Tony Adams, a 1980 Elgin High graduate, is the city's all-time leading high school track and field medalist, with four medals. He won individual state Class AA 440 yard titles in 1978 and 1979, was fourth in the 440 in 1980, and finished sixth in the 220 yard dash in 1979. Adams also played football at Elgin and earned one basketball letter. Tony went to Southern Illinois University, where he ran track and also played football. In 1983, he contributed key plays in both the semifinal and the championship games as the Salukis went on to win the NCAA Division 1-AA national football title. A sprint specialist at SIU, Adams was the first freshman in Missouri Valley Conference history to win the 400 meter championship. In 1984 he ran on the1600 meter relay team that set the indoor world record and the outdoor NCAA record by being the first team to run 3 minutes flat. This relay team became only the second team ever to complete the triple crown by winning the Texas Relay, Kansas Relay, and Drake Relay, all in record times.