Randi Lydum inducted into
Western Oregon Hall of Fame

Randi Lydum, director of retention and the first year experience at Defiance College, will be inducted into the Western Oregon University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 7.

Randi holds the university’s record in the women’s 3,000 (9:52.98) and 5,000 (17:27.24) meters, both of which were set during the 1989 season. She also holds second all-time at WOU in the 1,500 meters (4:36.04).

Randi earned NAIA All-American honors in her sophomore, junior and senior years, and she placed in the top six at nationals three times in the 3,000 meters and once in the 1,500. She led her cross country teams to back-to-back NAIA District 2 runner-up finishes in 1988 and 1989. She won the individual District 2 title in 1989 and was fourth in 1988.

Randi placed ninth at the 1988 NAIA national cross country championships, earning All-American honors. This is still Western Oregon’s highest finish at a national meet for men or women. She also earned All-American honors in 1989 with a 14th place showing.

The class of 2007 is the fourth Wolves class of inductees to be honored and includes eight former athletes, two teams, and an individual honored for meritorious service. With this year’s class, 32 former Western Oregon athletes will now be Hall of Fame members along with six coaches, eight teams and five meritorious service honorees. The Hall of Fame banquet and festivities will be part of WOU’s Hall of Fame football weekend.

Randi holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon and a master’s degree from Western Oregon/Oregon State University. She was previously a teaching assistant and faculty development specialist at the University of Arizona. She served as head women’s track and field coach and head men’s and women’s cross country coach at San Francisco State University while also taking on responsibilities as assistant athletic director, compliance and senior women’s administrator.

She and her husband, Matt, came to Defiance College in 2004.