STEVE MCCONKEY | INFO – 4 WINDS USA

Steve McConkey is the President of 4 WINDS USA, a worldwide sports ministry, mostly in track and field (4WindsUSA.com). Starting in 1981, he has worked through eleven Olympic cycles. Steve shares the gospel, encourages Christians, stands up for Olympic athletes, and gives training advice. He was a successful USA National Track & Field Club Coach from 1982 through 1992, with athletes ranking ninety-three times. Steve graduated with honors from Western Kentucky University (Master of Public Health), Minnesota State University (BS-Community Health), and Webster High School (WI). Ministry centers have been in Eugene (OR), Dallas-Fort Worth (TX), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN), and Madison (WI). Steve was born in Des Moines (IA) and moved to NW Wisconsin after the sixth grade. In recent years, he has had over 400 worldwide radio, article, and TV interviews. Steve is a specialist in Christian apologetics.

PICTURES (LOOK AT THE COLLAGES AT THE BOTTOM TO SEE THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES REACHED)

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.

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.

From 1971 through 2019, Steve ran 70,256 miles for 48 years. That is 4.01 miles per day. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior before transferring to Minnesota State University, Mankato. Steve competed in cross country and track. In 1977, MSU finished third at the NCAA D2 Cross Country Championships. Picture at Minnesota State University, Mankato and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The ministry center has been in Madison since 2006.

Graduation picture from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1980. Liz took the picture. Steve earned a BS-Community Health with honors.

Steve was a grad assistant coach at Western Kentucky University while getting his Master of Public Health with honors. 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.

Pass from the 1992 USA Olympic Track and Field Trials in New Orleans. From 1982 through 1992, Steve was a successful 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). Team centers were in Eugene (OR), Dallas-Fort Worth (TX), and Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN). Athletes were ranked ninety-three times. After 1992, 4 WINDS USA dropped the team to work with athletes on all teams.