All-American Jeff Maples ’89

By Cornell Report Staff

All-American in men’s cross country

  • Jeff Maples '89 today in running gear standing outdoors in front of a blooming bushB.A., history, economics and business
  • Manufacturers’ representative in the plumbing industry, Phoenix, Arizona 
  • Received awards from manufacturers for largest percentage growth and Rep of the Year
  • Participates in USA Track & Field (USATF); on 4×800 team that won nationals; set Arizona state record at age 30; on 4×800 state recording-setting team in the 50-year-old bracket
  • Married to Lannie Maples; four children

How did your athletic experience impact your life after Cornell?

All-American Jeff Maples '89 standing in front of a tree in his uniform as a Cornell College student-athlete.
All-American Jeff Maples ’89 as a Cornell College student-athlete.

Being a student-athlete gave me focus. I had to balance my class time, studying, workouts, and meets. I think it’s the competitive drive from sports that has helped me. 

I still run and participate in USATF to this day. Running has kept me healthy, maintained a competitive mind frame, and I have developed many friendships. Plus, running has given me the energy to keep up with my kids!

What’s a lesson you learned from a coach, teammate or faculty mentor?

I was so very fortunate to have Ocie Trimble as my track and cross country coach. He was a brilliant race tactician, runner himself, and a salesman. He was in pharmaceutical sales before becoming the men’s and women’s track and cross country coach in the ’80s and ’90s. He also taught at Kirkwood Community College while coaching. He’d always be the last one to leave after our workouts, team meetings, and conversations after our workouts. I truly believe my time around him shaped me for what I am doing today. He said he’d always write down something about the person he’d met when selling and this helped him on his next call on them to develop a relationship. This always seemed to not only get him in the door to meet with the doctor but would end up in a sale. 

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