On the Right Track

As a former high-school All-American sprinter and high-jumper, NYC-based photographer Andrew Dolgin incorporates a few runs into his regular workout routine. Stemming from his love of art and running, he began a project documenting tracks that once were homes to decorated American athletes during their most formative years—high school or college.

“I knew that I wanted to do a project surrounding track and running, but did want to take the well-worn path of running in action,” Dolgin told Runner’s World. “So, I started researching the people who inspired me at the beginning of my own running career—Michael Johnson, Steve Prefontaine, Carl Lewis, etc. I liked the idea of a historical component, and it sort of steamrolled from there.”

Since he began the project in 2015, Dolgin has photographed 40 different locations. “Ironically, Bob Beamon went to high school in Queens, but I haven’t gotten there yet.” Also on his to-do list is East St. Louis High School, a former locale of noted track and field athlete, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Tennessee State University. Nashville. TSU’s powerhouse track and field program trained noted female athlete’s including Wilma Rudolph, Wyomia Tyus, Edith McGuire, Mae Faggs, Madeline Manning Mims, Willye B. White, Martha Watson, and Chandra Cheeseborough. Coach Ed Temple coached 40 Olympians; 13 gold medalists, six silver, and four bronze.

Willingboro High School. Willingboro, New Jersey. As a 10x Olympic medalist (nine golds), Carl Lewis is a highly decorated male track and field athlete. He also won 65 consecutive long jump contests over a 10 year period.

Archer High School. Atlanta. In 1964, Edith McGuire became a 200-meter gold medalist in Tokyo’s summer Olympics.

Mountain View High School. Bend, Oregon. Ashton Eaton is a two-time gold medalist in the decathlon and until recently held the world record.

Alain Leroy Locke College Prep. Los Angeles. In the 1984 summer Olympics, Valerie Brisco-Hooks won three gold medals: 200 meters, 400 meters, and the 4 x 400-meter relay.

Overfelt High School. San Jose, California. Lee Evans won the gold medal for the 400 meters, setting the world record, in the 1968 Olympics.

Beaverton High School. Beaverton, Oregon. In the 1976 Olympics, Mac Wilkins became the world record setter and won the gold in discus.

Columbia High School. Decatur, Georgia. Sprinter Gwen Torrence is a five-time Olympic medalist.

Cleveland School of the Arts, Cleveland, Ohio. Arguably one of the best athletes of the 20th century, Jesse Owens is a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

F.L. Schlagle High School. Kansas City, Kansas. Maurice Greene is a four-time Olympic medalist, and in 1999, set the world record for the 100 meters with a time of 9.79 seconds.

Heritage Christian School. Northridge, California. Allyson Felix is a nine-time Olympic medalist who competes in distances from the 100 meters to the 400 meters.

Edgewood High School. West Covina, California. Mike Powell is the current world record holder for the long jump, and is a two-time Olympic silver medalist.

Lake Braddock Secondary School. Burke, Virginia. In 1996, Allen Johnson won a gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles. He’s also a four-time world champion.

Lemoore High School. Lemoore, California. Tommie Smith set seven world records, and in the 1968 Olympics won the gold medal for the 200 meters

Fulton High School,.Fulton, Missouri. Undefeated her entire career, Helen Stephens became a double Olympic champion in 1936.

Roseville High School. Roseville, California. At Evelyn Ashford’s last Olympics in 1992, she was 35. She was eliminated by 1/100th of a second in the 100-meter semifinal. However, she went on to win her third straight Olympic 4 x 100-meter relay.

Marshfield High School. Coos Bay, Oregon. Steve Prefontaine held every American record from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 until his untimely death in 1975 at the age of 24.

Skyline High School. Dallas. Michael Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and has set world records in both the 200 meters and 400 meters.

David Starr Jordan High School. Los Angeles. Currently holding the world record in the 100 meters and 200 meters, Florence Griffith Joyner is a five-time Olympic medalist. Also sharing this track’s history is Kevin Young, a 1992 gold medalist and current world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles.

Burt High School. Clarksville Tennessee. Wilma Rudolph overcame her childhood disabilities and physical challenges, and then some. In 1960, she became the first American woman to win three gold medals at an Olympic event.

Andrew Dolgin is a professional photographer whose clients include Lululemon, Target, New Balance, Levis, and Red Bull.