WICHITA, Kan. - Saturday Oct. 20 will mark the second year that Newman University hosts the Heartland Conference Cross-Country Championships. The races will take place at Cessna Activity Center beginning at 9:30 a.m. for the women, closely followed by the men at 10:10 a.m. Olympian Jim Ryan will give a motivational speech to the public and runners on Friday at 4 p.m.

The special occasion will attract many great runners to the area, and what better way to make a special event even better than to add three-time Olympian Jim Ryun. Starting his pathway to success, Ryun was on the right track from the word go, or in his case from the sound of the gun at the starting line. An East High School graduate and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Ryun became the first high school student to break the four minute time for a mile, and remains the only high school junior to have ever done so.

Following his terrific achievement, Ryun then bettered himself the following year as he qualified for the 1500 in the 1964 Olympics as a senior. Ryun still holds five of the six fastest mile times in U.S. high school history, and even earned himself a silver medal in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. Ryun earned his medal running at high altitudes and finished with a time of 3:37.8. As well as these great accomplishments Ryun, after more than 40 years, still holds the American 19 and under records at the 880 yd., 800 m., the 1500 m. with a time of 3:36.1, and the two mile with a time 8:25.1.

As well as an athlete born here in Wichita, Ryun is also a former congressman, and is even an author and motivational speaker.  Fortunately for residents, Ryun is due to appear at GoRun on Friday at noon and will be there until 1 p.m. for a book signing. He will then speak in the Performance Hall in DeMattias Hall at Newman University at 4 p.m. where he will be offering a motivational speech to the public. Ryun will then speak to the participants of the 2012 Heartland Conference Championships in a private banquette.

The Heartland Conference Cross-Country Championship will be held Cessna Activity Center in Wichita. Cessna Activity Center has held over 40 league and regional championship races. The course has great footing and nice grass to run on with a fair amount of hills. The location is known for its fast paste course layout and is a 1.5 loop course for the 6K and a 2 loop course for the 8K. Due to the layout of the course the spectators will be able to see runners go through at least six times, and who knows, with that much encouragement and support spectators could push a runner or two to become record holders just like Jim Ryun.

Jim Ryun Speech Flyer