Best time to go to Texas

On this day in 1925, Longhorn track coach Clyde Littlefield inaugurated the Texas Relays at the Texas Memorial Stadium, drawing to Austin some of the best college track athletes and even three Olympians. The stadium, now known as Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, has been home to the University of Texas football and track teams since 1924. In that year, Henry Jacob Lutcher Stark, chairman of the UT Board of Regents, and L. Theo Bellmont, athletic director, led a fundraising drive to erect the stadium on the eastern edge of campus. An estimated 10,000 students, alumni, and friends of the university contributed to building the 27,000-seat facility, which architect Herbert M. Greene of Dallas designed. The stadium was dedicated to Texans who had served in World War I. The stadium has been renovated and expanded several times over the years.

Texas Relays in Austin since 1925

3/27/1925: Clyde Littlefield and Theo Bellmont inaugurated the Texas Relays at Memorial Stadium. On this day in 1925, Austin hosted some of the best college track athletes, and even three Olympians. The stadium, now known as Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, has been home to the University of Texas football and track teams since 1924. In that year, Henry Jacob Lutcher Stark, chairman of the UT Board of Regents, and L. Theo Bellmont, athletic director, led a fundraising drive to erect the stadium on the eastern edge of campus. An estimated 10,000 students, alumni, and friends of the university contributed to building the 27,000-seat facility, which Herbert M. Greene of Dallas designed. The stadium was dedicated to Texans who had served in World War I. The stadium has been renovated and expanded several times over the years.

This historical competition is among the most popular track-and-field events in the U.S.

Texas Relays is the second biggest track and field event in America after Penn Relays featuring about 900 teams and over 7,000 athletes every year. The event is held every March or April at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. For many years, the event has been organized by The University of Texas. The competition features elite college athletes, potential Olympians and best high school talents from all over the state. The competition is watched by over 50,000 spectators.

Women started competing in the Texas Relays in 1969. In 1999, the Relays moved to Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Relays generate 8 million dollars for Austin businesses and communities. The competition consists of The University and College Divisions, which are open to schools that qualify. The High School Division is open to schools in the University Interscholastic League classes A, AA, AAA, and AAAA.

Below is part of a Bill Little commentary that takes “dead aim.”

03.25.2014 | Bill Little Commentary

Bill Little commentary: Chasing the dream, racing the wind

What would they think, those legends and legions of men and women who race the wind?

Bill Little, Texas Media Relations

Bill Little, a longtime sports publicist at The University of Texas, first covered the Texas Relays as a student journalist for The Daily Texan in 1962. He has attended almost every meet since.

What would they think, those legends and legions of men and women who race the wind?

Here we are, in a sparkling facility with a state-of-the-art competitive arena, in the midst of new era in track and field in Texas. Across the street, continued upgrades are envisioned to a 90- year-old venue that has seen history and its moments. Gone forever is the track where super stars past and present ran.

But as one who knew Clyde Littlefield, Jack Patterson, and Cleburne Price, I believe I can speak to what they would think.

They would be bursting with pride because, once again, Texas has created the best.

Memories, hanging like portraits on the chambers of the mind, will always be there…………

The list of honorary referees included University greats and almost every Texas governor, from Dan Moody in 1929 to Price Daniel in 1958.

The huge shadow of Clyde Littlefield, perhaps the greatest athlete in Texas history, was cast on this meet in the 41 years he served as Texas Track and Field coach. Gentleman Jack Patterson brought a quiet class to the Relays.

The late Cleburne Price took the meet into the modern era. He made the weekend a happening with a Texas Relays Art Show and other events built around a track meet, which grew to mammoth proportions with over 3,000 athletes.

The list of great performers and their performances reflect a legacy that is forever cast in those photographs in our minds.

But the Texas Relays have been about more than just a computer-generated result with a picture to determine the finish. They have been about people.

It has been about Longhorn legends such as the late Rooster Andrews, who first worked the Relays as a student in 1941 and served until the first decade of the 21st century, and all of the officials and administrators who have donated their time.

The Relays have been about times—not only the times on the scoreboard but also the times in which we lived.

Women first participated in the meet in 1963. In the early 1960s, when integration was progressing slowly in the state’s major colleges, the flying feet of the Texas Southern Tigers dominated the meet. One of my earliest memories of almost 40 years of covering the Relays was Ray “Jackrabbit” Saddler, who was a superb quarter miler for TSU……..

The 70s brought a strong influence, particularly in the distance races, of foreign athletes.  The University of Texas at El Paso was particularly powerful.

Price, in an effort to put more “pomp and circumstance” in the meet, set a time for a march of the officials. It was followed by a solemn playing of the Star Spangled Banner.  …….

Thousands cheered in 1977 as a Longhorns freshman, Johnny “Lam” Jones posted a world record time in winning the 100-meter dash. The world of track had made the transition from yards to meters, and the old track in the stadium, which had gone from cinder to artificial surface in 1969, was squeezed together and converted to the longer distance of 400 meters, rather than 440 yards.

The Relays have showcased teamwork in a sport known for individual excellence. The baton races, the heart of the meet, have thrilled people year after year. Progress has brought not only superior performances by male athletes, but also the women’s and high school competition to an all-time high level. Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross is a perfect example of the level of female excellence.

While there have been world record performances in the field events, this is, and always will be, a meet that is about running.  Field events bring outstanding performances. Running events, particularly if Texas is winning, bring the crowds……..

Some men dream and some men do, and Mike Myers is a doer. His generosity, and his commitment to UT Athletics are reflected in a gift that will live for all time. And it is not coincidental that this excellent facility is part of the legacy of former UT Men’s Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds, who brought great Kansas State track teams to Austin and the Relays. He would never forget his roots when it came to building the best for that sport…..

The Texas Relays weekend has evolved into a multi-cultural event in Austin, and its power as a statement for diversity has brought a whole new impact on Austin and the rites of spring. Reunions, parties, and gatherings help celebrate events that draw as many folks to the city as the track and field carnival itself.

Part of Bill Little’s article celebrating the history of the Texas Relays

So when the question is asked, who are the ten best athletes in Longhorn Sports’ history? Why is no individual who specializes in track not listed? I don’t have the answer, but I can make an educated guess, and that guess is not flattering to the Longhorn Nation.

The track is rooted deeply in my past and is still my favorite sport because of the lessons I learned while participating. Track forces individuals to confront personal character flaws, demons, personal weaknesses, and insecurities. Jesse Owens Says about mental toughness “The Battles That Count Aren’t the Ones For Gold Medals. The Struggles Within Yourself – The Invisible, Inevitable Battles Inside All Of Us – That’s Where It Is At.” Patti Sue Plumer agrees, saying, “Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.”

I have experienced the invisible struggles that have exposed my flaws, challenged my soul, and uncovered my insecurities. In my senior year in high school, I set my personal best time in the 100 but finished Last in my heat. As a 17-year-old boy, I was surprised when I was happy finishing last, but this epiphany helped me re-calibrate my definition of success for my life journey. It is ok to celebrate finishing last if it is your personal best.

https://starkcenter.org/2025/04/the-texas-relays-hits-a-century-of-meets/   

The Texas Relays Hits A Century of Meets

 The first Texas Relays is March 27, 1925.

