FHSU Athletics

Track & Field/Cross Country, 1970-74
A native of Johnson, Kansas, Jon Nelson was the 1973 NAIA Indoor National Champion in the 1000-yard run with a time of 2:12.9. He was also a member of the indoor national runner-up 2-mile relay team in 1973. A year earlier in 1972, Nelson finished third in the 800 meters at the outdoor national championships. He was a three-time All-America performer in track and field and twice a conference individual champion in the outdoor 880-yard run. Nelson was a national qualifier three consecutive years for the NAIA Outdoor Championships from 1972-74. He owned Fort Hays State's outdoor 800-meter record for 45 years from 1973 to 2018 with a time of 1:48.8. Nelson was also a steady contributor in cross country, helping the team to a conference title in 1972, a year in which he earned all-conference honors.