First Eagle Indoor Meet In Niss Center Renamed For Jud Logan

The first indoor Ashland Alumni Open track meet at the new Niss Athletic Center has seen a name change before it takes place.
 
On Feb. 4 and 5, the first Jud Logan Light Giver Open will be contested.
 
"It makes doing all the little things of getting the meet ready, all the logistics and stuff, it makes it a little easier," said Ashland interim head coach Jacob Sussman, "just knowing it will go toward Jud's meet. I think the athletes also appreciate it, and I think they are going to have fun being a part of the first one."
 
Ashland has restarted its 2022 indoor season since Logan's passing, and, as Sussman said, "It (the meet) gives them more to think about, but it also does give them a little more motivation."
 
Sussman said the men's and women's 4x400-meter relays will go to Kentucky's Rod McCravy Memorial meet on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 28-29) to get the spots ready for the Light Giver meet, and the distance medley relays will open up at the home meet, as well.
 
In addition to the meet name change, anyone who gives at least $10 to the Jud Logan Track & Field Endowed Fund and/or the naming of the indoor track at the Niss Center in honor of Logan will receive the same wristband that the Eagle student-athletes have received that says "Light Giver" and "YEP" on it.
 
Logan passed away at age 62 earlier this month. He was in his 17^th season as Ashland's head men's and women's track and field coach, and his 28^th year with the Eagle program as a whole, starting as an assistant coach.
 
His men won three consecutive NCAA Division II national championships – 2019 indoors and outdoors, and 2021 indoors – and, as a head coach, Logan's Eagle teams earned 42 top-10 national placements, and his pupils won 59 individual national championships.
 
Logan earned 23 combined national, regional and conference Coach of the Year awards at Ashland.