3/27/1925: Littlefield inaugurates Texas Relays at Memorial Stadium

 Clyde was part of Longhorn sports as a student-athlete and football and track coach from 1912- 1961. Clyde is in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Longhorn Hall of Honor and twice was named SWC Coach of the Year. As an athlete, Coach Littlefield earned 12 letters in football, basketball, and track. He was All SWC in football twice and played on three unbeaten basketball teams, but track was his truest love. He never ran on a losing track team, and he Lost only one hurdles race in his career and tied a world record in the high hurdles.

Littlefield with Theo Bellmont analyzed the state of track in the 1920s and saw an opening for another track meet. All the major midwest track tournaments were further North, and the athletes had to train indoors until April. Littlefield thought “WHY NOT INVITE TOP ATHLETES, down to Austin ahead of the relay tournaments up North and give them a touch of warm sunshine early in their training season. The timing was right because the new Texas football stadium opened in 1924.

 Theo Bellmont- a consummate promoter- by the sheer power of his will makes the first Texas relay a massive success with 391 athletes and 4000 fans. The Austin American said it is the “greatest athletic event ever held in the Southwest.” Three members of the 1924 United States Olympic team participated in the Texas Relays.

Competition in the “College” level was added in 1926.

Jim Reese from Texas wins the mile. This portends great things in the future for Jim.

 College division of track and field was added in 1926. First victories in the college division were from Longhorn J.J. Landa in the 100, Rugus Haggard in the high jump, and Sandi Esquivel in the 2-mile run.

1927

Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa State, and Missouri attended the relays. Texas won very few medals. The relays had four classifications: university, college, jr. college, and high school. There was also some competition for well-known athletes for superior exhibition performance.

But these teams were overshadowed at the Texas relays by “The University of Mexico and the men Tarahumara Indians, who ran from San Antonio to the Texas stadium (89 Miles). Shortly before 3:00 A.M., three men worked their way from San Antonio to Austin without the help of an interstate road. At 6:12 P.M., the women entered Memoria stadium- 14 hours and 53 minutes after leaving San Antonio. It was the longest race ever time.

The women Tarahumara Indians followed the men. At a time in America, when it was believed that women’s “delicate” bodies could not withstand the stresses of athletic endeavors, The Tarahumara women proved otherwise. A 14-year-old mother ran 28 and 5/8 miles to Georgetown and back to Memorial Stadium in 4 hours and 49 minutes.

10,000 spectators celebrated the accomplishments of these young men and women. For the only time in Texas Relay history, college and Olympian track athletes honored and celebrated another culture’s sports accomplishment. It was literally, Cross Country distance running at its finest.

1927

In 1927 Notre Dame, Iowa State, and Michigan State attend the Texas Relays. 13 Texas Relay records were broken. Austin was now on the “National” map.

1931

March 27th, 1931 more than 1000 athletes from 16 states competed. The Texas relays were essential to the middle of the country – Kansas, Iowa State, Minnesota, Chicago, Marquette, Oklahoma, Drake, Nebraska, and Northwestern.

1932-1935

Due to the depression from 1932 – 1935, the Texas Relays was canceled.

1932 the Longhorn accountants asked for a curtain call on the Texas relays due to the depression. The Texas relays were suspended for three years.

1935 Clyde Littlefield and business manager Ed Olle 8000 fans attend the games.

1940

The Texas Relays hits a zenith in 1940, outperforming both the Penn and Drake relay tournaments. Unfortunately, fan interest in track and field started to wane, and only 5000 fans attended to watch the fastest sprint medley relay, the longest discus throw, the highest pole vault, and the fastest shuttle hurdle relay up to that time.

1941

On April 5, 1941, the Texas Relays was as crucial as the Drake and Kansas relays. The Longhorn 1941 team was one of the best winning the Texas Relays, SWC, and celebrating two All Americans.

Texas set one world record and finished first in 5 events. Carlton Terry won the 100, and Fred Ramsdell was second. Jack Hughes won the triple crown in the Javelin throw. Barefield, Seay, Umstattd, and Ramsdell won several relays. The Texas relays times exceeded 10 of 15 events at the Drake and Kansas relays.

1944

1944- Because of the war effort, the 17th Texas relays team attendance was way down. Most of the competition came from the air force, naval air stations, and army installations. Ralph Ellsworth won the 100 and anchored the victorious 440 and 880 relay teams.

1947

1947- Longhorns win 5 of 8 relays this year, setting two Texas relay records. Perry Samuels, Parker, Charley Tatom, and Allen Lawler led the relay way for the Horns.

From 1925-1976 the big-name national and international stars are the draws that attract fans.

1948

5 Olympians compete at the Texas Relays preparing for the London Olympics.

1951

6 Olympians compete at the Texas Relays.

 1956

For the first time, the Texas Relays is a two day event. The competitors included four national collegiate champions and five performers destined for the Olympics. The Horns dedicated the meet to the 1941 4X100 relay team of Seay, Ramsdell, Terry, and Hill and the 1941 spring medley team of Barefield, Seay, Ramsdell, and Umstattd. Both of these relay teams set the national collegiate record. The Horns win the 4 x 100 in a time of 40.8. It is the 16th time in 22 years that Horns won this event at the Texas relays.

1957

1957 – ten Texas relay records are broken, two equaled with the Horns setting new standards in the 880 relay and mile relay. Eddie Southern won the hurdles, Pat McGuire the broad jump.

1958

In 1958, California and Stanford participated in the Texas Relays for the first time. Southern, Brook, Patrick, Drew Dunlap, and Jimmy Holt set a new Texas relay record in the mile relay.

1959

 1960

43 schools from across the nation and two from Mexico participated in the Texas Relays.

1961

For the first time since 1930, the Texas track team failed to win a single event. Jim Allison was second in the shot put and javelin. Ralph had a bad day.

Relays were expanded to 44 events. One of the new events was the steeplechase.

1962

12,000 watch Ray Cunningham win the 120 hurdles

1963

In 1963, women’s events were added to the Texas Relays.

1968

When UT Track was in the football stadium, the shot put ring was on the northwest corner of the field. The crowd was about 10 yards from the shot area- separated by a 4-foot wall. Being close, you could see and feel the size of these giants. You could hear grunts during their throw. You were amazed by their quickness as they came out of their spin. You could see the determination on their face.

To see a 16-pound steel ball fly through the air is amazing!

1970 Texas Relays

This was one of the best Texas Relays ever.   100 teams including 11 women and 1300 athletes set many Relay records. The Aggies dominated the University division. Horns did not win one event.

1975 Golden Anniversary years

In 1925, there were 391 participants in the Texas Relays. In 1975, 2,840 participate in the Texas Relays.

In 1976, with the conversion to metric measurement, many new records were set.

1977 Texas Relays

In 1977, this changed. Cleburne Price feels it is no longer necessary to promote “billboard” names to attract fans. Open Events will continue to be part of the Texas Relays, but Collegiate competition is the future for the Texas Relays. Price feels that competition in the college and University ranks is good enough to draw fans. The “college format” will be the future of the Texas Relays. He was right.

