Ryan Eichner

Cross Country and Track & Field - Class of 1971

"Ryan Eichner was one of the first great distance runners at Shawnee Mission South. As a sophomore, he was a state placer in Cross Country (6th) and in Track and Field (3rd in the 2-mile; 5th in the mile). However, Ryan really came into his own as a Junior. He was undefeated the entire cross-country season, winning the State Championship with the then 3rd fastest time in state history. He continued to excel in track and field as a Junior, where he won the State indoor mile, the outdoor state 2-mile, and finished 2nd in the outdoor mile. As a Senior, Ryan won his second consecutive State Cross Country Championship – winning by an unheard of 15 seconds. Unfortunately, as a Senior in track and field, he missed most of the season due to a lower leg stress fracture. He recovered in enough time to compete in the postseason, where he won the Sunflower League in the mile and took 3rd at State in the mile. In addition to his athletic exploits, Ryan ranked 25th out of a graduating class of 789 and was a member of National Honor Society. Heavily recruited to run in college, Ryan chose to attend Iowa State University to continue running cross country and track and field. He was the captain of the cross country team at ISU for 3 years and was the captain of the track and field team for 2 years. A testament to the quality of athlete and leader Ryan is, Iowa State had finished last in the Big 8 cross country championships for 12 straight years but won the championship in 1974. As a result, Ryan was recognized as an "Outstanding College Athlete of America" in 1974 and 1975. From college, Ryan joined the US Navy where he retired as a Captain in 2003 – earning many awards – 2 Navy Commendations and 3 Meritorious Service medals. The Ryan Eichner resume epitomizes the greatness of the athletes that have walked the halls of Shawnee Mission South. So, it is only fitting that Ryan assumes his rightful place in the Raider Athletic Hall of Fame – welcome home, Ryan."