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| Ohio High School Distance Running Legends |
| IrontonXC.com |
| IrontonXC.com |
| Susan Nash |
| Scott Fry |
| Alan Scharsu |
| Laurie Gomez |
| Bob Kennedy |
| John Zishka |
Alan Scharsu ran for Austintown Fitch
High School and Penn State University.
He scored in the NCAA, TAC, and Junior
National Track & Fields and Cross
Country Meets. Alan competed in the
World Cross Country Championships.
He won the 2 mile run in the Golden
West National High School Track Meet,
and the Atlanta Track Classic. He won
seven events in the State High School
Meets and set seven state high school
records.
High School and Penn State University.
He scored in the NCAA, TAC, and Junior
National Track & Fields and Cross
Country Meets. Alan competed in the
World Cross Country Championships.
He won the 2 mile run in the Golden
West National High School Track Meet,
and the Atlanta Track Classic. He won
seven events in the State High School
Meets and set seven state high school
records.
John Zishka ran for Lancaster High
School, Penn State University, and the
University of Oregon. He won two
5,000 meter events in the Junior
Nationals while in high school. John
scored and earned All-American status
in the NCAA Cross Country, Indoor,
and Outdoor Track & Field Meets. John
won the mile run in the Golden West
National High School Track & Field Meet,
breaking the meet record established
by Jim Ryan. John won five events in
the State High School Meets. He set
eleven outdoor and four indoor state
high school records.
School, Penn State University, and the
University of Oregon. He won two
5,000 meter events in the Junior
Nationals while in high school. John
scored and earned All-American status
in the NCAA Cross Country, Indoor,
and Outdoor Track & Field Meets. John
won the mile run in the Golden West
National High School Track & Field Meet,
breaking the meet record established
by Jim Ryan. John won five events in
the State High School Meets. He set
eleven outdoor and four indoor state
high school records.
Susan Nash ran for Zanesville
Rosecrans High School and University
of Florida. Susan won ten events in the
State High School Track and Field Meet
and two State Cross Country Individual
titles. In te 1982-83 school year she
won the cross country state
championship, the 400m state
championship, the 800m state
championship, AND the 100m state
championship. Susan ran on one
Indoor NCAA winning 3200 meter relay
team that earlier set the American and
world records. Nash scored in one
other indoor NCAA event.
Rosecrans High School and University
of Florida. Susan won ten events in the
State High School Track and Field Meet
and two State Cross Country Individual
titles. In te 1982-83 school year she
won the cross country state
championship, the 400m state
championship, the 800m state
championship, AND the 100m state
championship. Susan ran on one
Indoor NCAA winning 3200 meter relay
team that earlier set the American and
world records. Nash scored in one
other indoor NCAA event.
Laurie Gomez graduated from
Youngstown Boardman High School in
1988. Her outstanding high school
credits include six AAA State Meet
Race Titles (Three in cross country,
two in the 1600 meter run and one in
the 3200 meter run). Her 1600 and
3200 meter times led the Nation,
helping her to earn high school All-
American status that year. Laurie’s
first place finishes also included the
MidEast Cross Country
Championships and in the U.S. Junior
Nationals in the 3200 meter run. She
was a Kinney (now Footlocker)
national finalist. Laurie also was a
collegiate All-American eight times
while at North Carolina State
University. She raced in the U.S.
Olympic Trials, the World University
Games, and the World
Championships. Laurie also raced
professionally from 1993 to 1999.
Youngstown Boardman High School in
1988. Her outstanding high school
credits include six AAA State Meet
Race Titles (Three in cross country,
two in the 1600 meter run and one in
the 3200 meter run). Her 1600 and
3200 meter times led the Nation,
helping her to earn high school All-
American status that year. Laurie’s
first place finishes also included the
MidEast Cross Country
Championships and in the U.S. Junior
Nationals in the 3200 meter run. She
was a Kinney (now Footlocker)
national finalist. Laurie also was a
collegiate All-American eight times
while at North Carolina State
University. She raced in the U.S.
Olympic Trials, the World University
Games, and the World
Championships. Laurie also raced
professionally from 1993 to 1999.
| Rachel Sauder |
Rachel Sauder Kinsman- 1992
Graduate of Archbold HS - Rachel won
a total of nine individual state
championships. She won both the
Division III 1600 meter run and 3200
meter run in the Ohio State Track
Championships for all four of her high
school years. She also added a state
cross country championship in 1990.
