Quentin Brelsford, Class of 1948, became Ohio Wesleyan University’s first-ever cross country national champion of any kind—individual or team—when he conquered the field at Michigan State in the 1946 NCAA cross country national championship race.

Brelsford’s 1946 triumph was remarkable for two specific reasons. From 1941 to 1945 he served in the Air Force during World War II as an airplane engine repairman in northern Africa and Europe. When the war ended, he returned to OWU as a junior. Additionally, Brelsford was not competing against Division III colleges only, as the Battling Bishops do today. There was no divisional competition in 1946.

Current Ohio Wesleyan Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Kris Boey says Brelsford is a Battling Bishop athletic legend and a man who has lived a distinguished life.

“The national championship was Ohio Wesleyan’s first. Quentin was an extraordinary student-athlete. Having been here as student, then served in war, and then came back to OWU—that in and of itself is remarkable. So many veterans didn’t finish their educations, but he came back, he graduated, met his wife here, won a national championship, and nearly a second.”

Boey adds, “You don’t see people cut from that mold these days. Quentin persevered from tough times, to come back and triumph. The sum of his life and professional accolades is really incredible.”