Photos compliments of Rey Moreno

1978- photos compliments of Rey Moreno

1978 compliments of Rey Moreno

1980 Texas Relays

1981-1983 Texas Relays

Teams from UCLA, Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Minnesota, and many more attended the Relays. Approximately 2000 athletes representing 200 schools competed.

1983

In 1983, the Texas Relays awarded its first women’s heptathlon championship.

1984

1990

In 1990, Texas was named the outstanding team at the Texas Relays. It was their first such honor since 1973.

The Longhorn 4 x 400 wins the Texas Relays for the first time in 15 years. Keith Keller finishes second in the decathlon at the Texas Relays.

2008-2009

Horns had three first-place finishes and five runner-ups, with two individuals having personal bests: Maston Wallace in the pole vault and Brandon Drenon in the shot put. Drenon won the discus in the Penn relays.

Lauren Salsbury competes in the Steeplechase 

Destinee Hooker won the 5th Texas Relay crown. Alexandria Anderson had a personal best in the 100-meter- the fastest time for a college runner during the season.  Horns Anderson, Cooper, Stewart, and Smith had the second fastest time in the 4  x 400 in the country.

2010

Betzy Jimenez won the 1500-meter title. Longhorn broke records and outperformed their expectations.

Angele Cooper won the 400 hurdles in 56.52, which was the fastest time in the nation this year.

2011 Texas Relays

2012-2013 Texas Relays

A & M is the most outstanding team. Horns place first in the 1600 relay

2013-2014

The Texas women’s track and field program at the Texas Relays won three medals. Sandie Raines, Caitland Smith, and Shanie Collins took home medals. Morolake Akinosun was named the most outstanding college performer. 

2013-2014-  86th Texas relays – Ryan Trouser wins the shot put with the best toss in the nation. Danielle Dowie wins the 400-meter hurdles in the nation’s fastest time.  Patrick McGregor, Trevor Van Ackeren, Zack Bilderback, and Kyle Thompson won the men’s distance medley relay. Courtney Okola, Kiersten Duncan, Chalonda Goodman, and Christy Udowin in the 4  x 200 relay.  Texas men Kyle Merber, Trevor Van Ackeren, Kyle Thompson, and Patrick McGregor win the 4 x 800.  Jarard Bruner wins the men’s triple jump.

 1974-1975 Coach Jack Daniels

This was the women’s track team’s first year. 41 students participated.

1975-1976

This team includes Sheryl Copeland a hurdler, Carol Sheffield in the 880, and Susan Abernathy a standout runner.

1977 – Coach Jack Daniels

1978 pending more information

 Horns place 2nd at the Texas Women’s University Invitational, with Julia Campbell winning the 1500 meter and Carol Finsrud winning the discus and mile.

1979 pending more information

Horn women return five runners from the 1978 State Champions.  Tracksters win the regionals but fall well short of their goal at the national meet.  Kelly Wells leads the way in state and regional competition.  14 qualified for the NCAA championships, and all but two school records are broken.

198o- Coach Phil Delevan- Carol pending more informtion

Texas women place 2nd at the TAIAW track meet.   It was a team effort with only two Longhorns winning their events- Tammy Etienne in the 400 hurdles and Laura Messner in the discus. The Horns also won the 1600 meter relay

1981 pending Coach Phil Delvan

All-American hurdler Tammy Etienne, Robbin Coleman, and discus thrower Laura Messner lead the team in 1981, breaking five school records and two stadium records. Still, these records at AIAW nationals are not good enough to win any points at the National meet.

Jo Beth Palmer wins the shot put at the Louisiana  State Invitational.  Robbin Coleman, Tara Arnold, and Heidi Hansen also win their events.

Julie Holmes is recognized as National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 1981, and she is a 5 time All American.

Coach Terry Crawford 1982-1992

Coach Crawford was an expert in human physiology, kinesiology, and running. She wanted her athletes to understand the science of the sport. She was adamant that women in sports should develop from the inside out to be complete individuals and consummate athletes.

1976-1992 Coach Crawford –

Terry Crawford ran track at Tennessee in the 70’s and won three national middle distance championships;

Competed at the Pan American games;

Coached Tennessee for 11 years; and

Terry Crawford Is The Only Woman Inducted Into The Hall Of Honor In The Cross Country Category;

Her Longhorn teams won 5 national Championships, including the Indoor Championship in 1986, 1988, and 1990, and the Outdoor Championships in 1982 and 1986. Crawford’s athletes also won the 1986 Women’s Cross Country National Championship.

1982- Coach Terry Crawford AIAW National Champions

Coach Crawford is the only triple Crown winner in the The History Of Longhorn Track.

Texas wins the 1982 AIAW outdoor National team title

Etienne, Holmes, Sherfield, Coleman are National Champions in the the 4 x 100

I am looking for better photos of these great athletes.

• Tara Arnold is the National Champion as a member of the 4 x 800 relay and a 6-time All-American.

• Susan Bean is a three-time All-American and a national champion in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.

• Hollie Denny is a three-time All-American and a national champion in the 4 x 100 and 800 medley relay.

• Lorri Kokkola is the national champion of Javelin, and she is a two-time All-American.

• Sharon Neugebauer is a two-time All-American and a four-time national champion in the 4 x 800.

• Donna Sherfield was a National Champion in the 4 x 400 and 4 x 100 relays in 1981 and 1982 and is an 8-time All-American.

• Florence Walker is a National Champion in the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 and a six-time All-American.

(I am looking for better pictures of these  athletes.)

 JoBeth Palmer placed fifth in the discus at the 1982 AIAW National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

1983 Coach Terry Crawford ranked 11th Nationally

TOPPING THE CHARTS IN 1983

Five school records were broken: Susan Shurr in the 200 meters, Arnold in the 1500 meters, and Cuthbert in the 100 meters. Two school relay records were also broken, but the Horns did not score as a team in the NCAA tournament.

 1984 Coach Terry Crawford ranked 14th nationally

Three individuals and two relays qualified for the NCAA indoor national championship track meet.

 Second in the SWC tournament and 14th in the Indoor national championship meet.

Three individuals – Tara Arnold, Teri Smajatria, and Terri Turner qualified for the NCAA championship, and two relay teams also made the journey.

 1985- Coach Terry Crawford Texas is runner-up to the national champions

In 1985 and 1986, Juliet Cuthbert receives the Honda-Broderick award as National Track & Field Athlete of the Year and the Jumbo Elliot Award. She is a 12-time All-American.

As of June 2020, the relay team of Barbara Flowers, Mary Bolden, Carlette Guidry, and Karol Davidson still hold the NCAA record in the spring medley 3:41:97.

1986 Coach Terry Crawford indoor, Cross Country, and Outdoor National champions

Annie Schweitzer is the National Champion in the 5000M and a member of the HOH, and she is a six-time All-American. (looking for picture)

1987 COACH TERRY CRAWFORD Indoor National Champion

In 1987, the Longhorns backed into the Indoor National Championship. They initially finished 2nd to Alabama, but Alabama used an ineligible player, so Texas was crowned national champion.

1988 COACH TERRY CRAWFORD Indoor National Champion

9 Horns were named All-America finishing no less than 6th at the national meet. .

Roberts, Bolden, Guidry, and Flowers win the National Championship in the 4 x 400 Meter.

