Fach Remains Only NCAC Harrier to Win Three Individual Championships

Although he may not have known it at the time, Todd Fach made history that no one else has been able to match since, when he won three of the first four individual titles at the North Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships from 1984-1987.

“He really set the tone for the NCAC in distance running,” said Fach’s assistant coach part of that time and current College of Wooster head coach Dennis Rice. “He was the first real true impact runner the conference had. Now, the conference has developed over the years in its existence, but he was the one that raised the bar.”

Fach came to Wooster from nearby North Canton Hoover High School, emerging as one of the very first NCAC champions, as during the fall of 1984, he was victorious at the conference’s inaugural cross country meet with a time of 27:26 over the 8000-meter course, 10 seconds ahead of teammate and runner-up Paul Fleming. Fach also went on to take 15th-place at the NCAA Div. III Great Lakes Regional Championships as a freshman. 

His times slipped slightly during his sophomore season, when he finished 12th in the NCAC and 25th at the regionals, but he was again atop the conference’s victory stand as a junior. In addition to winning the NCAC’s with a time of 25:46, Fach finished fourth in the Great Lakes Region, qualifying him for a spot in the national field. At the NCAA Div. III Championships in Fredonia, N.Y., where snow and ice covered the course, he placed 54th out of a field of 200-plus.

Fach’s senior year played out similarly, in terms of his individual accomplishments as he won the NCAC Championships (26:48) for a third time, placed fourth at the NCAA regional again, and was 102nd at nationals. However, it was the team accomplishment of winning the 1987 NCAC title that he cherishes the most.

“I came to Wooster as an annoying, cocky freshman and quickly learned from teammates, captains, and coach Jim Bean that teamwork was essential to succeed in running,” explained Fach. “I learned that in order to get the most out of my abilities, I needed my teammates to push me out of my comfort level.    I am proud of our team’s accomplishments.”

While cross country was the sport, in which he particularly made his mark, Fach also excelled with the track & field team. His specialty was the 3000-meter steeplechase, winning it twice at NCAC Championships and re-setting his own school record each time he ran it with a personal best of 9:34.66. Fach also won the three-mile run (14:56.1) at the 1988 NCAC indoor meet, helping Wooster to the team championship, as well as the 5000 meters (15:31.1) and 10,000 meters (31:33.4) at the 1988 NCAC outdoor meet for a total of five individual conference titles.

Fach, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and is now a sales performance consultant at Dun & Bradstreet, still runs competitively today, having raced at a regional and national level while winning several well-known events from 1996-2001. He’s also finished several marathons and set personal records at all distances, and his competitive spirit has now bled onto the golf course.

Personally, Fach and his wife, Kristie, are expecting their first child in early December, and they reside in Macungie, Pa.