Bellevue Senior High School graduate Jami Verhoff Garman always lived her life on the run while attending high school from 1980-84. That is because Jami, a 1984 graduate of BSHS, was one of the premier cross country and track and field runners throughout her athletic career.

Jami earned a total of seven varsity letters while at BSHS, four in track and field and three in cross country.

During her freshman year in 1981, Jami earned All-Northern Ohio League honors in the 1600-meter run, the 880 run, and the 1600-meter relay for head girls track coach Earl Miller.

As a sophomore, Jami was All-NOL in cross country and was a regional cross country qualifier. Shortly thereafter, a hip ligament injury forced Jami to miss most of the 1982 track season and all of the 1982 cross country season.

Jami came back with a vengeance the following track season, earning All-NOL status in the 3200-meter relay, 400-meter dash, and 1600-meter relay, qualifying to the state track and field meet in the 1600-meter relay.

During her senior season, Jami was All-NOL in cross country and qualified to the regionals that same season. During the 1984 track and field season, Jami was Northern Ohio League champ in the 3200-meter relay and 800-meter run, and was All-NOL in the 1600-meter run and 1600-meter relay. She qualified to the state meet in the 3200-meter relay, 1600-meter relay and 800-meter run, and was part of Bellevue’s state champion 3200-meter relay team (9:22.0). At the time, that mark was the state record in Class AA.

Other honors for Jami: she was cross country captain in 1983, track captain and MVP in 1984, and she currently holds seven Bellevue Senior High School track records, including the two-mile relay in 1981, the mile run (5:38.0), 880 run (2:27), mile relay in 1981, 3200-meter relay, 800 run (2:19), and 1600-meter relay (4:01).

Jami’s relay splits are the fastest in BSHS history: two-mile relay (2:18), mile relay (59.7), and 3200-meter relay (2:13 as the state meet anchor leg runner).

Following college, Jami was the Defiance Junior High School track coach and the Defiance Senior High assistant track coach.

Jami and her family reside in Monroe, Michigan.