9 team members were named All-Americans.  Guidry set two school records,  was the top performer at Nationals, and the first woman track star to win two individual events at the NCAA National Championship.

 1989- COACH TERRY CRAWFORD- swc champs

For the fifth consecutive season, the Lady Longhorns won the SWC indor title. Carlette Guidry won three events.

Barbara Flowers is recognized as a National Champion as part of the 4 x 400 in 1988 and 1989 and is a 6 time All American.

Leslie Hardison is recognized as a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 1989.

Kellie Roberts is recognized as National champion as a member of the  4 x 400 relay in 1998,1999, and 2000, and she is an 8 time All American.

 1990 Coach Terry Crawford Indoor National Champion

Horns win the SWC and the Indoor national championship. Carlette Guidry, Angie Bradburn, Sandie Richards, and Kellie Roberts lead the team. Guidry receives the outstanding achievement award for her accomplishments in 1989.

Roberts, Guidry, Ates, Richards win the National Championship in the 4 x 400 Meter.

Angie Bradburn is National Champion in the high jump in 1988 and 1990. She is recognized five times as an All-American and is inducted into the HOH.

Nicole Ates is recognized as the National Champion as part of the 4 x 400. She is recognized four times as an All-American. (looking for better photo quality.)

Sandie Richards is a National Champion as part of the 4 x 400 relay, and she is a 7-time All-American.

1991 Coach Terry Crawford Runner up to National Champions

Horns are SWC indoor champions. The 7th straight title. Crawford is SWC Indoor Track Coach of the year for the 3rd time.

Eileen Vanisi was the National Champion in the shotput in 1991 and 1994. She was inducted into the HOH in 2010 and is also an eight-time All-American.

Tamela Saldana was recognized as a National Champion as a member of the  4 x 100 in 1991 and the 4 x 400 in 1989, and she is a 6-time All-American.

Michelle Williams- NCAA Indoor National Championship team in 89-90 and – a member of the 4×100 relay team that won the national championship during the 1991 track season.

1991 -1992 Coach Terry Crawford won the SWC – Coach Crawford resigned – She had 5 national championships for the Horns.

Horns won the indoor and outdoor SWC championship for the 7th time. and she placed second at the NCAA indoor meet. Coach Crawford chooses to resign at the end of the 1992 season to coach Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. She is one of the best coaches ever at Texas! She led Texas to 5 NCAA championships in 8 years. She coached the women’s track team to an SWC indoor championship in her final year as a Longhorn.

During Crawford’s seven-year reign, the Longhorns had never placed lower than fourth at the NCAA meet. 17-time All-American Guidry won the 55-meter and 200-meter events.

TOP OF THE CHARTS IN 1992

Monica Hays was the top scorer for the Horns. Shola Lynch wins the 800 meters, Kellie Roberts finishes first in the 400 meters, and Davina Manship wins the 5000 meters.

During the outdoor season, the Horns finish first in the SWC. Roberts scored the most points in the SWC meet, Lynch shattered the meet record in 1500, Manship won the 3000 meters, and Vanisi won the discus. Shola Lynch was an All-American in 1992.

Track Coach – Sue Humphrey

 SUE IS AN OLYMPIAN

Sue Humphrey was the Head Manager for the USA women’s Olympic track & field team in 1992, an Assistant Coach for the women’s team in 1996, and the Head Coach for the women’s team in 2004. Charles Austin, one of the athletes Sue coached, won the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal in the men’s high jump, setting an Olympic Record of 7’10”, which still stands!

Please welcome Sue Humphrey to the celebration of Longhorn Sports History.

The Longhorns hired Sue Humphrey in 1984 as assistant women’s field event coach. She was part of a coaching contingent that produced 4 NCAA team titles in 5 years. She takes special pride in working with individual National Champions Carlette Guidry, Terri Turner, & Angie Bradburn. Sue is the only female to coach NCAA individual champions in the Long, triple, and high jumps.

From 1992-1995, Sue assisted Stan Huntsman’s men’s track & field team working with Richard Duncan, the first Longhorn athlete to qualify for NCAA Nationals in the long jump, triple & high jump.

Sue returned to UT for the 2010-2011 season as a volunteer coach for Bev Kearney’s women’s team, helping with the high jumpers & pole vaulters.

UT started women’s athletics in 1974. At that time it was Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Susan Abernathy, Julie Campbell, Susan Davis, and Carol Sheffield would capture the TAIAW state 2-mile relay state championship. In 1981, UT was the host for T&F Champions, Division I. UCLA would dominate the meet. UT women have captured 6 indoor and outdoor national championships. 19 Longhorns have competed in the Summer

Longhorn Olympians have won 18 total medals (9 gold)

https://www.texaslsn.org/michelle-adamolekun-trackl

Horn Olympians

https://www.texaslsn.org/longhorn-women-track-olympians

Erin Aldrich – Volleyball and Track 1999- Hard on herself and hard on teammates

Aldrich says she enjoys individual sports (high jump) more than team sports. Many who know Erin say they have never met anyone as competitive as Erin.” Her years as a Longhorn were focused on school and competing. There was little time for socializing with her schedule and goals. Sports were the focus of her life, and she confirmed that statement in 1999 when she said: “I do believe and hope that I can hold the world record in the high jump.”

The volleyball coach Jim Moore said, “I’m convinced Erin could be the best volleyball player who has ever played in this country.” “She’s so good already, and she only does it four or five months a year. She has gifts for volleyball that no one has ever had.”

 In Sports, Illustrated Erin is quoted as saying, “I find myself in volleyball being so focused on what I need to do, and a little bit closed off from my teammates.” She says about the volleyball team “Our biggest problem is holding each other accountable. ” Aldrich says. “If somebody makes a bad play, we don’t look at her and say, ‘You need to get that ball.’ Instead, we’re like ‘O.K., guys, we’ll do better.’ We are so nice to each other; I can’t believe it. It’s just crazy how cohesive we are. We are way too cohesive.”

04.07.2006

The full article about Sheretta Jones: “Finishing the race strong” is told at Texassports.com .

Sheretta Jones

NCAA champion, All-American, two-time Big 12 champion, six-time All-Big 12, NCAA and Texas record-holder in the distance medley relay, just to name a few highlights.

Moreover, beyond her track accomplishments are another set of achievements in the classroom. The epitome of a student-athletes, Jones also will receive her degree in the highly-competitive major of business administration at the end of the May.

Her collegiate and high school All-American honors go hand-in-hand with her valedictorian honor coming out of high school, where she was ranked No. 1 academically at Houston’s Forest Brook HS. Add to that the Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors and College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District plaudits, and you easily see that Sheretta’s future plans not only include a professional career, but plans for graduate school as well.

“Academically, I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I could achieve. When I got [to Texas], I went above and beyond those obstacles to achieve more than I expected,” Jones said. “But, it wasn’t as hard to achieve, academically as it has been athletically, to be honest. I have to work so much harder to earn athletic accolades. I can’t really say which recognition I enjoy the most, or which one is better. Here at UT, you are on a pedestal in your sport and in the classroom, and being a Longhorn student-athlete just makes you work even harder to do more than you’ve done already.”

