His best high school splits were 20.4 for 200 meters and 46.7 for 400. He ran the 800 once, and ran 1:57.

In talking with Coach Raffensberger, it is so apparent that it was Tim’s “team first attitude” that set him apart from so many other great athletes. In 1992, Tim’s sophomore year and fellow hall of famer, Joey Woody’s senior year, Joey was hurt in a car accident before the conference meet and his season was over. There were no districts during that time period; qualification was on a season long performance basis. Woody was the 4A leader in the highs, the lows and the 800.
At the conference meet, Raff had Tim run the 400 lows for only the second time in his career and his time qualified him for state. At state they took Tim out of a relay and put him in the lows and he won one of his 12 state titles.

Raff says,” Tim was always ready to do anything to help the team. Even as a senior, when he was going for a record 4th 200 title he would have switched to a relay, which were worth more points then, if it meant that it would help the team”.

Upon graduation from City High, in 1994, Tim took his talents to the University of Iowa where he became a 2 sport All American. He electrified the crowd on the football field for 4 years. Only 2 of his years at Iowa were spent with the track and field team.
But what a 2 year career it was.

The Hawkeyes had 2 of their best seasons ever with Dwight on the team. They finished 3rd in the Big 10 in 1998 with Tim on the winning 4×4. After playing in the Super Bowl with the Falcons in 1999, Tim came back home for his final collegiate track season. He lead the Hawks to the runner-up spot in the Big 10 and was named Male Athlete of the meet after winning gold medals in the 100, 4×1 and 4×4 and silver in the 200.

Tim spent 10 productive years in the NFL. But he has never forgotten his roots. He runs a very successful football camp in Iowa City and founded the Tim Dwight Foundation to help needy kids with scholarships and provide assistance to the Children’s Hospital of Iowa.

He once asked Coach Raff if he needed anything for the track team. Raff told him he could use a few replacement hurdles. Tim insisted on buying 80 new hurdles for his old high school, and asked Raff to give his old ones to Southeast Junior High. Who knows, there may be another 5-8 180 pound dynamo out there willing to do whatever it takes to help his team. Even if it means winning a state title in the 400 hurdles.