Eric Putnam
in his fifth year as head men's cross country coach had
one of the greatest seasons in the history of Shawnee
State athletics. The men finished a program high 4th
place in
a
32 team field at the NAIA championship. Their previous
high was 11th in 2008. The men's team also finished a
program high 3rd at the All-Ohio Championship and 2nd at
the AMC championship. Corey Culbertson became the second
runner in men's history to become an NAIA All-American
finishing 24th place. This
was the men's team 3rd appearance at the NAIA national
championship in 5 years under Putnam.
During his fourth year at Shawnee State,
Coach Putnam led the Bears to an 11th place finish
in the 32 team field at the NAIA national championship.
Keegan Rathkamp became the first runner in men's team
history to become and NAIA All-American finishing 10th
place. This was the second time in four years that the
men's team qualified to nationals with Putnam has head
coach.
During
Putnam's five years as head cross country coach, the men
have finished no less than
3rd
in
the AMC championship. They have also been ranked in the
top 25 poll every one
of those years.
Prior to
joining Shawnee State, Putnam coached Chillicothe high
school to a district championship in 2003 and a district
runner-up finish in 2004. Two Chillicothe runners
qualified for the state championship meet in 2003.
Putnam
served as assistant cross country and track coach at
Xavier University from 2001 – 2003. Both men and
women’s cross country team enjoyed their most successful
seasons during his tenure.
Putnam also
enjoyed a very successful collegiate running career at
Ohio University. From 1991 – 1996 he ran cross country
and track and field, earning seven varsity letters. He
earned All-Mid American Conference honors seven times.
He was the individual MAC champion in the 1500 meter run
in 1996 running 3:48. He was co-MVP of the Ohio
University track team in 1996 and was voted team captain
three times.
Putnam
established many accomplishments through his high school
career at Chillicothe High School. He was a four-time
state individual qualifier in Division I, including a
state runner-up finisher in 1989. He was also a
three-time state qualifier in track and field, including
4th inn the 1600 meter run and 5th in the 3200 meter
relay in 1991.
Putnam has
been winning road races
of
various distances all over Ohio for more than a decade.
He was the 2005 Run Ohio Grand Prix Co-Champion in 2005
and the 2006 Huntington Half Marathon Champion with a
time of 1:09:04. Putnam has also won the Shawnee State
Bear run a record 10 times.
Putnam
resides in Portsmouth with his wife, Krista and sons
Charles and Ian.