One of the biggest struggles athletes face when they arrive on the UT campus is balancing the heavy demands of school and sports. However, Jones has been in the rhythm of multi-tasking for many years.

“I’ve done this [juggled school and track] for so long, ever since I was nine, so it’s kind of second nature,” she explained. “The question which would be hard to answer would be how would I balance not having track in my life, not having the two to compliment each other. Doing both doesn’t even affect me and I don’t even think twice about it,” Jones said.

This shift in priorities proved useful when Texas and head coach Bev Kearney came calling offered a scholarship, to which Jones was eager to sign.

“They had the best academic and athletic combination that was best suited for me. It wasn’t too far from home, and there were two big No. 1’s facing me. My major program was ranked number one nationally in UT’s business school, and Texas had the number one women’s track team, so why not?” Jones said.

“I’m also applying to graduate school, so upon acceptance to graduate school, I would start classes in August,” noted Jones. “I’ll possibly venture into a professional track career if it’s feasible and if a contract is available once I graduate and my eligibility is done.”

Never one to stop learning, it could also be said that these four years have been one long learning experience for Jones. Not only has she learned perseverance and benefits of hard work, but Jones has discovered the secret to success.

Michelle Carter

Shot Diva

By Kate Hull in Nov | Dec 2016, Special, Sports, TXEX on November 2, 2016, at 9:10 am | No Comments

Alcalde Magazine

Shot putter Michelle Carter is at the top of her game.

When Michelle Carter stepped into the throwing circle for her final heave at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the podium was within her reach; she was slotted to win silver. The distance to beat was 20.42 meters, held by two-time gold medalist Valerie Adams of New Zealand. In her third Olympic appearance, Carter was ready and focused—and not willing to settle for second place.

Hey, this is it. You might as well go for the gold, she thought to herself.

Then she unleashed a throw of 20.63 meters that shattered the American record and made Carter the first U.S. woman ever to win gold in shot put. She also became the first American woman to stand on the Olympic shot put podium in more than 50 years.

“I couldn’t believe it happened,” she says. “It is great to let the world know the USA women are competitors internationally in [shot put] and are capable of winning major championships—it opens doors for other women to see that these things are possible.”

A Red Oak, Texas, native, Carter, BS ’07, Life Member, is already setting her sights on the IAAF World Championships next year in London. In 2015, she placed third. Looking ahead to her next feat, she speaks with confidence and energy.

“I believe I have more to give. I want to see how far I can actually throw the shot put,” she says. “The only person who can beat me is myself. Even if I don’t win that day, but I gave 100 percent, I still won.”

Carter trains in Dallas alongside her father and coach, 1984 Olympic shot put silver medalist and former San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Michael Carter. She credits her competitive drive to her father’s coaching and her parents’ support.

“They always pushed me to be my best,” Carter says. “They always said, ‘You have more to give,’ and I’d figure out how to get it done.”

While training for Rio, the duo started at 8 a.m. to beat the high Texas temps, beginning with throwing drills before heading to the gym to lift weights and do physical therapy. A typical training day for Carter lasts 12 hours.

But when she isn’t in the throwing circle, she explores her other passion: beauty and fashion. The champion athlete is also a professional makeup artist. Carter, 31, has always enjoyed incorporating her glam habits into her sport.

“It is a part of me and I take that with me,” she says.

Carter prepared for her gold medal-winning shot put throw just like any other competition: She relaxed and focused on the task ahead. The last step of her preparation routine? Applying her NYX Monte Carlo lipstick in bright matte red, her color of choice when she represents Team USA. Only then was she ready to throw.

“When you feel good and you look good,” Carter says, “you have the confidence to do your best.” It’s a motto she takes to every competition.

While on UT’s track and field team, she earned the nickname Shot Diva for her confident demeanor. The only shot putter on the team, her teammates initially called her Track Diva, but she quickly changed the nickname to reflect her sport, and it’s stuck ever since.

“In sports, you are taught that you are supposed to be rough and tough and you can’t dress pretty,” she says. “Putting on makeup is what I do when I get ready for church, an interview, or a special event to look my best. I like to carry that into my sport. I get my nails done, get put together, and get ready to go to work.”

Carter has combined her two worlds into a body-positive identity she hopes to share with young female athletes. Next February, she will launch her first young girls’ sports camp in Dallas focused on female athletic empowerment and body-positive messaging. It’ll be called You Throw Girl Sports Confidence Camp.

“As a female athlete, we don’t look like the average woman,” she says, of shot putters. We have more muscles; our thighs may be bigger or our shoulders may be bigger. I want to break down these stereotypes and teach girls that we can’t all be built the same.”

The camp will focus on healthy eating habits, the importance of stretching and weight lifting, and setting personal goals.

“If Gabby Douglas was built like me, she couldn’t flip, and if I was built like Gabby, I couldn’t throw,” she says. “I want them to learn to appreciate it and learn good habits.”

Track is a fascinating sport that teaches participants the key elements necessary to overcome adversity.  The Greeks knew this and founded the Olympic movement around Track and Field.

Track is an uncomplicated sport. Participants don’t need to learn complicated plays, study films to determine team tendencies, or change offensive and defensive techniques every week to exploit a competitor’s weaknesses. A Track participant’s goal is to convert innate talents, strong discipline, and hard work into maximum performance.

Track forces the participants to confront personal character flaws, demons, personal weaknesses, and insecurities. Jesse Owens Says about mental toughness “The Battles That Count Aren’t the Ones For Gold Medals. The Struggles Within Yourself – The Invisible, Inevitable Battles Inside All Of Us – That’s Where It Is At.” Patti Sue Plumer agrees saying “ Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.”

The quote “Sports do not build character- It reveals it” defines track and field participants.  Track competition is the only college sport that athletes reveal their character to the fans as the event unfolds. Fans are able to witness the athletes inner struggle as he or she push their bodies to the limits.

Beverly Kearney 1993- 2013  – Texas track reaches new heights under Kearney

 “It wasn’t about improving self-esteem,” Coach Kearney says. “Give people the tools to empower themselves. That’s what I do with my athletes. All of it is tempered with love.”

Tough love. “She tells us exactly what we need to do,” says quarter-miler Toya Brown, “and she doesn’t mince words.”

Topping the Charts in 1993

From 1993- 2013 Coach Kearney

Top 3 National Championship Longhorn Coaches in numerical order, including Pre-NCAA championships:

14- Coach Reese men’s swimming

6- Coach Quick Women’s swimming -1982, 1984,1985,1986, 1987, 1988,

6- Coach Kearney (outdoor and indoor track in the same year or counted separately) 1998,1999,2005,2006

Coach Kearney’s first-year staff includes Greg Sholars, Michelle Freeman (volunteer coach), Michelle Williams (student Asst.), Cynthea Rhodes, LaGwyn Durden (athletic trainer), and Ilrey Oliver (academics).  It is the first all-black staff ever at UT. No one thought about the possibility of failure. Everyone focused on being the best team at Texas with the highest Grade Point Average and graduation rate.  The staff was driven to help each athlete become the best in track and life after graduation. The staff and Coach Kearney believed that what really mattered was not failing the team and/or each other. Her staff was determined to build a successful winning tradition and add to the women’s track program’s legacy at the University of Texas.

