On May 9 at 10 a.m., a new plaque will be unveiled at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor to honor the incredible achievements of Jesse Owens. The plaque, dedicated by the International Athletics Foundation, seeks to preserve and honor significant moments in track and field history. This event takes place one day before the 2024 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which took place on May 25, 1935, when Owens broke four world records at Ohio State University.
Despite battling injuries, Owens managed to break or match world records in the 100-yard dash, long jump, 220-yard dash, and low hurdles at the conference championships. A year later, he won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in attendance.
The original plaque honoring Owens was dedicated in 1985 and stood at the southeast corner of Ferry Field. The new World Athletics Heritage Plaque now takes its place on this historic site, continuing to recognize and celebrate Owens’ achievements that have had a lasting impact on sports and civil rights history. Members of Owens’ family are expected to be in attendance for this special occasion.