Todd Black joined the Falcon track team in the fall of 1989 and was instantly one of the top runners on the team in his
events. Finishing second in the 800 meters at the 1990 MAC meet, he held the fastest times on the team in the 800 and 1500
meters in that year's outdoor season, while owning the team's best indoor times in the 800, 1500 and the mile.
His sophomore year, Black led the team in points scored, and finished second again in the 800 at the MAC meet and was a provisional
NCAA qualifer with a best time of 1:48.16. He sat out the 1991-92 season, but made it to the semifinal round of the 800 at the
1992 Olympic Trials in New Orleans, missing the finals by just 0.31 seconds. Entering the trials, Todd had the 13th-best time in the
nation (1:47.24).
In the summer of 1992, Black competed with the U.S. Olympic Development team in Europe. He was named an All-American in 1993,
when he was an automatic qualifier to the NCAA meet in the 800. He finished eighth in that event (1:48.86) at the NCAA meet. Also
that year, he won the 1,500 meters at the MAC Championships, the first BGSU MAC title in a running event in 12 years. He finished
second in the 800 for a third time in his career, at the 1993 MAC meet.
He was named All-MAC in cross country in both 1990 and 1991, after being named BG's outstanding freshman in cross country in 1989.
He finished ninth at the MAC cross country meet in 1990, and also earned All-Ohio honors that year. Black was 12th at the MAC race
and 24th at the district meet in 1991, earning All-MAC, All-Ohio and All-Central Collegiate honors that year.
Black again competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1996, this time in Atlanta, in the 800 meters, and advanced to the finals. In the first
round, he finished second in his heat (1:47.71), then finished second in his heat in the second round (1:47.46) to advance to the semifinals.
Todd had his best-ever time in the semifinals, with a 1:46.16 effort, to advance to the final. He ran a 1:46.99 in the finals, finishing eighth.
After graduation, he spent several seasons as the restricted earnings coach for BG's cross country and track teams.
(Information on this page was compiled from a bgsufalcons.com
press release, July 15, 2004.)