Carroll DeWeese Leader the Steeplechase at the 1995 World Masters Championships in Buffalo, New YorkWith more than 25 years invested in our fine sport, National Masters Champion and International Association of Athletics Foundation, USA Track & Field and International Paralympics Committee National Technical Official, Carroll DeWeese, has contributed much to the sport of running.

Doesn’t quite “roll off the tongue,” but that’s what tends to happen with a resume that goes on for miles.

Despite quite a bit of success as a high school senior, DeWeese took a number of years off before returning to the sport in the mid 80s. Track on up through the marathon, DeWeese ran it all.

Amid the 90s, Carroll organized club trips for the Motor City Strider men’s and women’s racing teams to masters’ championship track meets and cross-country races. DeWeese recruited runners from within and also outside of the Striders’ club to round out his teams in their quest for victory.

Ann Arbor Track Club Member, Doug Goodhue, was one of Carroll’s recruits.

“I won my first gold medal on Carroll’s 4 x 800 relay team at the USATF Masters National Indoor Track Championship held at the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1994, Goodhue recollected. Of Carroll, he continued, “He is such a pleasant person and so knowledgeable about our sport.” In addition to their success as teammates, Doug also noted “battling it out” for age division honors with Carroll many a time at various road races over the years.

Ellen Nitz, the Ann Arbor Track Club’s existing secretary, also has fond memories of traveling with DeWeese to team competitions. >Nitz recalled their journey to Kansas City for the Ekiden Relays. “The course was a figure eight, so we saw our teammates often, which made for a fun course that offered lots of support.”

Ellen added that Carroll always encourages people to try different things to improve their skills and that he himself stays current on literature regarding the latest training methods and other ways to enhance performance.

In the mid ‘90s with minimal time to prepare, DeWeese trained to race the steeplechase at the World Masters Track and Field Championships held in Buffalo, New York. “I had never run a hurdle in my life,” he admitted, “but I didn’t want to be in the middle of the pack. After looking at the rankings, I felt that I could do well even though I only had four months to train.”

Quite well – DeWeese was third overall and the American Champion.

The following year, he suffered a serious injury while defending his title. During his recovery, he began officiating and never looked back. “I quickly moved up the ranks and got so busy with officiating and other activities,” Carroll explained, “that I only competed occasionally in order to maintain my status as an active USATF athlete.”

While Carroll does not compete much anymore, he continues to be very active at the races in an official capacity as a judge, setting up and taking down chutes and just doing whatever is needed. “I am often among the first to arrive and the last to leave,” Carroll noted, and Nitz confirmed.

“He’s always out there,” she said.

“Running,” to Carroll is equivocal to “freedom” and has educated him in many ways. He elaborated, “Running has taught me to adapt to my limits and listen to my body.”

Recently, Carroll was forced to really hone in and apply knowledge attained over the decades to a purpose other than competing in or judging the latest competition.

December 2009, DeWeese was diagnosed with an aggressive high-risk form of prostate cancer that had already begun to spread.

A true champion, Carroll expressed, “Athletics has been a great training ground to prepare for the experience. We can be in peak form at one moment and unable to run a moment later.”

DeWeese first learned of the possibility of the cancer in April 2009.

“When I turned 65 and went on social security, I took advantage of the complete physical exam. I passed with flying colors except for the Prostate-Specific Antigen Test. I guess that the lesson is that as an athlete, you may be given every indication of great health, but you could have a hidden disease. I do not know if I will beat the cancer, but I know that I will be successful with it. The cancer has already given me the opportunity to face death and uncertainty. I like what I find within. The experience, as hard as it has already been on my body, has enriched my life. I would not choose it, but I would not trade it.”

DeWeese is too passionate about life to let the disease take over. “Life is too full to let inconveniences get in the way,” he proclaimed. “I have learned to make due with what I have and take advantage of every moment.”

Always the teacher, ever the student, may we all continue to learn from DeWeese’s seemingly unlimited wealth of strength and knowledge.

Carroll and his wife have said that they can find nothing “quirky” about him, but he advised, “If there is something you want to know about me, just ask. I have however been accused of telling someone how to build a watch when all they want to know is the time.

Lastly, when immersed in our own athletic endeavors may we all remember to thank the officials.

“Thank you Carroll.”