Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1995
- Class:
- 1983
Julie Isphording represented Xavier in numerous road races while an undergraduate and was a member of the United States' first-ever Women's Olympic Marathon Team.
Isphording has had many highlights during her illustrious running career. In 1982, she finished fifth in the New York City Marathon. In 1986, she was the first American woman finisher in the Boston Marathon. She won the Columbus Marathon in both 1988 and 1989 and recorded a new course record in the process. Her time of 2:30.54 is still a personal best. Isphording also won the Los Angeles Marathon in record time and had the honor of representing the United States in Osaka, Japan in 1983. In many of those prestigious races she wore some sort of Xavier apparel to represent her alma mater.
Arguably, the top of her list is her selection to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team as a member of the first-ever Women's Marathon Team. She made the squad by finishing third in the Olympic Trails in Olympia, Washington. Only three women qualify for the U.S. team.
An interesting tidbit to this "dream come true" for Isphording is that she passed up graduation to participate in the tryouts. Success on the course positively correlated with her success in the classroom. Isphording received her degree in accounting and would have been recognized as graduating magna cum laude.
At Xavier, she ran with the men's cross country team as a women's program had not yet been established.
Isphording, now a legal advisor at Turfway Park, has many interests outside of running. She is on the Boys Hope Board of Directors, a charity organization supporting homeless boys, a member of the Boards of Directors for the Ohio Sports Festival and the Joy Outdoor Education Center, a venture out program for adults and children.
In addition, Isphording does a great deal of volunteer work. She has given her services to such organizations as the YMCA, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Special Olympics and the American Heart Foundation.
