As the running boom of the 1970’s took hold in the United States, the Youngstown, Ohio area soon found itself in need of a running specialty store to meet the needs of area runners. Don Whitman opened The Jock Stop in 1977 on Market Street in Boardman to fill that void. Soon Area runners were at the store seeking the newest running shoes and clothes that manufactures had to offer and find entry forms for the local road races that were beginning to become popular around the area. With a loyal customer base growing every month, Don decided to do more to promote his new store and the races and runners in the community.

In 1979, Don with the assistance of Dan Durkin and George Kesner, assembled sixteen of the area’s top local runners to form Team Jock Stop, the first store sponsored race team in the Youngstown/Warren area. The members of Team Jock Stop entered as a team and as individuals in local races and competed with great success. Photographers captured the victorious moments of team members and Don proudly displayed the pictures throughout the store. As the years went by, the team lineup changed, adding new members with great enthusiasm. Some team members grew more ambitious and entered races all over Ohio and even across the United States wearing Team Jock Stop colors in such races as the New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon, and Bay to Breakers in San Francisco.

In 1987, Don turned the race team responsibilities over to Mike Klem, the store manager and former collegiate runner. Under Mike, the success of the race team continued and one of the team members, Bob Rozeski, was elected president of the Youngstown Road Runners Club.

In 1988, Phil Pillin took over as race team coordinator and was fortunate to pick up a major shoe company as a sponsor. In 1989, team members included several members of the original 1979 crew such as Bob Rozeski, Guy Pizzoferrato, and Ohio Masters champion, Jim Fox: along with other dedicated runners who strive to place well overall or in their respective age groups.

With the partnership of a shoe sponsor, Team Jock Stop continued to offer its members more for their team dues allowing them to compete and train in some of the best equipment available. New member were added, ranging from runners just out of college to those in their sixties. All that is needed is the desire to train and race in Team Jock Stop colors to the best of their ability. In the early 1990’s, Team Jock Stop runners began to enjoy dining at The Ground Round at a discount as they became a sponsor of the team. In 1992, The Jock Stop store, along with Team Jock Stop began the Memorial Mile, a road mile with prize money held on Memorial Day each year in Boardman, Ohio. In 1995, race team coordinator, Phil Pillin who used to run for PUMA Midwest in the mid 1980’s, went to the Chicago Sporting Goods Show and renewed a friendship with the local PUMA sales representative. In 1996, PUMA/Team Jock Stop was the new name of the team. Current team members are enjoying the resurgence of PUMA as a major player once again in the running shoe market. In 1997, PUMA/Team Jock Stop became a member club of the Lake Erie Association of USATF to promote open and masters track, cross country, and road racing in the Youngstown area and Northeast Ohio. Today, for their low yearly team dues, PUMA/Team Jock Stop members enjoy discounts from the Jock Stop, PUMA, and free entry into the Memorial Mile.