Cross-country's top dynasty reflects man who built it

	Joe Newton has presided over a cross-country program that has captured more than 40 titles on the national and state levels. Photo courtesy of Tom Rizzo

When Joe Newton attended Chicago Parker High School, he earned 12 letters in five sports, none in cross country. "I didn't know what cross country was," he admitted. "I thought a marathon was a quarter of a mile," he laughed.

So, on the surface, Newton would seem an odd fit when York High (Elmhurst, Ill.) made him its head cross country coach in 1960. But 20 national and 25 state cross country championships later, Newton presides over what probably is the greatest dynasty the sport has seen at the preps level. "That job changed my life," the 77-year-old marvel said. "Everybody knows my name. It's wonderful."

Among some of Newton's many accomplishments in more than 40 decades of coaching:

• He was the first high school coach named to the U.S. Olympic track staff for the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea. He was an assistant manager in charge of marathon runners.

• He is enshrined in 12 halls of fame, reaching the pinnacle in 2004 when he was tabbed for the National High School Hall of Fame.

• Named National Cross Country Coach of the Year four times.

• He has written four books, concentrating on training and motivation.

• He has a 1,024-58 dual-meet record -- including a string of 72 consecutive victories -- in cross country.

• Before retiring in '00 with his first state track title, he compiled a 41-year record of 1,025-159 record in dual meets. "I went out on top, like Michael Jordan," he quipped.

• He has sent 130 athletes to colleges on either track or cross country scholarships. Thirteen of them were competing at colleges across the country in the same year.

• He ran every day (20 miles per week) for 21 years and 24 days before a stress fracture under his knee ended the streak at age 65. The world record is 25 years.

"Joe Newton's amazing success is not based on any magic training formula, but on his character," said Marc Bloom, the nation's top authority on high school cross country. "He gets teenaged boys -- many of them modest natural talents -- to trust him, because Joe is the genuine article: honest, hard-working, with high standards on and off the race course."