As the Mason Dixon Conference celebrates its 71st running of the Outdoor Track & Field Championships this spring, it takes pride in its long list of accomplishments. Providing opportunities for student-athletes to excel in competition, both athletically and academically, has always been its mission. Since Waldo Hamilton of Johns Hopkins University and Dorsey Griffith of Catholic University of America came up with the idea of forming a Track & Field only conference in 1936, the league has seen a steady flow of well deserving men and women compete amongst the nations best in Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field and Outdoor Track & Filed. The conference was initially established with nine small colleges in the Maryland - Washington DC – Virginia area, and at times has had as many as eighteen schools competing at once. The original schools included Washington College, University of Delaware, Johns Hopkins University, Randolph-Macon College, Catholic University, Gallaudet University, Western Maryland College, American University and Baltimore University. Of those schools, Catholic University and Gallaudet University still are strong and active supporters of the Mason Dixon.