Sid Sink (1976) - Hall of Fame - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Sid Sink

Induction:
1976
Class:
1971

In the fall of 1967, Sid Sink travelled from his hometown of Fairview Park, Ohio to the campus of Bowling Green to begin what would become a phenomenal cross country and track career that would include setting 23 BGSU cross country and track records and capturing five All-Ohio championships, six MAC championship victories, ten NCAA All-American honors, four NCAA national titles, an AAU national championship and an American record in the steeplechase.

During his first year (1967-68) at BG, Sink led all freshman in the MAC cross country championship and, in track, had the fastest time in the nation in the steeplechase for college freshman with a time of 8:47. The following year (1968-69), in cross country, he won the All-Ohio championship, finished first in the MAC championship and captured 9th place in the NCAA National Championships. In outdoor track, Sink won the All-Ohio 3-mile title, the MAC mile and steeplechase titles and placed 4th in the steeplechase at the NCAA National Championship meet.

In the 1969 cross country season, Sink won the MAC title and placed 12th in the NCAA National Championship meet. During the 1970 outdoor track season, he captured the All-Ohio 6-mile title, the MAC 3-mile title, the National USTFF Championship 3-mile title, and his first NCAA Championship title in the steeplechase with a meet record time of 8:40.9.

In the 1970 cross country season, Sink was runner-up in the All-Ohio championship and placed 8th in the NCAA National Championship meet. During the 1971 indoor track season, he captured the National USTFF 2-mile title, won the Central Collegiate Conference mile and 3-mile titles, and took second to Marty Liquori in the two-mile in the NCAA National Championships. On the outdoor track, Sink won the All-Ohio mile and 3-mile, the MAC 3-mile and at the NCAA National Championships he won the steeplechase in a meet record time of 8:30.9 and also placed 4th in the 5,000 meter event. Shortly thereafter, at the AAU National Championship meet, Sink was victorious in the steeplechase and broke the American record in a time of 8:26.4.

During Sink’s final Indoor track season in 1972, he won the NCAA national title in the 2-mile and, along with his teammates, captured the national title in the Distance Medley relay. Sink qualified for the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials in both the steeplechase and 5,000 meter, placing fourth in the finals of the 5,000 meter, becoming an alternate for the Munich Olympic Games.

Sink, who went on to serve as a coach and administrator at BGSU, was inducted to the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1976.