OATCCC Hall Of Fame
Bridget Franek Lemay

Bridget Franek Lemay began her running career at Crestwood High School quickly rising to become one of the all-time dominant female athletes in Ohio Track & Field and Cross Country. Bridget captured five individual State Championships (Cross Country – 2005, 1600 meter run – 2005 & 2006, 800 meter run – 2006, 3200 meter run – 2006) one 4x800 meter relay State Championship and four individual State Runner-Up finishes (Cross Country – 2004, 1600 meter run – 2003 & 2004, 800 meter run – 2005) and also earned 11 All-Ohio honors (2 Cross Country, 9 Track & Field) during her four year high school career. She is best known for her performance at the 2006 Track Championship where she claimed three of those state titles in a span of an hour and 15 minutes, setting two Division 2 state records and leading her team to become state champions. Upon graduation from Crestwood High School, Bridget attended Penn State University, competing in both Track & Field and Cross Country and once again quickly rose to become a highly successful and dominate collegiate athlete. Bridget was named the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and went on to become a four time Big Ten Individual Champion (Cross Country, Indoor/Outdoor T&F). She qualified for 12 consecutive NCAA Championships in Cross Country/Indoor/Outdoor Track, earning All-American honors 10 times and finally became an NCAA Champion in the steeplechase in 2010. Meanwhile, Bridget’s international career began while still a junior in college when she placed 3rd at the 2009 USATF National Championships and qualified for her first IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Berlin, Germany. Upon graduation from Penn State, she once again accepted the challenge to rise to a higher level of achievement, racing for Nike/Oregon Track Club Elite and going on to become a seven time USA Track & Field Championship finalist. Amongst many Diamond League and other international competitions, she again earned a spot on Team USA for a second World Championships in 2011, this time in Deagu, South Korea. Bridget competed in the USA Olympic Trials in 2008, 2012 and 2016, becoming a two time finalist in the 3000 meter steeple. In 2012 she placed 2nd overall at the Trials to earn the opportunity to represent the USA at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Bridget placed 12th in the 3000 meter Steeple finals. In 2015 Bridget stepped off the track into the obstacle racing scene to compete in the Warrior Dash World Championship ultimately winning the competition and becoming the female Warrior Dash World Champion. Bridget continues to be actively involved in the sport of Track & Field by serving as a coach at Churchill High School in Eugene, Oregon. Ohio has produced many outstanding athletes in the sports of Cross Country and Track & Field, but very few female or male athletes have ever achieved the level of success of Bridget. The Ohio Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches is proud to recognize your outstanding personal career accomplishments by inducting you into the OATCCC Hall of Fame. Congratulations Bridget!