Despite retiring from the full-time Wesleyan faculty in June, 1993, J. Elmer Swanson enters his 35th year at Wesleyan, his fifth year on a part-time basis. In charge of the men's cross-country season each of his previous 34 seasons, Elmer's tenure with the women extends from 1976 when the team was established. His 34-year record with the team stands at 156-127-1. His 21-year women's mark is a remarkable 144-42-4.A 1947 graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned both his B.A. and M.A., Elmer spent 15 years coaching at his alma mater before coming to Wesleyan in 1963. While an undergraduate at Michigan, Elmer distinguished himself on the track as the Big 10 conference high and low hurdles champion.
The head coach of Wesleyan's men's indoor and outdoor track teams since his arrival at the University 32 years ago, and the women's squad since their inception in 1976, Elmer handed the reins of those sports to Craig Raye during the 1993-4 season.
Consistently active at national track and field championships throughout his career, Elmer served as meet director when Wesleyan hosted the NCAA Division III indoor championships in March 1991 and was an offical at the NCAA Division III outdoor championship meet last May. Elmer is a past-president of both the New England Division III Track & Field Association and the Connecticut Intercollegiate Conference (C.I.C.) and was named N.E. Div. III men's cross-country coach of the year in 1993.
Recent Wesleyan graduate, Sarah Hann '95 will be assisting Coach Swanson for the latter part of the 1997 season. While at Wesleyan, Sarah earned All-American honors in cross country twice and still holds school track and field records in numerous middle distance events including a 4:36 indoor 1500m that placed her second in the nation in 1995.