Steve Venable (2018) - Hall of Fame - Troy University Athletics

Steve Venable

Induction:
2018

Records are made to be broken. However, 30 years later, Steve Venable still sits atop the Troy record book in multiple track and field and cross country events. Venable was nearly untouchable on the track.

A member of the Troy track and field and cross country teams from 1977-81, Venable became one of the most decorated athletes in Troy history. He was a five-time NCAA All-American and still holds numerous school records decades after his final meet for the Trojans.

“Steve was incredible,” former coach John “Doc” Anderson said. “He was a brilliant student and a phenomenal athlete. There was and still is nobody here that could touch him. If the 1978-79 team competed in this conference today, they would walk away with it. That’s how good those guys were. You just can’t lie about times.”

Venable helped lead the Troy track and cross country teams to six conference and regional championships. Individually, he earned seven conference titles, five in track and field and two in cross country, earning the nickname “Animal” from Anderson. He was small in stature, but his long strides and passion for running made him unstoppable.

“For a distance runner, its all about head, heart, legs and lungs,” Anderson expressed. “A scholarship doesn’t make you run faster or play harder. What makes someone successful is his attitude. Steve was small, but he had a big heart, a great attitude and worked as hard as anyone.”

During his Troy career, Venable was the only runner in the nation in NCAA Division II to make All-America in both the 1500 meters, placing fourth in 1981, and the 5000 meters, placing second in 1980.

He was one of only four runners to post three top-15 finishes in the national cross country meet, placing 15th in 1978, 12th in 1980 and fifth in 1981. Venable holds school indoor records for the mile (4:07.40), two-mile (8:48.10) and distance medley relay (10:16.80), in addition in outdoor records in the 1500 meters (3:44.69), mile (4:04.84), and 5000 meters (14:08.86).

“He was a five-time All-American, in two different sports,” Anderson said. “No athlete as of yet at Troy University has ever done that. Track times you just can’t spin. Back then, you had to finish top-15 in the nation to be named an All-American. He did it twice.”

Venable’s natural talent and attitude could not be coached, but there were several members of the team and coaching staff that the Athens, Ga., native forged a special bond with.

“He continued his career and got better and better each year,” Anderson said. “There were probably three other people that helped him succeed that deserve credit. One was Rick Stetson, who was the track captain, he took over coaching when I left. The other was Nick Costes, who was a professor here and was an Olympian in the marathon. He had a lot of influence over the distance runners back then. And then someone who really helped Steve improve his times was Ed Sheehan. He was a grad assistant at Troy, but had a successful track career at Harvard. Ed cranked up his workouts and helped him get those records. They had as much to do with his success as anyone.”

Not only did Venable excel on the track, but he was also a member of the Dean’s List and President’s List during his time at Troy. Venable earned a full academic scholarship to graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Venable tragically passed away just weeks before his Hall of Fame induction. However, his passion for competing and his legacy at Troy will be remembered by many as they strive to top his name in the record books.

“Someone once asked me if I was worried about his long hair,” Anderson recalled. “I said I was only worried about three things: that they made their grades, stayed out of trouble and competed. Steve certainly did that. He was on another level and truly deserves to be in the Troy Hall of Fame. He will be missed.”