Coach Kearney teams are peppered with amazing athletes who achieve great individual feats that eventually lead to the Longhorns toppling the LSU track dynasty.  It is more about team points than about individual accolades.  Coach Kearney’s track teams win 6 national championships because Greatness is created when like minds come together with a common cause.

• 6 NCAA National Champions Indoor Championships in 1998, 1999, and 2006, and Outdoor Championships in 1998, 1999, and 2005.

• 14 top-three finishes

• 3 times outdoor Coach of the year.

• 2 times Indoor Coach of the Year

• 15 times conference Coach of the Year.

• 2012 “Employee of the Year” award by the Austin Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities

• 2012 honor by the United States Sports Academy with a 2012 Distinguished Service Award. The award is given annually by the Academy to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to national or international sports through instruction, research or service.

• 2012 Pioneer award- Kearney is recognized as the first African-American head coach, female or male, to win a Division I Track and Field National Title. She achieves the feat six times as head coach at Texas and seven times overall in her coaching career.

• Coach Kearney was featured on CNN Headline News series honoring “Breakthrough Women” series.

• 2009 she is named the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) Female Coach of the Year, and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named the Division I Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year accolade in her honor.

• 2007 she is inducted into the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Beverly is seriously injured in a  Car accident that required years of rehab.

In an article on Texassports.com, Sheretta Jones discusses Coach  Beverly Kearney’s rehab from a car accident.

 The article states

“being under Coach Kearney’s tutelage has been another plus for Jones. Sheretta has watched Kearney diligently work her way back to independence after Kearney was involved in a December tragic car accident during Jones’ freshman year. That crash took the lives of two of the five passengers in the car, and Kearney faced months and years of rehabilitation from a spinal injury and paralysis.”

For Jones, Kearney is one of her largest sources of motivation.

“Coach Kearney is inspiration. She was one of the main reasons I came to Texas, because I enjoyed her coaching style and I liked the program she had developed here at UT,” Jones remarked.

“Since her accident, we’ve all been behind her in her recovery, but for her to be as emotionally and physically stable as she is, coming back after what she’s been through, it just makes us want to aspire to different, or higher, heights. When someone has gone through something like that, you can’t complain about what you’re going through because someone else is feeling worse than you are, every day.”

 1993- Coach Beverly Kearney Pending more information

Horns win the SWC Indoor championship and finish 7th in the NCAA indoor meet with only 11 athletes. At both the indoor and  outdoor SWC Championships the Longhorns roll up in two vans while other teams have buses, but the lady longhorns on this team are determined not to maintain the conference winning streak in spite of their small numbers. They accomplished their goal in the indoor and outdoor conference championships during Coach Kerney’s first yea as track coach.

Beverly says she experienced tremendous successes and challenges throughout her tenure, but nothing can ever match the pure joy of coaching her first seasons.  The young ladies who were at Texas when she  first arrived helped to set the framework for teams that would follow.

Telisa Young (no picture) and Eileen Vanisi were determined in 1993 to keep Texas in the top 10 even though they were the only two finalist. Both won the national championship.

Telissa Young Is A National Champion In The Triple Jump In 1993 And 1994, and a 4 Time All-American.

In 1994, Eileen Vanisi set the collegiate shot put record.

1994  Coach Beverly Kearney pending

During Coach’s second year, her staff was instrumental in rebuilding the Texas Brand to the standards established by the legendary Coach Terry Crawford.  Without Michelle Freeman and LaGwyn Johnson-Durden setting the groundwork, we would never have set track records and won 4 National championships in the late 90’s. No one succeeds alone, and every staff member and athlete is a “player” in success. We would have never been able to elevate Texas back to the top both on the podiums on the field of play and in the classrooms without a team effort.

The Horns won their 10th consecutive SWC Indoor title and finished in 3rd place at the National meet. The ladies also won the SWC outdoor season, with Merlene Fraze winning the 100 and 200. Frazer, Howard, Dana Riley, and Zenita Davis won the 4 x 400. Hyman was victorious in the 800, and Nicole Devonish won the Long Jump.

1995 Coach Beverly Kearney

Topping the charts 1995

Looking for clearer pictures.

1995-1996 Coach Beverly Kearney pending

1996-1997 Coach Beverly Kearney pending

Dana Riley is recognized as National champion as part of the 4 x 400 relay and 800 M. run, and she is a 5 time All-American.

1997-1998 Coach Beverly Kearney- National Champion Indoor And Outdoor

“For the last 11 years, first at Florida and now at Texas, I’ve been battling for this championship,” said Kearney. “I can’t tell you what a joy it is.”

This year, Texas is loaded with sprinters, and UCLA with throwers. Which will prevail, Longhorn speed or Bruin strength?

Denise Backus is a three-time national champion and an 11-time All-American who has been on four national championship teams.

Lakeisha Backus was National Champion in the 200 M, 4 x 400 relay in 1998, and the 4 x 400 relay in 1999.

Kim McGruder, Nanceen Perry, Angie Vaughn, and LaKeisha Backus won the 4 x 100 relay. Angie Vaughn is the National Champion in the 55 and 110 hurdles and a member of the 4 x 100. She is a seven-time All-American and a HOH inductee.

Erin Aldrich wins the high jump title with a jump of 6’4″.

1998-1999 Coach Beverly Kearney’s teams are National Indoor and Outdoor Champions

• In 1996,1998, and 1999, Suziann Reid Is the National Champion In The 400. In 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 She was a Member  Of The National Champion 4 X 400

• In 1998 And 1999, Suziann Reid was named The Honda-Broderick Award Winner As The National Track And Field Athlete Of The Year And Indoor Athlete Of The Year By The USTCA (Now USTFCCCA),

• Suziann Is A 17-time All-American and an HOH inductee.

2000 Coach Beverly Kearney

2000-2001 Coach Beverly Kearney pending

2001-2002 Coach Beverly Kearney pending

2003-Coach Beverly Kearney pending

Sanya Richards-Ross is Named NCAA Outdoor Female Athlete Of The Year.

2003-2004 Coach Beverly Kearney

Marshevet Hooker is a 4 time individual NCAA champion and 9 time All-American who was part of 2 national championship teams.

2005- Coach Beverly Kearney National Champions Outdoor

Former University of Texas track athlete and Olympic gold medalist Melaine Walker reflects on her Texas experience at the Longhorns Hall of Honor induction ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.

Melanie Walker is a national champion. She was a member of the 4 X 400 in 2005 and the 4 X 100 in 2005 and 2006, and she is a seven-time All-American. She is a 2013 Inductee Into The HOH.

Jerrika Chapple is a national champion in the 4 X 400 and the 4 X 100 and a five-time All-American.

