The Ohio Association of
Track and Cross Country Coaches was started in 1941, the brain
child of Ed Barker, for whom we use his name to honor an individual
that has made outstanding contributions to Ohio Track and
Cross Country. Dues were 50 cents per year and the Executive
Board met twice per year.
The 1st clinic was planned for 1942, and held
in the spring of that year. That year also brought recognition
of the top five finishers in each event with a certificate.
All-Ohio emblems were added at a later date.
Beginning in 1946 the "Association"
published a quarterly newsletter titled "The Ohio Trackster."
Ed Barker was the 1st editor, with the first issue out in
March advertising the Fifth Annual Clinic at Ohio State University
on April 6th at the Men's Gymnasium. Each issue was then edited
by a high school journalism class.
In 1962 our track clinic was moved to the last
weekend in January, were we find it to this day. During the
1964 school year the Association began sponsorship of the
Ohio Classic Meet after the State Track Meet. The first meet
was held at Mansfield Malabar new artificial surfaced track
on June 6th. For several years this meet was held as East
vs. West and team scores were kept. The meet stayed mostly
at Malabar, but Worthington and Bowling Green also hosted
the meet.
The Ed Barker Award was established in 1964
and presented to OHSAA Commissioner William McConnell.
1969 brought the Ohio Track and Field and Cross Country Hall
of Fame. Art Hendricks became the first Hall of Fame chairman.
In 1972 the dues went to $10 where they are
today.
The Association began sponsoring an indoor track
meet at Dennison University in 1974, and was held through
1985, with Marv Crosten serving as meet manager every year.
Ed Chay began publishing the "Ohio Cross Country News"
newsletter this same year, and maintained it until 1987 when
he sold his business to Carson Check. Carson continues publishing
both the "Ohio Cross Country News" and "Ohio
Track and Field."
Also in 1974 Ohio joined Michigan and host Indiana
for the Tri-State Track and Field Championships for senior
boys held at Fort Wayne. In 1977 the meet changed it's name
to the Midwest Meet of Champions. In 1980 some girls events
were added and a full compliment of girls events came in 1984.
The site for the meet moved to Indianapolis in 1987, then
came to Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware in 1997.
During the late 70's the OATC expanded from
6 districts to 16, leaving the OHSAA boundaries and creating
the districts we have now. The association name also changed
to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches.
In 1997 the Association newsletter name was
changed to "The Runner" and was published by Herb
Hartman of Troy.
In 1980 the Association began sponsoring the
Ohio Indoor Classic at Ohio University. In 1981 the Association
was successful in getting the OHSAA to recognize indoor track
and field as a sponsored sport without a tournament.
1982 saw the establishment of our scholarship
program for the sons and daughters of our membership. This
scholarship was named in honor of Marv Crosten in 1997.
In 1987 the OATCCC cosponsored along with the
Dayton Area Coaches and Officials Association at the Mid east
Cross Country Classic Meet held at Indiana Riffle Park in
Kettering. The meet featured 10 of the best boys and girls
from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and
West Virginia.
In 1994 the Association began honoring Ohio's
athletes with recognition as Academic All-Ohio. This program
was initiated by Scott Williamson and is awarded to state
qualifying athletes that possess a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or
above on a 4.0 scale. |
