Athletics West

Athletics West (frequently abbreviated in results as AW)[1] was an American running team formed in 1977 by Bill Bowerman, Phil Knight and Geoff Hollister.

[2] During the 1970s, a definitive running program for young athletes to continue competing outside of college did not exist in the United States (U.S.).

Bowerman and Knight, who were runners themselves, recognized the situation that their sport existed in, so they decided to take the meager profits from their fledgling Nike company to try to reignite competitive running in the U.S.

They recruited Harry Johnson, a high school coach who was known for his warden-like demeanor and rigorous training tactics.

Johnson was the winningest coach in Oregon high school history, with the attainment of 25 state titles in his career.

Johnson's first acquisition was Craig Virgin, a young runner from Illinois, U.S. Virgin was joined by a team of gifted athletes, including Jim Crawford, an Army vet who specialized in the 1500 meters; Phil Kane, an accounting major and powerhouse in the 1,500-meter event; seminary student and marathoner Jeff Wells; Doug Brown; George Malley;[4] and Mike Manke.

However, every single Athletics West runner clocked personal bests while competing in Europe, including eight records apiece set by Virgin and Brown.

Although the original nucleus of the team dissolved after the European tour, the experimental opening season of Athletics West was successful.

Between 1979 and 1989, Henry Marsh, Doug Brown and Brian Diemer swept the national steeplechase championship all in the Athletics West uniform.

[7] Athletics West later established operations on the East Coast of the United States, prior to global expansion.