Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hall of Fame
Miller Ryan, Betsy
Betsy Miller Ryan
- Induction:
- 2025
- Class:
- 1979
Betsy Miller Ryan, a native of Cleveland Heights, came to BGSU in 1976, and competed in both cross country and track for the next several years. In 1979, she married and stepped away from athletic competition to give birth to Lisa, her first child. She was awarded an undergraduate degree in 1979, and returned to the cross country and track teams in 1980 as a graduate student.
Miller Ryan had been named Most Valuable member of both the track and cross country teams in 1978 and repeated as Most Valuable member of the latter team in 1980. She won three consecutive races in that ‘80 season, culminating with a first-place finish in the MAC championships as BGSU won the team title.
In track, she won 12 intercollegiate championships in seven different events, set 18 school records in seven different events (sometimes breaking her own previous records) and seven meet records, won three state championships and two MAC Invitational championships, and qualified for one AIAW National Championship. In cross country, she won first place in three meets, set one school record and one course record, won a MAC championship, was named All-MAC and All-Region, and qualified for AIAW Nationals twice.
Miller Ryan was the first-ever woman to win a MAC individual title, as she was the individual winner at the 1980 MAC Cross Country Championships, the first sport to hold a championship in the first year that the MAC offered championships in women’s sports. BGSU, as mentioned, won the team title that season.
Miller Ryan earned her undergraduate degree in three years, as an elementary education major, and received a Master’s degree in special education.
Miller Ryan had been named Most Valuable member of both the track and cross country teams in 1978 and repeated as Most Valuable member of the latter team in 1980. She won three consecutive races in that ‘80 season, culminating with a first-place finish in the MAC championships as BGSU won the team title.
In track, she won 12 intercollegiate championships in seven different events, set 18 school records in seven different events (sometimes breaking her own previous records) and seven meet records, won three state championships and two MAC Invitational championships, and qualified for one AIAW National Championship. In cross country, she won first place in three meets, set one school record and one course record, won a MAC championship, was named All-MAC and All-Region, and qualified for AIAW Nationals twice.
Miller Ryan was the first-ever woman to win a MAC individual title, as she was the individual winner at the 1980 MAC Cross Country Championships, the first sport to hold a championship in the first year that the MAC offered championships in women’s sports. BGSU, as mentioned, won the team title that season.
Miller Ryan earned her undergraduate degree in three years, as an elementary education major, and received a Master’s degree in special education.
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