Joe Weinel

Year Inducted: 2025

Joe has been a positive force in the Dayton area running community since his high school days in Kettering. He has excelled both as a runner and a coach.

High School
During his time (1986–1988) at Kettering Fairmont High School, Joe earned six varsity letters, including three in track and one in cross country.

Joe’s high school highlights include: Cross Country — Brookville Invitational, 1st overall; named to First Team All-League (Western Ohio League); named to First Team All-District; and a state qualifier. His 5K high school PR was 15:56. In track, he was a member of the team that set the meet record at the Dayton Relays in the Distance Medley. During his senior year (1988), Joe was the Western Ohio League Champion in the 1600m, 800m, and 4×800m, with the 4×800 crew setting the league meet record. Joe also went on to be a regional qualifier in the 1600m, 800m, and 4×800m, and he was a state qualifier in the 1600m. High school PR’s: 800m (1:57), 1600m (4:23).

College
Joe attended the University of Dayton as an engineering major and was able to find time to also excel in cross country for four years. Some of his college running highlights include being a two-time overall winner at the Earlham Invitational (1990, 1991), an All-Ohio Top 40 finisher (1990, 1991), recipient of the UD Most Valuable Runner Award (1990, 1991), and the High Flyer Award (1991). His college 8K PR in cross country was 26:20.

Road Racing
Post-college, Joe continued to improve his racing performances with a number of stellar race results ranging from the 1500m up to the marathon. He has run approximately 175 races post-college, with over 100 of them at the 5K distance.

Some of his top race performances include: Minster Octoberfest 10K (1993) 6th overall; Taco Bell Run for the Heart 5K (1994) 1st overall; Michigan Trail Half-Marathon (1994) 1st overall; Moraine Rotary Day 5K (1996) 1st overall; Run Through the Woods 5K (1996) 1st overall; Ghost and Goblins (1997–1999) 1st overall three times; Oakwood That Day on May 5K (1998) 1st overall; Miami University Red Brick Run 5K (1995) 4th overall; Lou Cox 5K (1995) 4th overall; Mason 5K (1995) 3rd overall; and Miamisburg Turkey Trot (2014) 1st master finisher.

The above list is only a partial showing of his top race finishes. These wins occurred during an era when the Dayton running scene was still in its prime, with a large number of regional and national-caliber elite runners racing locally. Joe was winning these 5K races with sub-15 to low-15-minute times on a regular basis.

Joe has completed the Boston Marathon, two Ragnar Relays, and was a member of three Market to Market Relay teams, which were top-five finisher teams all three years. PR’s: 1500m (4:00), 5K (14:47), 10K (31:20), half-marathon (1:12:45), marathon (2:52:00).

Coaching
Joe has served as the coach of the youth track team at St. Albert the Great School from 2008 to present. He has helped mold over 500 young runners and track athletes during the past two decades. Joe has not only influenced them to be better athletes, but has also set an example of how to be better in life. If you ever get a chance to see Joe interact with these kids, you will see right away the positive influence he has on them and how much they respect him as both a coach and a mentor.

Four of the runners Joe has coached have gone on to become Ohio State High School Champions in track, and three have gone on to compete in Division I college track.

Multisport Racing
Joe has also excelled in the multisport arena, finishing first overall in a number of triathlons and duathlons. He qualified for the USA Duathlon World Championship Team in both 1995 and 1996.