Owens ran track in the spring in addition to spring football drills. He tied a 41-year-old school record for the 100 yard dash at 9.6. Fellow teammate Harry Blake was one step ahead. He also holds the 440-yard relay and 880-yard relay records at WVU with his running partners, including fellow football teammates Harry Blake and Danny Buggs. That year, he also became the co-holder of WVU's record in the 100-yard dash at 9.5, a record he shared with former teammate Harry Blake. He was a three-time winner of the prestigious Penn Relays.