My seat for the 2019 NCAA Division II indoor national track and field championship was nontraditional: a hospital room at Cleveland Clinic.

As the track and field head coach at Ashland University, I’m not used to sitting back and watching. But I turned my competitive spirit in another direction: beating B-cell ALL 1. I knew that with the help of Dr. Carraway 2 and her team, I could conquer this opponent. As I told the doctors at the time: “I’m not looking for easy. I’m only looking for possible.” 

At the suggestion of my doctors, I participated in a nationwide clinical trial testing the efficacy of targeted chemotherapy for ALL. It was intense, with inpatient stays of up to a month. Dr. Carraway called it “marathon chemotherapy.” 

One of my inpatient sessions coincided with the indoor championship meet in Kansas — which I watched from my room on an iPad. Though I wasn’t there to lead my team in person, they made me proud, winning by a point. It was out first national win. Before they left, I told them, “If you want to honor me, do what you’re capable of.” And they did. So did I, and so did my team at Cleveland Clinic. I haven’t missed a practice since I left the hospital. 

 

Jud Logan is a four-time Olympian who competed in the hammer throw. His cancer is in remission. 

Jud Logan Coaching Outside

Photo: Courtesy of Jud Logan

Notes

  1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
  2. Hetty Carraway, MD, is Director of the leukemia program at Taussig Cancer Institute.

Jud Logan watched his track and field team win their first national championship — from his hospital room.