The 1986 Caldwell team’s perfect season cemented a legacy that still inspires runners across Ohio to this day.
In the hills of Noble County is the village of Caldwell, a place often dismissed as too small to win. Yet in 1986, this community proved otherwise, becoming the stage for one of Ohio’s greatest cross-country triumphs.
From Humble Beginnings
The story began in 1971 under Coach Rod O’Donnell, a name still respected in the running world. At the time, few in Caldwell even knew what cross country was. But O’Donnell built a program from scratch, teaching kids how to run and, more importantly, how to believe in themselves. Just two years later, his young squad stunned Ohio with a state championship. That victory planted a seed of possibility—proof that small towns could chase big dreams.
Among those early runners was Dugan Hill. He would return more than a decade later as the assistant coach during the 1986 season, bridging the program’s humble start with its future glory.
When Ron Martin took over in 1975, the program entered a new era. Martin believed a village with fewer than 2,000 people could produce champions if they were willing to work harder than anyone else. To test that belief, he scheduled races against schools ten times Caldwell’s size.
Martin’s words became a mantra for the team: “When excellence is in sight, good is not enough.”
The Perfect Season
By 1986, everything came together. Under Martin’s leadership and with Hill by his side, Caldwell completed the season undefeated. Their record stood at an astonishing 137–0. At the state meet, the team scored just 26 points—proof not only of raw talent but also of discipline, grit, and unity.
“When excellence is in sight, good is not enough.”
Ron Martin
The path wasn’t free of doubt. Along the way, opponents mocked them with jeers like, “Don’t you know the little kids’ race was earlier? You’re too small to win.” Instead of breaking their spirit, those words became fuel for them. Caldwell’s runners ran with pride and the weight of their small town on their shoulders. They weren’t just competing—they were rewriting what was possible.
Too Small to Win: A Lasting Legacy beyond Caldwell, Ohio
The 1986 championship season was just the beginning of what would become a dynasty. When Martin stepped down the following year, Hill stepped forward, drawing on his experience as both a runner in 1973 and an assistant in 1986. Under his guidance, Caldwell went on to capture six more consecutive state championships. Proving to everyone, the program’s strength wasn’t a one-time miracle but a culture of excellence.
Together, O’Donnell, Martin, and Hill created a legacy that went beyond trophies and records. They demonstrated that greatness can emerge from the most unexpected places when vision, perseverance, and teamwork come together.
Nearly 40 years later, the lessons of 1986 remain. Caldwell’s runners remind us that determination and heart matter more than size. For anyone who has ever felt overlooked or underestimated, their story is proof to all: you are never too small to win.
Their journey is captured in the book Too Small to Win, written by Coach Ron Martin and Randy Lowe. As Governor Mike DeWine noted, “This book is a testament to cross country, told through the eyes of one of Ohio’s greatest sports dynasties.”
