PICTURES

Steve McConkey is the President of 4 WINDS, a worldwide sports ministry, mostly in track and field (4WindsUSA.com). Starting in 1981, he has worked through ten Olympics. From 1982 to 1992, Steve was a USA National Track and Field Club Coach. After 1992, 4 WINDS works with athletes on all teams. Steve graduated with honors from Western Kentucky University (Master of Public Health), Minnesota State University (BS-Community Health), and Webster High School (WI). Ministry headquarters have been in Eugene (Oregon), Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas), Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minnesota), and Madison (Wisconsin). In recent years, Steve has had over 300 worldwide radio, article, and TV interviews.

At Dunlap Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1961 in kindergarten. Steve is near the wall. Picture from the Des Moines Register.

In 1967 and 1968, Steve attended Dunlap Elementary in Des Moines. He went on field trips to the Drake Relays when the track was cinder. Now the track is modern. That is where Steve’s interest in world-class track and field started. After 1968, his family moved to NW Wisconsin.

Picture of UWS, MSU, and WKU. Steve ran at Webster High School (71-73), the University of Wisconsin-Superior (75-76), and finished at powerhouse Minnesota State University (77-78). In 1977, MSU was third at the NCAA Division 2 Cross Country Championships. Steve did his Master of Public Health at Western Kentucky University. He graduated with honors at all schools. At WKU, Steve was a grad assistant coach in cross country and track. The cross country team won the Ohio Valley Conference with a perfect fifteen points and was sixth at the 1980 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships.

1973 Upper St. Croix Valley All-Conference team. Steve is third from the left and ran for Webster (WI) High School. He was third in the conference that is now disbanded. At that time, it was a strong conference.

Steve attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior before transferring to Minnesota State University in Mankato. He competed in cross country and track.

From 1971 through 2016, Steve ran 65,865 miles for 45 years. That is 4.01 miles per day. Overall, he has ran over 70,000 miles. At Minnesota State University in the 70s and the University of Wisconsin a few years ago. They lived fifteen years near the UW football stadium.

In 1979 at the Minnesota State University track, Steve ran 43 laps in an hour, which is 10 miles, 1320 yards.

In 1980, Steve ran 10 miles, 1320 yards on a small 176 yard indoor track at Minnesota State University in Mankato. That is 107.5 laps.

Steve was a grad assistant coach at Western Kentucky University while getting his Master of Public Health. The 1980 cross country team won the Ohio Valley Conference with a perfect fifteen points. Eventually, the team finished sixth at the NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships. Steve is second from the left in the back row.

1980 Ohio Valley Cross Country Conference Championships. Western Kentucky finished first with a perfect fifteen points as the top five tied for first.

This picture was in the fall of 1981 in Mankato, Minnesota. Someone took this simple black and white Polaroid that was an immediate photo back then. Steve and Liz, with son, just started working in world-class track and field ministries and were visiting family. The red VW was their first car. Steve had a blue one in high school.

At the 1984 Olympics, Steve and Liz are in the third row on the left. The athletes won 10 golds, 1 silver.

Steve at a USA Track and Field Championships chapel that they used to help with. He is kneeling and third from the left.

1988 Olympic Trials pass. From 1982 through 1992, Steve was a USA National Track and Field Club Coach for Athletes in Action (82-83), Lay Witnesses for Christ (83-88), and 4 Winds Christian Athletics (88-92). Athletes were ranked ninety-three times.

In 1991, Steve was at the USA Track and Field Championships in New York City. This was on top of the World Trade Center. Pray for the families affected by 9/11.

Steve and daughter at the 1992 Olympic Trials.

Last Olympic Trials as a USA National Track and Field Coach in 1992. 4 WINDS began working with athletes on all teams.

With 10,000 Olympic bronze medalist Brendan Foster and 1500 Olympic silver medalist Steve Cram. They are now coaches in Great Britain.

With Erv Hunt, long-time University of California coach and 1996 Olympic Track and Field Coach.

With Jamaica sprinter Herb McKenley (Olympics 1 gold, 3 silver) and former Jamaican coach.

Sharing with athletes at the July 4 Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics.

Liz worked in the media at the 2004 Olympic Trials. She has worked at many USA Olympic Trials and USA Track and Field Championships.

At the 2012 Olympic Trials. Later, the USA had great performances at the Olympics in London.

2012 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon at historic Hayward Field. Recently, this stadium was totally remodeled.

Liz at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

During the 2022 USA Track and Field Championships, Steve was able to minister to America’s best athletes and coaches.

Steve and Liz have been married since August 1981. They have three children and many grandchildren.

Steve and Liz’s three kids played on top 10 Wisconsin high school basketball teams, with two playing at universities. Steve and Liz, plus their three kids, have earned eight university degrees altogether.

In recent years, Steve has had over 300 worldwide radio, article, and TV interviews.