Ottumwa, IA– Gerald ‘Diz’ Vincent was posthumously selected to the Iowa Association of Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches (IATC) Hall of Fame as Iowa’s first individual Cross Country Champion.
Diz, a 1924 graduate of Ottumwa High School, was Iowa’s first High School individual boys cross country champion in 1922, and the first two-time champion, winning in 1922 (1.75 miles-10:12) and 1923 (2.1 miles-11:26.8). He was a National High School Cross Country Runner-up in Fall of 1923, running the 3.5-Mile course in 17:57, in Philadelphia, PA. Diz was the 1924 Drake Relays 2-Mile Relay Gold Medalist, and Bronze winner in the Mile Medley-2:00 anchor. Also, a Bronze Medalist in 2-Mile Relay at the 1924 Kansas Relays. A State Meet Qualifier in the Mile, 880, 880-Relay, and High Jump; medaling in the Mile, 880, and High Jump. At the Stagg Interscholastic meet in Chicago, Diz won the Mile in 1923, and the Mile and 800 (2:00) in 1924. He was also an outstanding basketball player.
Gerald ‘Diz’ Vincent was inducted posthumously at the IATC Hall of Fame banquet on December 2, 2023. He is also in the Ottumwa High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
