Built from Vision

Founders of Cross Country Town USA

What was once reclaimed land is now one of the most respected cross country venues in the nation—a transformation driven by community vision and a commitment to excellence.

Traditions like the Shoe Tree—where athletes leave behind their racing shoes—reflect the personal milestones and shared experiences that define this course. Several individuals helped to bring this course to fruition. Learn about their stories and how their passion for running and the community built Cross Country Town USA.

LaVern Gibson

LaVern Gibson was a successful local businessman and life-long resident of Vigo County. He was devoted to his family and the betterment of his community. Among his many contributions to the area was an inspired vision that came from watching his grandson compete in cross country. Gibson endowed 240 acres of land that had previously served Terre Haute and Vigo County as, first, a coal mine and later as a sanitary landfill to become the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. The vision became a reality in the early 1990s when Gibson enlisted the help of his son, Max; his grandson, Greg, an accomplished distance runner; and two respected cross country coaches, John McNichols of Indiana State University and Bill Welch of Rose-Hulman. They all launched a plan to retool the property as a championship cross country course, dedicated in 1997. Gibson made numerous contributions to the Wabash Valley, however, his vision for the land resulted in a world-class facility, setting a new standard for the sport and establishing Cross Country Town, USA.

John McNichols

John McNichols was the Head Coach of the Indiana State Track and Field & Cross Country programs for 24 years from 1983-2016. During his career, McNichols won 38 MVC Championships, coached 15 NCAA Champions, 10 NCAA runners-up, 113 All-Americans, and 464 individual MBC Champions as well as two Olympians. He made many contributions to ISU and the Wabash Valley including the design and development of the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, the Heritage Trail and the Gibson Track & Field Complex. He, along with his wife, Linda, worked tirelessly to make Terre Haute a better place to live.

William M. Welch

William M. Welch, one of the most legendary track and field coaches in the nation, began his lifelong career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in Vigo County from 1951-1981, after graduating from Indiana State in 1950. Coach Welch was most notably recognized for his coaching of track and field and cross county. He was named the 1968 Indiana Track Coach of the Year at Gerstmeyer. In 1970, he was National High School Track Coach of the Year as well as Special Coach for the U.S. Olympic Training Camp. He led the Terre Haute North Patriots to the 1972 Cross Country State Championship, marking the first IHSAA Championship in any sport for Terre Haute. In 1968, he was the National Track Coach of Iran. He coached four individual track All-Americans at Rose-Hulman and 22 Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference Track Champions. Co-founder of the Indiana Track & Field & Cross Country Hall of Fame Museum, his vision and expertise helped lead to co-founding the Course.

The Legacy of the Shoe Tree

Standing near the start line of LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course, the Shoe Tree has become more than a landmark—it’s a living testament to the spirit of cross country. What began years ago as a simple tradition of tossing a single pair of shoes has grown into a forest of 40-foot-tall sycamores adorned with thousands of sneakers, each one telling a story.

Runners write their names, dates, or messages on their shoes before leaving them behind, marking the end of a season, the completion of a personal milestone, or simply celebrating the sport they love. Every shoe represents sweat, perseverance, and memories forged on the trails of the Course.

For coaches, athletes, and families, a stroll past the Shoe Tree before a meet is a quiet, almost reverent ritual—a moment to reflect on the dedication it takes to compete and the camaraderie that defines cross country. For the Course and the community, it’s a quirky, unforgettable hallmark that captures the heart of Cross Country Town, USA.

The Shoe Tree isn’t just decoration—it’s a reminder that every runner leaves a mark, on the course and in the spirit of the sport.