Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
In 1978 Coach Freeman Marr was looking for versatile women athletes to institute Southwestern’s first women’s track and field program. Lisa Gilchrist had participated in a strong high school program and she was looking for an opportunity to compete at Southwestern. Not only did Lisa compete, she was a record-setting runner and leader of the team.
The 1978 season was spent organizing the program, but Coach Marr saw promise in several newcomers to the team. In a preseason article in The Sou’wester about the upcoming 1979 season, Coach Marr said, “Lisa Gilchrist is a versatile performer who is going to run everything from the 440 relay through the mile relay.” Well, Lisa ended up running everything from the 100 yard dash to the two mile run. In one dual meet to maximize team scoring, Lisa ran the 440 relay, 440 and the two mile run, then she came right back and ran a leg on the mile relay team.
The first College Athletic Conference Championship meet was held at Centre. The Lynx were 2-1 in dual meets in the 1979 season, so optimism was high as the team traveled to Danville, Kentucky. Lisa won the 440 in a very hard fought race, and she was on the winning 440 and mile relay teams. Southwestern won the inaugural College Athletic Conference Track and Field Championship. Team members included Carol McCown, Molly McLemore, Andrea Gilliom, Murphee Watson, Claire Ringer, Cissy Sights, Cathy Goetz, Margaret Bane, Lisa Gilchrist and Margaret Couch. Marshall Reed was the team manager and Freeman Marr served as the Lynx first head women’s track and field coach.
An Anthropology/Sociology major who graduated in three years, Lisa was inspired by Professor Fred Neal, who taught the Man course, and by Sociology Professor Jack Conrad. She served as an officer in the Kappa Delta sorority, and cites her participation in the Kinney Program as the pathway to her career in social work.
Lisa Mischke and her teammates blazed the trail for future Rhodes students to have a great track and field experience. For her success and contributions to her alma mater, and her love and devotion to her teammates and coaches, Rhodes is honored to induct Lisa Gilchrist Mischke into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 23rd day of October, 2009.
