We received terrible news this evening. It is with sadness that I must announce that the Florida running community has lost a friend and tireless servant to the sport. Steeple Timing owner Jeff Wentworth passed away on Sunday.
The details are not much known and do not much matter at this point, but in less than 24 hours blood clotting issues led to his sudden and unexpected passing on Sunday evening. It is unclear at this point whether these symptoms were related to the previous medical issues that Jeff has had in the past couple of years, but it came completely out of the blue this weekend. His extended family are currently making their way to Orlando. Jeff leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Marcia Mansur-Wentworth.
Jeff is universally loved and well-known as a staple in the Central Florida running community. He has timed and managed countless hundreds of cross country and track & field meets and road races for well over a decade. He served for 12 years as the senior event director for Disney Sports. In the past he has also served as the executive director of USATF Florida, directed the US Youth Games, has served on the executive committee for the Golden South Classic for years, and was head cross country coach and assistant track coach at the University of South Carolina in the mid 80s.
I will always remember Jeff as a warm-hearted, selfless soul who would bend over backwards to do anything for you. He was soft-spoken and kind. Jeff served as the timer of dozens of meets for me over the years including the flrunners.com Invitational and the Middle School State Championship.
We will post more details, funeral information, and where to send condolences when they are available. Until then, why don't we share in the comments our thoughts of Jeff's memory and legacy, as well as any words for Marcia.
Funeral Services
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 2:00 PM Eastern
Bob Mosher Track at Showalter Field
2525 Cady Way
Winter Park, FL 32792
Donations
Marcia is requesting that in lieu of flowers, make a donation to the SPCA of Central Florida.
More About Jeff's Great Career from Steeple Timing's Site
Owner and President, Jeff Wentworth began Track and Field/Cross Country in the usual way as an athlete at Pensacola High School in the panhandle of Florida. After a successful high school career went on to run for Brevard College, NC (then a two year school) earning numerous All American Honors that led to many scholarship offers for prestigious four year schools such as Tennessee, Virginia Tech, UTEP, Furman, Clemson, and Seton Hall before deciding to finish his college running at North Carolina State University. Jeff made the choice because of NC State’s strong Biochemistry programs and excellent coaching (Rollie Gieger and the late, Tom Jones). Upon graduation from NC State with degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology, Jeff continued his own running and took a position as a graduate assistant coach at the University of South Carolina and was then promoted to a full time position. He led USC to record success in the distance and middle distance events as well as cross country (ranked top 25 nationally). As a coach he not only oversaw college meets but was also instrumental in the state Junior Olympics, Palmetto State Games, and Special Olympics. Jeff did this while remaining competitive in running with his best event being, you guessed it, the steeplechase while running for team adidas. As someone who has always been immersed in sport, Jeff and wife, Marcia Mansur even met at a race.
After returning to Florida, Jeff remained a competitive runner for Brooks and then Reebok (coached by the late Barry Brown). He also returned to Track and Field/Cross Country first as a volunteer with USA Track and Field/FL and the Sunshine State Games Office while working full time as a research chemist with Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville. Jeff served on the USA Track and Field Association’s Committee as Chairman of the RACE (regional association championship events). After leaving the University of Florida, Jeff took the position of Executive Director of USA Track and Field/Florida at the request of then Association President, Jon Hughes. In the summer of 1996, Jeff joined Disney Sports as part of their start up cast. Although Jeff went to Disney for track, he ended up taking on events in Pop Warner football, soccer, paintball, ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games, lacrosse, basketball, softball, baseball, US Youth Games, Special Olympics, Junior Olympics, and events for several college conferences and the NCAA.
Working full time, Jeff usually volunteered with the college programs where Marcia coached first at the University of South Florida, where she was an assistant coach and then at the University of Central Florida, where she directed the programs. Coaching was not the only way to help, Jeff drew on his past experience to perform the essential duties of timing track and cross country events first with the old Accutrack System, then Video Timing (Atnea system) and now with the state of the art Finish Lynx System. At first, Jeff volunteered with Marcia’s programs, and then local high school, middle school and club coaches contacted him about timing their events. Jeff formed Steeple Timing in 2003 as a part time business. In the fall of 2008, Jeff decided it was time to make the most of his twenty years of track and field management and make Steeple Timing and Event Management his full time career. Jeff employs former athletes with a passion for the sport. Now, Jeff has taken on events in track and field, cross country, running, triathlons and cycling. Jeff ran competitively even after he began working at Disney and hung up his spikes in 1997 but remains passionate about the sports he competed in, coached, and directed.
Jeff’s Running Highlights
Pensacola (FL) High School
Brevard College (NC)
North Carolina State University (team captain)
Converse Running Team
Team adidas
Brooks Team
Reebok Racing Team
Olympic Trials Qualifier in 3,000mSC and marathon
College and elite post collegiate coach; event director in track and field, cross country, and road race
PR’s:
800m (1:51.0)
1500m (3:41.1)
Mile (3:56.7)
3000m-i (7:48.1)
3,000mSC (8:28.2)
5000m (13:45.0)
8km (22:51)
10km (28:45)
½ marathon (1:03:30)
Marathon (2:16:58)
Third Party Coverage