She established the Division III state
3200 meter record with an 11:02.
Rachel went on to compete for Auburn
University where she was a seven time
All-American. She finished as high as
second in the NCAA Track
Championships in the 1995 10,000
Meter Run and the Indoor Distance
Medley. She also finished third in the
1996 NCAA Championships in the
10,000 Meter Run and a fourth place
finish in the 1996 NCAA Indoor 5000
Meter Run. Rachel currently competes
for New Balance and since college
qualified for the 2000 World Cross
Country Team which earned a bronze
medal in the World Championships.
She has also qualified in the 5000m
and 10000m for the 2000 Olympic
Trials and in the marathon for the 2004
and 2008 Olympic Trials. Rachel has
PR's of : 800m - 2:07, 1500m - 4:14,
3000m - 9:08, 5k - 15:38, 10k -
32:36, Half Marathon - 1:13:55 and
Marathon - 2:37:51.
Graduate of Archbold HS - Rachel won
a total of nine individual state
championships. She won both the
Division III 1600 meter run and 3200
meter run in the Ohio State Track
Championships for all four of her high
school years. She also added a state
cross country championship in 1990.
She established the Division III state
3200 meter record with an 11:02.
Rachel went on to compete for Auburn
University where she was a seven time
All-American. She finished as high as
second in the NCAA Track
Championships in the 1995 10,000
Meter Run and the Indoor Distance
Medley. She also finished third in the
1996 NCAA Championships in the
10,000 Meter Run and a fourth place
finish in the 1996 NCAA Indoor 5000
Meter Run. Rachel currently competes
for New Balance and since college
qualified for the 2000 World Cross
Country Team which earned a bronze
medal in the World Championships.
She has also qualified in the 5000m
and 10000m for the 2000 Olympic
Trials and in the marathon for the 2004
and 2008 Olympic Trials. Rachel has
PR's of : 800m - 2:07, 1500m - 4:14,
3000m - 9:08, 5k - 15:38, 10k -
32:36, Half Marathon - 1:13:55 and
Marathon - 2:37:51.
Scott Fry - 1985 graduate of Sandusky
Perkins High School - Scott won five AA
state championships (two in cross
country, two in the 1600m, and one in
the 3200m). He still holds the all-time
Ohio State Meet record in the 3200m
(8:49) and cross country (14:50) as
well as the Division II State Meet record
in the 1600m (4:08.03). Fry is the
all-time Ohio high school record holder
for the 3000m (8:08.1) and also ran
8:46.7 for the 3200m which was the
fastest time in the nation in 1985. He
also was the 1984 Kinney (now
Footlocker) National Cross Country
Champion as well as the Golden West,
and the Jr. National 5000m. After high
school, Scott competed for the
University of Wisconsin where he was a
five time NCAA All-American and a five
time Big Ten champion (setting three
Big Ten meet championship meet
records). He was also a member of two
NCAA championship teams and placed
5th individually at the 1987 NCAA cross
country championships. Fry placed 8th
in the 5000 meters at the 1988 U.S.
Olympic Trials and 12th in the 10,000
meters in the 1992 Olympic Trials.
Perkins High School - Scott won five AA
state championships (two in cross
country, two in the 1600m, and one in
the 3200m). He still holds the all-time
Ohio State Meet record in the 3200m
(8:49) and cross country (14:50) as
well as the Division II State Meet record
in the 1600m (4:08.03). Fry is the
all-time Ohio high school record holder
for the 3000m (8:08.1) and also ran
8:46.7 for the 3200m which was the
fastest time in the nation in 1985. He
also was the 1984 Kinney (now
Footlocker) National Cross Country
Champion as well as the Golden West,
and the Jr. National 5000m. After high
school, Scott competed for the
University of Wisconsin where he was a
five time NCAA All-American and a five
time Big Ten champion (setting three
Big Ten meet championship meet
records). He was also a member of two
NCAA championship teams and placed
5th individually at the 1987 NCAA cross
country championships. Fry placed 8th
in the 5000 meters at the 1988 U.S.
Olympic Trials and 12th in the 10,000
meters in the 1992 Olympic Trials.
| Stephanie Morgan |
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