LaTasha Kerris Is Recognized As a National Champion: A Member Of The 4 X 400 Relay In 2005 And The 4 X 100 In 2005 And 2006.  (no picture)

2005-2006  Coach Beverly Kearney’s team wins the Indoor National Champion

Alexandria is a three-time NCAA individual champion and a 20-time All-American. Alexandria Anderson helped lead the Longhorns to the 2006 NCAA Indoor team title. She closed out her collegiate career by winning a pair of individual and relay titles at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She was part of UT’s victorious 4×400-meter relay team and took first place in the 100-meter dash. Anderson was a two-time team MVP, earning the honor in 2007 and 2009. She also was named the Co-Longhorn Athlete of the Year and received the Jill A. Sterkel Leadership Award in 2009. She was the recipient of the 2006-07 UT Women’s Athletics Barbara Jordan Endowed Scholarship.

2007 Coach Beverly Kearney pending

2007 – women’s track earned the 5th consecutive “Most Outstand Team” award at the Texas Relays – Ashley Laughlin breaks the school pole vault record with a 13’ jump.  The women either won or had qualifying members in almost every meet they attended.

2008 Coach Beverly Kearney placed 4th at Nationals

 Townswick, Kincy, Rosby, and Jimenz place second at the Big 12 championship with a school record time.

2009 Coach Beverly Kearney

 2008-2009- women’s track – TEXAS RELAYS – Destinee Hooker won the 5th Texas Relay crown. Alexandria Anderson had a personal best in the 100 meter- the fastest time for a college runner during the season.  Horns Anderson, Cooper, Stewart, and Smith had the second fastest time in the 4  x 400 in the country.  Beverly Kearney was recognized as the Black Coaches and Administrators Female Coach of the Year.   Texas qualified 31 men and women for the NCAA regional meet.

2010 Coach Beverly Kearney- The women’s team finished in 51st place

TOPPING THE CHARTS 2010

The 4 x 400 relay team ( Alicia Peterson, Stacey Ann Smith, Chantel Malone, and Angele Cooper) placed 7th at the national meet. The team placed 51st at the national meet.

2011 Coach Beverly Kearney’s team is Runner Up To National Champions

Alex Anderson wins the indoor championship in the 60M.

2011-2012 Coach Beverly Kearney pending

June 2013 thru 2018 Coach Mario Sategna (Suh-TANE-Yuh)

2013-2014- Coach Sategna Runner-Up To National Champions

2014-2015 –  4th At NCAA  Pending information

2016

Tonya Buford-Bailey is the co-interim Longhorn head coach who is recognized as the 2016 Nike Coach of the Year.

As of June 2020 Courtney Okolo holds the NCAA record of 52.75 in the 400 meters.

 The Greeks chose Track and Field as the key sport for Olympic competition because it is the most universal of all sports that pits individuals against each other to prove who is the best. Track athletes don’t need to study films to determine team tendencies, or change offensive and defensive techniques every week to exploit the weakness of the competitor. Instead, track participants’ main goal is to convert innate talents, strong discipline, and hard work into maximum performance.

Track  forces  participants to confront personal character flaws, demons, personal weaknesses, and insecurities. Jesse Owens says about mental toughness “The Battles That Count Aren’t the Ones For Gold Medals. The struggles within yourself – The Invisible, Inevitable battles Inside all of Us – That’s Where It Is At.” Patti Sue Plumer agrees, saying, “Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.” 

The quote “Sports do not build character- It reveals it” defines track and field participants.  Track athletes deal with “invisible, inevitable battles” and a gut check every day.  

Longhorn Olympians who Represented the uSA

• As of 2018, Nineteen Longhorns have competed in the Summer Olympic Games and have won a combined 18 medals (nine gold, four silver, five bronze).

Sanya Richards-Ross

• Participated in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic games and wins five medals including four golds;

• She is inducted into the HOH;

• Wins the 2003 Trackshark Athlete of the Year;

• Wins the National Champion in the 400M in 2003 and 2004 and wins the National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 2003 and 2004;

• She Is an 11 time All American

OLYMPIC CHAMPION

Sanya Richards-Ross is the fastest American woman in history at 400 meters. She became the first American woman in 28 years, and only the 2nd in history, to be crowned Olympic Champion over 400m at the 2012 Games in London. Surging past her competitors in the last 50 meters of the race, Richards-Ross claimed her crown as 400 meter queen in dramatic fashion.  The London games also set the stage for Sanya to become the second most decorated female track and field Olympians of all time. By winning her 4th gold medal, after anchoring the 4x400m relay team to gold for the 3rd consecutive time, Sanya firmly solidified her place in sports history.  

In addition to Sanya’s track prowess, Sanya is also an Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Public Speaker and Humanitarian. She is the founder of the Sanya Richards-Ross Fast Track Program in Kingston, Jamaica which has provided over 700 children with literacy training, physical education, and healthy meals. Her sports clinics educate, empower and provide youth with tools and strategies to excel both on and off the track.  

Bianca Knight

• participated in the 2012 Olympics and wins a gold medal in the 4 x 100;

• She is a 3 time All American; and

• the winner of National Championship in the 200 M in 2008.

Moushaumi Robinson

• participated in the 2004 Olympics and wins a gold medal in the 4 x 100 ;

• is a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 2000 and 2003; and

• is recognized as an All American 12 times.

Carlette Guidry (1987-91)

• Participated in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and won two golds medals in the 4 x 100 relay;

• Wins the Honda-Broderick Award as the National Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 1990 and 1991;

• Wins the Babe Zaharias Award as the nation’s top amateur female athlete in 1992;

• Is inducted into the HOH in 2000;

• Holds the Longhorn Record for the number of times recognized as an All-American (23).

• Carlette Wins the National Championship in the 55M in 1988, 1990, 1991, the long jump in 1988, the 100 M in 1991, and the 200 M in 1990 and 1991

• She is also a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 1988, 1989, and 1990 and a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 100 in 1991.

• She holds the record for most points scored at a meet (30)

Nanceen has one of the most stellar careers in Texas high school track in the 100, 200, and long jump. As a Longhorn she qualified for the 2000 Olympics in the 200 M reaching the semi-finals and finishing 3rd in the 4 x 400 relay. She is also recognized 12 times as a  College All American.

• Three-time NCAA Champion, 12-time All-American and eight-time Big 12 Champion

• Led the Longhorns to four consecutive NCAA team titles (1998 Indoor, 1998 Outdoor, 1999 Indoor, 1999 Outdoor)

• Her 22.55 mark during the preliminaries at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships still stands as the fastest 200-meter time in school history

• Won individual NCAA Indoor title in the 200 meters at the 1997 NCAA Indoor Championships

• Ran the second leg on UT’s 4×100-meter relay teams that won national titles at the 1998 and 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships

• Competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics

2016  Olympians representing the U.s.a

• 1 of 2 women in history to score in 4 events at NCAA Outdoor meet back-to-back years (Jackie Joyner-Kersee)
• 10-time USTFCCCA First-Team All-American (8 at Texas; 2 at Illinois)
• Eight-time USTFCCCA Second-Team All-American (4 at Texas; 4 at Illinois)
• 2-time 4×400 Relay NCAA Champion – 2016 Indoor & 2014 Outdoor
• 13-Time Big 12 Champion (100m, 200m, 4×100 relay – 2016 outdoor; 60m – 2014 & 2015 indoor; 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay – 2014 & 2015 outdoor; 4x400m relay 2015 indoor & outdoor)
• Two-Time Big Ten Champion (60m, 4x400m relay – 2013 indoor)
• 2016 Big 12 Championships – High Point Scorer Award
• 2013 Pan American Junior Champion – 4×100-meter relay
• 2013 USA Junior Champion – 100m
• 2013 USA Junior Silver Medalist – 200m
• 2015 Pan American Games Gold Medal – 4x100m Relay

