John Agnew

Year Inducted: 1994

 

Personal Records:

5K ... 14:39

10K ... 30:17

15K ... 46:42

Half-Marathon ... 1:07:12

Marathon ... 2:22:28

 

Favorite distance: Marathon

 

Favorite race: Boston Marathon

 

Favorite runner: Bob Schul

 

Favorite location to run: Sugarcreek Reserve

 

John is one of those unique individuals who has earned his place in this running hall of fame through his outstanding accomplishments in all three of the induction criteria categories. He has been and continues to be an elite runner, highly successful coach, and significant contributor to the running community. 

 

At Carroll High School, John was a two time state qualifier in cross country and posted a 4:27 mile and a 9:37 two mile on the track. In 1996, he was inducted into the Carroll High School Athletic Hall of Fame. While at The Ohio State University he lettered in cross country four times (team captain 1983-1984) and track three times. After his stellar college career he moved his talents to the road circuit where he instantly made his mark. For the past three decades John has been feared and respected by his competitors on the roads. He was a threat to win any race he entered regionally from the 5k up to the marathon. In 1995 and 1996 John was the top Ohio finisher in the Columbus Marathon. He also won the Dayton River Corridor half-marathon three years in a row (1995-1997). In 2000, he was the overall winner of the US Air Force Marathon and was ranked as a USA Top 50 marathoner. John has gathered numerous victories in the local ORRRC races including four wins at the Turkey Trot and a Lou Cox Memorial 5k win. As a master runner, he continues to compete and win.

 

John is in his 26th year (2010) as the Carroll High School cross country coach and was the track distance coach for 22 years. His cross country teams have won 32 conference titles and he has qualified an impressive 16 teams to the state championships. 

 

He established the All Ohio Catholic Cross Country Championships in 1995 and has been the event director each year since. The event was expanded to the Midwest Catholic Championships in 2010.

 

John lives in Bellbrook with his wife Christine and their two sons Kevin and Jack, along with their running canine Kenyan.