In the fall of 2018, John Brown University announced that after a three-decade hiatus, the track and field programs would be revived, and quickly began looking for a new place to call home. That home, just a half-mile away, became Glenn W. Black Stadium, a Siloam Springs fixture for nearly 50 years.
Initially constructed in 1974, the stadium and track was named after Glenn W. Black, longtime head Siloam Springs football coach and former Panther track and field star. Setting the state long jump record of 22'9" back in 1931, Black's mark still stands to this day. He would go on to serve the school district as superintendent. The Panthers called the stadium home to its football, soccer and track and field teams until moving to Panther Stadium in 2015.
John Brown University has a strong track and field history, including multiple national champion-caliber student-athletes. Highlighted by Roger Vann's back-to-back NAIA All-America honors in the marathon in 1975 and 1976, the latter of which he earned the national title, the Golden Eagles offered men's track and field over a period of three decades, from the 1960's through the 1980's. The women's track and field program was active from the mid 1970's through the early 1980's.
JBU stalwarts such as Jim Pearson, Cliff Crowder, Leo Setian, Don Cleek and Ed Renfrow have all manned the helm of the track and field program in prior decades. But in 2018, the Golden Eagles turned to then-current head cross country coach Scott Schochlerto revive the program.
While the grass track around Alumni Field was once the home of JBU track and field, John Brown University partnered with the Siloam Springs School District to renovate Glenn W. Black Stadium, which provided shared use of the track and field. Located adjacent to the Siloam Springs Middle School, JBU took the lead on renovation costs, posting up to $400,000. The first wave of renovations rebuilt the track sub-surface and installed a higher-quality running surface. The interior ends of the track were made more functional for field events and a steeple chase pit area was installed on the south end of the track. The stadium itself was also upgraded, including the removal of the west stands and renovating of the pressbox, grandstands and public restrooms.
