January 19, 2025
News Release: KTCCCA Hall of Fame Inductions
The Kentucky Track & Cross-Country Coaches Association is proud to announce the 2026 inductees for the KTCCCA Hall of Fame to be held 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 1, at the KHSAA offices at 2280 Executive Drive, Lexington. The inductees include three life-long coaches and six of the finest athletes to compete in track and field in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Hall of Fame ceremonies will be held in conjunction with the USA Track & Field Annual Awards. Tickets to the event are $12.00 which can be purchased online at the following link: Banquet Dinner Link
Ronnie Baker, while at Ballard High School was twice named Gatorade Kentucky Track and Field Athlete of the year. He was two time KHSAA State Champion in both 100 and 400, 12 Time NCAA All-American, Gold Medalist at World Championships, USA Olympic Trials, Tokyo Olympics Semi Finalist and 3rd fastest American ever in Olympics in the 100.
Kianna Gray was an 11-time State Championship at North Hardin, State Record Holder in the 200 and 400, a 3-time Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year, 5-time NCAA All-American at the University of Kentucky plus a NCAA Championship in the 4x100 relay.
Jacob Thomson is a 12x Kentucky State Champion. He is a 3x SEC Champion & 3x All-American at the University of Kentucky. Jacob is a 2x Olympic Trials competitor at 10k & Marathon. He was the 2022 US Marathon runner up and the 2023 US Half Marathon Champion. He still competes as well as coaching athletes from youth to adult through Thomson Training which he founded.
James Triplett was KHSAA State Champion in the 120 yard high hurdles, 180 low hurdles and long jump leading his duPont Manual team to the state championship. He held the state High Hurdle record for more than 45 years. He was an NCAA All-American at the University of Louisville where he competed in the 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump, triple jump and high jump, holding the school record in the 110 high hurdles.
Sonia Wharton was a 7-time KHSAA State Sprint Champion while at Moore High School and Eastern High School. She held the state 100 Record for 18 Years before moving on to compete at Eastern Kentucky University.
William White, while at Shelby County High School was State Champion in long jump at 24'1/2" for 38 years. He was a High School All-American and followed up at Kentucky State University and qualified for the US Olympic Trials.
Lisa Owens has been on the staff of Centre College track & field and cross country for 28 years, having coached multiple national champions, Chrys Jones, Annie Rodenfels and JP Vaught as well as numerous All-Americans and conference individual titles. Her teams have won more than 15 conference championships. More importantly she has provided athletes and coaches across the state with the Maximum Velocity Track & Field Camp for 14 years, featuring numerous Olympians each year. She has also over seen the renovation of the outdoor track at Andy Frye Stadium and the building of Champions Hall which includes the indoor 200 meter Lisa H. Owens Indoor Track & Field Complex.
Wally Cook coached for 20 years at Woodford County High School. He was six time regional coach of the year and five time Central Kentucky Conference Coach of the Year. His teams won five regional titles plus 10 regional runner-up trophies. He coached 108 regional champions, 60 sectional champions, 9 boys state champions and 7 girls state champions.
Phil Wilder coached at Western Hills and Paul Laurence Dunbar High Schools. During his tenure, primarily at Dunbar, Coach Wilder coached 12 individual state champions, 3 state runners-up, 3 state record performances. He had two state champions teams, 4 KTCCCA runners of the year and was twice KTCCCA Coach of the Year. Following his coaching career, continued giving back to the sport by timing track and cross country meets.