The Ohio High School Athletic Association has officially renamed its state track and field championships in honor of Ohio native and Olympic legend Jesse Owens.
Approved unanimously by the OHSAA Board of Directors, the event will now be known as the OHSAA Jesse Owens Track and Field State Championships. The renaming is part of the Jesse Owens Initiative, Beyond the Finish Line, which is focused on preserving Owens’ legacy, empowering young people, and using sport as a tool for unity and opportunity.
Beginning in 2026, the championships will expand from three to five divisions and will be held June 4-7 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University.
The timing is significant, as 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of Owens’ historic performance at the 1936 Olympic Games, where he won four gold medals and challenged Adolf Hitler’s racist ideology on the world stage.
Before becoming an international icon, Owens was a dominant Ohio high school athlete, winning nine OHSAA state titles while competing for Cleveland East Tech. He later starred at Ohio State, setting multiple world records in a single afternoon at the 1935 Big Ten Championships, one of the most remarkable feats in sports history.
OHSAA officials say renaming the state championships ensures Owens’ story remains visible to generations of Ohio athletes, celebrating not only his athletic excellence, but also his courage, integrity, and lasting impact on civil rights and opportunity.
