Former York running star Newman mourned

BY JEFF VORVA

The cross-country season in the fall and track season in the spring will go on without Mike Newman, but to many, it just won’t be the same.

Mike Newman was known to many as “Mr. Newton.” He was respected across the state.

Newman died in early September at 63 and has been a longtime friend of the cross country and track communities. Not only was he on York’s 1978 state championship cross country team, but he also compiled running data and information for DyeStatTFX and owned the ILXCTF website, which provided the running world with valuable information.

Newman’s death hit home to a lot of people in the running community, but it especially hit home at York.

“Mr. Mike Newman had a passion for running and providing a positive media platform for Illinois high school cross country and track and field,” York girls cross country coach Lauren DeAngelis said. “Mr. Newman had a special place in his heart for York High School, a place where he was a part of a state championship team, and it brought him back for weekly visits. Mr. Newman was positive, passionate, and supportive of our teams, but more importantly, Mr. Newman was inclusive. He made every athlete feel special. He highlighted the fastest athletes along with newcomers and rising stars.”

York’s boys cross country coach, Charlie Kern, was a big fan of Newman and all he did for young runners. “Michael’s life was positively transformed by running in high school, and he never forgot it,” Kern said in a tribute on illinoisrunningnews.com. “A meet became more special if Michael Newman was there. He helped to promote athletes and give them a chance to share their thoughts, hopes, and dreams on various digital platforms. Personally, he was a good friend, and he would come to our Monday practices during cross country. He would share his thoughts, encourage the kids and the coaches, and he might time one of our groups.”

After his years at York, which included all-state recognition, Newman ran at North Central College in Naperville.

During his high school and college years, he was coached by a pair of legends and Hall of Famers – York’s Joe Newton and North Central’s Al Carius. Carius also died in early September, leaving another void in the running world. Newton died in 2017.

“The entire running community will miss Mr. Newman, but his legacy will live on.”

— York girls cross country coach Lauren DeAngelis

There was a quarter-century gap when Newman was out of the area and living in Ohio. But he returned in 2008 and made a name for himself covering the two sports and keeping track of records and other data that might not have been available if he didn’t do the heavy lifting.

Newman’s hard work bringing recognition to the two sports still impacted many over the years.

“Mike was such an important part of our sport, but more importantly, thousands of young runners’ lives,” Downers Grove North boys cross country coach Andrew Adelman said. “There has been a huge void this season not having him on the sidelines of meets anymore.”

Many agree that life around the running world will be different without Newman around.

“I still can’t quite wrap my head around the idea of Mike Newman’s passing,” Hinsdale Central girls cross country coach Mike McCabe said on illinoisrunningnews.com. “It’s devastating to me. He has been such an integral part of our sports of cross country and track in Illinois for such a long time that it’s hard to imagine things without him. We never had a more tireless and positive supporter of our sports, and in so many ways, he will simply be irreplaceable. He loved his job and, in return, so many of us loved him for what he did.”

DeAngelis thinks people in running circles will remember him for a long time.

“The entire running community will miss Mr. Newman,” DeAngelis said. “But his legacy will live on.”