Baldwin-Wallace College has a strong tradition of excellence in its women's and men's track and field programs.
If you would like to be a part of that success, please contact Head Coach Bill Taraschke at 440-826-3322 or e-mail him at wtarasch@bw.edu.
To schedule a campus visit, please call our Admission Office at 440-826-2222
Women's Program is the Best in the OAC and Among the Best in Division III
The women's indoor and outdoor track teams have won 17 Ohio Athletic Conference indoor titles, including 15 straight from 1988 through 2002, and 16 OAC outdoor crowns, including a pair of OAC-record streaks of seven straight years. Add that success to 15 OAC cross country titles, including the 2007 crown, and you have an OAC dynasty in track and cross country.
The women's program has had a number of national champions. Individually, 1989 graduate Sonya (Ming) Bianco won NCAA Division III national championships in the high jump and heptathlon in 1988 and 1989, and helped to begin the string of 11 straight OAC titles. In 1994, Jenniffer Green ended a great career as a nine-time All-American and four-time Division III national hurdling champion. During her career, Green ran on eight straight OAC title-winning indoor (four) and outdoor (four) teams and once owned the NCAA Division III national record in the 100 meter hurdles. In 1999, Jayme Gallant captured the NCAA Division III national title in the shot put. In the spring of 2000, Claire DeChant was the Division III national champion in the discus.
The Men's Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field Program
Baldwin-Wallace College has a rich track and field heritage dating back to legendary coaches Eddie Finnegan and Sparky Adams and Olympic champion Harrison Dillard. Dillard won gold medals in the 100-yard dash in the 1948 Olympics and the 110- yard hurdles in 1952 as well as golds as a member of the 400-yard relay team in 1948 and 1952.
Over the past three decades, B-W has won 15 outdoor and 10 indoor Ohio Athletic Conference track and field championships as well as five OAC cross country titles and four Great Lakes Regional crowns. In 1988, Tom Scholato won the national Division III title in the javelin.
The Track Participant Faces a Challenging Schedule
One of the keys to B-W's success is its schedule. The B-W women and men travel to numerous invitational meets during the winter and spring seasons and to Florida during spring break. Running in invitational meets allows every student-athlete an opportunity to learn, participate and have fun.
The Track Facilities are Outstanding
The track and field student-athlete is afforded some of the finest facilities in small college athletics. The George Finnie Stadium has been the site of four NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, including 1991, 1993 and 1999. Inside the Lou Higgins Center and Fieldhouse lies the 200-meter Harrison Dillard Track with its Mondo surface for maximum performance. In addition, the Cleveland Metropark System, with its 23 miles of running trails, is less than a mile from campus.
The Developmental Goals of the Track Program
The Baldwin-Wallace College track and field program strives for excellence by stressing the total development of the student-athlete's academic, athletic and social potential. Each student-athlete will be asked to be self-disciplined and committed to the development of excellence within the B-W track program. In return, the coaching philosophy is to provide quality coaching in each event. The coaching staff believes in taking the time to help each student-athlete develop while providing competitive experiences to allow the athlete to improve.
While many valuable lessons are learned on the track, the ultimate goal is to help each student-athlete grow and graduate at the end of his/her career at Baldwin-Wallace College.
275 Eastland Rd.