OATCCC Hall Of Fame
Jim Jurcevich

Jim Jurcevich, a 1994 graduate of Ayersville High School, competed in both Cross Country and Track & Field under the guidance of Coach Dan Mix. During his junior and senior seasons Jim developed into one of the top division 3 distance runners in Ohio. Jim captured the first of his three state titles as junior with an outstanding 3200 Meter State Track & Field Championship performance in a time of 9:32.33 finishing 2.67 seconds ahead of runner-up Zach Fratz of Rootstown. Jim then followed up his state 3200 Meter Track & Field title in the fall of 1993 with a second state title by winning the Division 3 State Cross Country Championships in a time of 15:54.3 finishing 6.8 seconds ahead of the runner-up finisher. The efforts of Jim and his teammates allowed Ayersville to place 5th in the 1993 D3 State Cross Country Championship team finish. In 1994, during his senior year, Jim added his third state title by once again capturing the 3200 Meter Run title at the D3 State Track & Field Championships by finishing 13.11 seconds ahead of runner-up Scott Davis of Gates Mills Hawken, the same runner who had placed 2nd to Jim at the State Cross Country Championships in the fall. Upon graduation, after an outstanding high school career, Jim traded the Columbia blue and gold of the Ayersville Pilots to continue his running career as a Spartan at Michigan State University. Wearing the green and white of Michigan State University, Jim began his collegiate career in the fall of 1994 and continued to improve upon his accomplishments of his junior and senior successes in high school. While at Michigan State Jim competed on the men’s Cross Country and Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) teams. During his four years at Michigan State University Jim was a 5 time All-American, 11 time All-Big 10 performer and the 1999 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field 5,000 Meter Run champion. His success continued following college where he competed in three U.S. Olympic trials placing 6th in the 10,000 Meter Run with a time of 28:39.20 at the 2000 trials resulting in Jim being named as an alternate to the U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000 Meter Run. Jim competed in and finished in the top 5 in numerous major marathons during his career. In 2002 he competed in the IAFF World Half Marathon in Brussels, Belgium where he finished 35th overall and was 2nd for the USA in a time of 1:03.51. In 2016 Jim was inducted into the Ayersville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in its initial class. After his 9-year professional running career he retired and became co-owner of the Columbus Running Company, which was named the best running store in the United States in 2014, before retiring after 15 years with the Columbus Running Company to focus on impacting runners. Jim began coaching in 2006 and as a McMillan Running certified coach, he has continued to help hundreds of runners start running, prepare for service fitness tests, prepare for their first half or full marathon, and qualify for the Boston and Olympic trials. In recognition of the high school and collegiate accomplishments, the positive impact, and contributions Jim Jurcevich continues to make to the sport of running in Ohio the OATCCC is honored to welcome him as a 2026 OATCCC Hall of Fame Inductee. Congratulations Jim!