Jim Canterberry (2010) - Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame

Jim Canterberry

Induction:
2010
Class:
1954

One of the most amazing win streaks in Thundering Herd history belongs to Jim Canterberry, who won 43 consecutive cross country championships before finishing second in a meet at the University of Kentucky, an event at which Marshall arrived late and he had no time to warm up. The Oak Hill, W.Va., native was a three-year letterwinner for Marshall professor and Coach Swede Gullickson and his fledgling track and field program. Canterberry won the Ohio Valley Conference cross country championship in 1951 and 1952, each time leading Marshall to team titles as well. He also led the team to the 1951 OVC outdoor track and field team championship by winning the mile and 880-yard runs, and also won the in the mile and 10,000-yard runs at the Penn Relays. Canterberry defeated many runners who made the 1952 and 1956 U.S. Olympic teams, but didn’t have the sponsorship funds to go to the U.S. Trials. He went on to a distinguished career as a teacher and administrator in the Kanawha Valley. Canterberry was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.