Cross Country and Track and Field have played a significant role in Joe Toot’s life dating back to his years as a student athlete at Nevada High School.
Joe was active in student government, cross country, basketball and track while a Nevada Cub, graduating in 1966.
As a member of the track team, Joe was on the 2-mile relay that ran 8:11.13, setting a school record that stood for 28 years.
After 2 years at Mankato State, participating in cross country and track, Joe transferred to Iowa State and received his degree in Elementary Education in 1970.
After graduating from ISU, Joe moved back to his hometown and began a rewarding teaching career that spanned 36 years.
He began working local track meets in 1970 and became a registered official in 1990. Joe has officiated both track and field and cross country from the middle school level, to high school, to D1, 2 and 3.
We have come to expect to Joe Toot to be working at any major competition in Iowa.
Although now retired from teaching, Joe is still active with Nevada athletics. He has been the football PA announcer and basketball scorer since 1972.
Joe and his wife Barb had a son Eric and a daughter Erin. He has had the good fortune of having two granddaughters grow up with a love for running. Both have been varsity team members of state champion cross country teams at Johnston High School.