Any track and field athletes out there? Remember the huge invitationals, relays, and district meets at Welcome Stadium? For those of us with the “track bug” we look forward to, and often count the days until, spring arrives and the outdoor track season begins. The Miami Valley has a very strong track and field tradition with a long list of exceptional runners (Edwin Moses, LaVonna Martin, Bob Schul, Tonja Buford, and on and on), coaches, meets, and officials. Photographers from the Dayton Daily News has captured the competition, heartbreak, and the glory of track and field over the last few decades. The gallery below includes a small selection of images from the Dayton Daily News Archive (MS-458) documenting runners, throwers, and jumpers from the 1970s-1980s. Enjoy!
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- Alter Distance Runners, May 18, 1985
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- Meadowdale’s Sharon Howard, May 5, 1975
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- Randy West of Beavercreek and Mark Bebko of Yellow Springs at the finish of the 1600 meter relay, Dayton Relays, April 24, 1987
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- The new running track at Trotwood Madison High School, September 14, 1983
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- Junior Nationals, July 2, 1983, 100 meter dash.
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- Marlin Hoke, Arcanum, May 20, 1974
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- Sean Bell (Middletown) and Michael Jackson (Dunbar) go over the last hurdle, Class AAA Meet, May 19, 1984
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- Chris Logel of Wayne High School, Dayton Relays, April 27, 1984