CARNEY

WINTERSVILLE — Wintersville High School alumnus and past Olympian Lester Carney will make an appearance at the track which bears his name during Indian Creek High School’s first home meet this spring.

Carney, of Akron, is set to attend the Early Bird meet on March 28 on the Lester Carney Track at Kettlewell Stadium. Events begin at 9 a.m. with the race to start at 10 a.m. and will include teams from 12 area schools. Entry fees for the meet benefit the Indian Creek track team while a silent auction and raffles will also be held.

Indian Creek Local School District Assistant Superintendent John Belt said Carney had inquired about the event and hoped to return to his alma mater.

“Lester Carney wanted to know when we were having our home track meet. For years we didn’t host home track meets because it wasn’t in good condition,” Belt said. “We planned our first track meet this year and remembered to invite Les. He was invited to a past meet at Edison and met with students, then he said he would come for this one.”

Carney is a hometown hero and multi-sport athlete who played football, baseball, and basketball while also running track at WHS, then he went on to win a silver medal at the Olympics in 1960. The 1952 alumnus and standout halfback headed to Ohio University on a football scholarship, but during his sophomore year he segued into the U.S. Army and served as a Morse Code radio operator from 1954-57. He returned to OU and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1958; however, he opted to continue his athletic career in track.

“It turned out to be my calling card,” he added. “During my last year in college, I attended the NCAA track meet in Denver and took second place in the 200-meter race, qualifying for the Pan Am Games. I went to an exhibition in Europe for track and ran in the Pan Am Games in Chicago.”

Carney secured the silver medal during the 200-meter race in 1959 and would continue to represent the United States during the Olympics a year later. He was granted leave from his employer and traveled to California to practice and vie for a spot on the Olympic squad. Carney then earned another silver in the 200m at the games in Rome. Since then, Indian Creek officials renovated the high school track and dedicated it in Carney’s honor in 2015. Carney has ventured back to the area to view meets and was excited to attend later this month, which is also a few days shy of his 92nd birthday celebration on March 31. He may even meet with students while at the event.

“It’s always an honor. I’ve never gotten to run on that track because it wasn’t there when I was in school, but I have jogged on it when I was attending a meet or a football game,” he commented.

ICHS track coach Jayson Daugherty was delighted to see the local legend return to his roots.

“We’re looking forward to having Lester Carney at the meet. It should be a great event and we’re excited for all the athletes attending to be able to meet him,” Daugherty said. “This is also a great opportunity for athletes to see no matter how big or small your town or school is, anything is possible.”