John Niemeyer

John Niemeyer was raised on a farm near Waverly, Iowa. He began his love of track and field when the famous Waverly football and track coach, Mart Brandis, asked him to join the Waverly track team in 1956. His areas of expertise became the hurdles, relays and long jumping. His success at Waverly led to a track scholarship at Wartburg College where he was a captain of the track team for all 4 years. John continued his involvement with track and field when he began his teaching and coaching career in 1962. After a brief stay in Ocheyedon, John moved to the Des Moines area and began coaching and officiating at Ankeny. John officiated over 25 meets in the area through 1983 when he moved his family to the St. Louis, MO area. His officiating career expanded in 1977 when Gary Osborn, longtime Drake track coach, asked him to become a clerk for the Drake Relays. He was selected a few years later to be the head clerk for the boys’ state meet and continues to clerk both meets today. Moving to the St. Louis region has not stopped him from continuing his officiating of Iowa’s track and field events at all levels including Jr. Olympics, Big 12, Drake Relays and the new Coed Boys/Girls State Track and Field meets. His greatest moment in track and field came his senior year in college when he challenged the famed C.K. Yang, the great decathlete from UCLA, in the 120 high hurdles and ran a personal best of 14.6 on the crushed brick track at the Drake Relays. John will continue to serve the youth of Iowa through his officiating and build on the many memories in track and field.