My
name is Mark Stonecipher. You may have
seen me running around the past few years at XC and T&F meets here in
Florida taking pictures, recording videos, doing athlete interviews, and live
streaming for FLRunners/MileSplit Florida. I'm excited to be named the new MileSplit Florida Editor. I have one goal as the new state editor and that
is to make MileSplit FL the go-to source for athletes, parents and coaches for XC and T&F in Florida. For me, it's all about giving our young men and women the credit and
recognition that they deserve for being some of the best athletes, not only in
Florida but in the nation, and giving back to the sports that have been my
passion ever since junior high.
I am an Ohio native and got started in the sport running the 440 at CYO meets in the Cleveland area in grade school. I didn't have a clue at that time what was ahead. In junior high, I continued running the 440 because that was the farthest distance you could run in junior high at that time in Ohio. My sophomore year in HS a morning PA announcement invited anyone who was interested in cross country to come to a meeting after school. We didn't know what XC was, but several of my friends and I went to the meeting and went out for the team. I became a two-time Ohio State XC qualifier, finishing 8th in the state my senior year, as well as being the #1 ranked 880 runner in Ohio and receiving a full D1 scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans. I was a two-time D1 indoor NCAA 880 and 1000m qualifier and a two-time NCAA 880 qualifier outdoors at Tulane. I still hold the indoor school record for the 880 and was an All-American in 1970, placing 6th in the 880 in the USTFF National Indoor Championships.
I have continued to be involved in the sports as a writer and photographer from 2011-2013 for OHRunners and became the MileSplit Ohio Editor in 2013 until moving to Florida with my wife in 2016. I took a few years off and started working again as a contributor for MileSplit FL three years ago. That brings us today and I am thrilled to become the new editor and to continue to give back to the sports that have been a big part of my life. I'm looking forward to being the Florida Editor for MileSplit and helping contribute to one of the best XC and T&F states in the country.
I look forward to seeing you at meets near you soon and if you see me make sure to say hello.
Please contact me at mark.stonecipher@flosports.tv if I can help you with anything.