Penguin Track and Field History

Competitive men’s track and field began at Youngstown State in 1950. However, it was around 1990 when the Penguins started fielding much more competitive teams. The Penguins have captured 11 League crowns since 1994.

The Penguins captured YSU’s first-ever League Championship with the 1997 Mid-Continent Conference outdoor crown and the 1997 Mid-Con Indoor title.

Only twice have the Penguins finished out of the top five in the championship standings since 1992 in indoor and outdoor conference championship meets combined. In 2003, Kurt Michaelis was an NCAA Indoor All- American in the mile. YSU has had three male NCAA National indoor meet qualifiers in school history – Michaelis in 2003, Kofi Owusu Ansah in 2000 and Paul Carter in 1998.

Penguins Historical Track & Field Classifications:
1981-present NCAA College Division I

Penguins Historical Division-I Track & Field Conferences:
2001-20XX The Horizon League / Midwestern Collegiate Conference
1992-2001 Mid-Continent Conference

1981-1988 The Ohio Valley Conference

Prepared, in-part, by YSU Sports Information Director Trevor Parks.
Additional data provided by the NCAA.