OATCCC Hall Of Fame
Brenda Webb

Brenda Webb began her running career while a student at Kettering Fairmont High School despite the limitations of the pre Title IX era. She ran for the Kettering Striders coached by the legendary OATCCC Hall of Fame Coach Steve Price. Under his guidance her achievements quickly set her apart from most female athletes of the time. In 1970 she placed 3rd in the USA Cross Country National Junior Championships and 1st in the Washington Court House Seratona 2.5 mile road race in 15:13. In 1971 she placed 6th in the 1500 M (4:33.7) at the Show Me Meet held at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA, then she placed 2nd in the Mile at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Junior National Championships. In 1972 she set world records in the 1 Hour Run and 10 Mile Run at the University of Cincinnati. In addition to her world records she placed 3rd in the 3000 M (9:50.3) at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Senior Championships, competed as a finalist in the 1500 M at the USA Women’s Track & Field 1972 Olympic Trials running a 4:27.4, placed 1st in the Mile (4:56.2) at the Ohio AAU Track & Field Meet and placed 1st in the Mile (4:57.8) at the All-American Invitational HS Meet held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. By the time she graduated from high school she had already established herself as one of the top female distance runners in the United States. Brenda began her collegiate career at Wright State University (1975-1976) before becoming a Lady Vol at the University of Tennessee (1977-1979). Brenda was a four time NCAA Cross Country Championship Qualifier placing 4th (1975), 7th (1976), 2nd (1977) and 5th (1978). She qualified 4 times to the NCAA Track & Field Championships placing 2nd in the 5000 M and 3rd in the 1500 M (1976), 1st in the 5000 M (1977), 6th in the 1500 M (1978), 1st in the 1500 M and 1st in the 3000 M (1979). Being a three time national champion in Track & Field is impressive enough, but Brenda was also a four time All-American in Cross Country (1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978), an eight time All-American in Track & Field, including 2 relays and individual events (1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979), the 1979 Penn Relays Outstanding College Athlete of the Meet at which she placed 1st in the 3000 M (9:09). In addition to her running accomplishments she earned the University of Tennessee College Sports Information Association Scholar Athlete honors in 1978 & 1979 and was named the University of Tennessee Female Athlete of the Year in 1979. In addition to her college accolades Brenda was a USA T&F Indoor National Champion in the 2 mile run (1975 & 1978). She was the USA T&F Outdoor National Champion in the 3000 M (1981) & 2nd (1983), the USA T&F Outdoor National Champion in the 5000 M - a new meet record (1988), she also placed 5th in the 1500 M (1985) and 4th in the 5000 M (1990) at the USA T&F Outdoor National Championship meet. Internationally Brenda competed on team USA in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships individually placing 40th (1974), 15th (1978), 21st (1980), 30th (1981), 23rd (1982), 25th (1984), 67th (1986) while the teams captured 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze medal along with two 4th and one 5th place finish. Brenda also competed on multiple USA Track & Field teams. USA vs Russia (1974, 1975 & 1981), USA vs East Germany (1983), the World Track & Field Championships (1980 & 1983), the IAAF World Cup placing 5th in the 3000 M (1981), the Pan American Games 3000 M – Silver Medalist (1983), The U.S. National Sports Festival (U.S. Olympic Festival) in the 1500 M (1978 & 1979) and the 3000 M (1986 & 1987), the Kobe Indoor Track International Invitational 3000 M – Champion (1985) and the Goodwill Games 5000 M (1991). Brenda’s additional records include the Indoor 5000 M World Record of 15:25.02 (1988) and the American Record for the 8k on the roads (1988). Her PRs in T&F are 4:11.3 – 1500 M, 4:30.8 – Mile, 9:55 – 2 Miles, 8:48.0 – 3000 M, 8:49 – 3000 M indoors, 15:25.02 – 5000 M indoors, 15:18.71 – 5000 M. Road PR’s are 15:05 – 5000 M, 23:14 – 8000 M, 31:41 – 10,000M and 2:46.57 – Marathon. Brenda Webb extended her love of running by entering the coaching profession. First, as the Women’s Asst. T&F and Cross Country Coach at Texas Tech University (1991-1993), then as the Head Women’s T& F and Cross Country Coach at the University of Tennessee - Martin (1993-1996), then she moved back to her alma mater to become the Head Women’s Cross Country and Asst. T&F Coach for the Lady Vols at the University of Tennessee (1996-2000) and finished her collegiate coaching as the Head Women’s Cross Country and T&F Coach at Central Connecticut State University (2006-2010). During the decade of the 1990’s she was the USA Athlete Liaison at the Pan American Junior World T&F Championships (1993), USA Olympic Sports Festival Asst. Coach (1994), the USA Women’s Coach at the World Cross Country Championships (1996) and the USA Women’s Asst. Coach at the World Junior T&F Championships (1999). Brenda Webb is without doubt one of Ohio’s All-Time female distance running greats while also finishing as one of the most accomplished female Cross Country, Track & Field and Road runners in the United States and on the international scene from 1970 through the 1990’s. Her records, national and world, are nothing less than amazing. Her athletic accomplishments are outstanding even when compared to the accomplishments of female athletes in the current era. It is with great pride and honor that the Ohio Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches welcomes Brenda Webb as a 2024 OATCCC Hall of Fame Inductee. Congratulations Brenda!