• NCAA Record Holder – Outdoor 400m
• 2014 Bowerman Award Finalist
• 10-time USTFCCCA First Team All-American
• 3-Time NCAA 400m Champion – 2016 Indoor, 2015 Indoor & 2014 Outdoor
• 3-Time NCAA 4x400m Champion – 2016 Indoor, 2015 Indoor & 2014 Outdoor
• 2013 USTFCCCA Second Team All-American – 400m
• Two-time Big 12 Outdoor Champion (2016 4×100 relay; 2016 400m)
• 2015 & 2013 Big 12 Indoor champion – 4x400m Relay
• 2015 Big 12 Indoor champion – 600yd
• 2013 Pan American Junior Champion – 400m, 4x400m Relay
• 2013 USA Junior Champion – 400m
• 2015 NACAC Games Champion – 400m,

 Article by Gilbert Rogin.

Part of an article titled  FLAMIN’ MAMIE’S BOUFFANT BELLES is below

A BEAUTY-MINDED TEXAN PIONEERS A NEW GLAMOROUS LOOK IN WOMEN’S TRACK

 BY GILBERT ROGIN

Early one-morning last month, when nothing was stirring in Abilene, Texas but the reels of Muzak tape in a storefront on North Fourth Street, Mrs. Margaret Ellison put her gold starting blocks and red-white-and-blue batons in the trunk of her car and set out for Austin. A can of Rayette’s The Young Set hair spray rolled about on the floor, a javelin rattled against the top of the dash, and blaring forth from the radio were, or so said one of the three girls in back, “the Imitation Beatles.” She added disarmingly, “Did you know England just declared war on the United States? Lady Bird ate a Beatle.”

Mrs. Ellison, who is known by her passengers (to her face) as Miz El’son or (behind her back) as Flamin’ Mamie or Ma Kettle, is a 46-year-old divorcée who wears her tinted strawberry-blonde hair in what she calls a “chignon rat.” Mrs. Ellison’s interest is the Texas Track Club (see cover), the best of a handful of all-girl track clubs in Texas. Mrs. Ellison is its coach, and she will tell you that her girls are coming along “real well.”

The Texas Track Club is celebrated on two counts—its athletic achievements and the uncommon beauty of its girls, who compete in dazzling uniforms, elaborate makeup and majestic hairdos. These hairdos, which are either bouffant or flip if at all possible, may not be aerodynamically sound and maybe “out” east of the Hudson, but they are an unqualified sensation at a track meet. “They are our trademark,” says Jeanne Ellison, the coach’s 16-year-old daughter. “Bouffant is easier to run in because the wind doesn’t blow your hair in your face.”

In one sense, the Texas Track Club has done more to promote women’s track in the U.S. than if its members had, say, won the national AAU championships. (In fact, they finished 12th last year, with a third in the 440-yard relay and the 220-yard low hurdles and a sixth in the 220-yard dash.) After the age of 10, American girls generally lose interest in running—it is unbecoming and too far out. And American boys generally lose interest in the few girls who take up the sport, the popular belief being that they look like Olive Oyl or Tugboat Annie. The Texas Track Club, however, has shown that you can be beautiful and still run the 100 in 10.9. Because of this delightful anomaly, its members have been a hit—and spread the gospel—at such topflight meets as the Los Angeles, Albuquerque and Dallas Invitationals. And it is not at all unlikely that a couple of Mrs. Ellison’s girls will make the U.S. Olympic team.

“Track is hard to give up,” says Paula. “You learn new things, meet people. People satisfy me so much. If I don’t get out and run some each day, I feel like I’ve committed a sin. I’m in top shape, but in bad condition.” Indeed, Paula does real well by her white, sleeveless running shirt that has TEXAS emblazoned in big red letters across the front. “Mine fits tight,” she says. “A lot of boys tease me, call me Miss Texas. I’m all Texas. I shouldn’t talk so much about myself, but my life’s been so interesting.”

Sue Schexnayder, who was known as Swift Sue in high school, is 19 and one of eight children. She lives in Port Arthur and has a partial athletic scholarship at Odessa Junior College, where she and a solitary boy comprise the track team. Like Janis, Sue has done the 100 in 10.9. Sue’s workouts include four to six repeat 330s every other day, three to five repeat 60s, and 150s and 220s—all of which leads Mrs. Ellison to the dour observation that her college coach “is killing her.”

Carvelynne Leonard also has natural-curly hair, but Mrs. Ellison says, “She wears it long and plain. Paula’s going to fix it for her.” Carvelynne (her father expected a boy, whom he was going to name Carver) comes from Mont Belvieu, and is an all-district basketball player. Carvelynne’s father, a pumper for the Sun Oil Company, supervises and fosters his daughter’s track career. Carvelynne has been running competitively since she was 6, and was twice a national champion in the Junior Olympics. “The house wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t running,” she says. “My dad, everyone expects me to.”

In 1961 Mrs. Ellison founded the Texas Track Club around her older daughter, Pat—now 21 and retired from competition—who had broken the 75-yard-dash record in the Junior Olympics. “It started out as kind of a dream,” Mrs. Ellison says, “and now we’ve had six different uniforms, I have a feeder club of 10 to 20 younger kids, the Abilene Track Club,

“I’ve gotten tremendous satisfaction and enjoyment out of educating the girls socially, building their bodies, and helping them, and, as old as I am, I like the recognition and the glamour, too. Of course, each year I think maybe I won’t put as much into it. Last year I spent $3,000 of my own money on the club, and I’m always running around trying to get sponsors. When we went to Los Angeles, for instance, our trip was paid for by the Optimist Club of Abilene, the Arvin Norwood Drilling Company of Midland, and the Pool Well Servicing Company of San Angelo.

“I think I’ve helped pioneer women’s track in Texas, and given the girls and myself something better to do than drive around drinking Cokes. Before I organized the Texas Track Club nothing interested me. I never belonged to a bridge club. You see yourself in the girls. It lights a flame.”

“I’ve found that girls lose interest in track, don’t keep coming out regularly, if you don’t make a game of it,” says Mrs. Ellison. “That’s why we have different uniforms every year and go in for makeup and hairdos. It’s just like giving candy to kids—you have to keep them entertained. And you’ve got to get them young. But if you ever get that little blue ribbon into their hands….

“I do think, however, that a man can coach girls better than a woman, for the simple reason that girls will listen to a man, they have more confidence in him, and a woman likes to show off for a man. But most men are too busy to understand women. They just say, put on a white blouse and shorts and come out. For instance, on my workout schedules, I always put down ‘No Talking.’ Girls are always yakking, ‘I went out with so-and-so.’ I don’t want to hear them talking personal problems. I keep saying girls are different. You can’t train them like boys, they get emotionally upset. You have to know their moods and recognize what these moods mean.”

Mrs. Ellison got the chance to put her theories into practice last year when she was selected to coach the women’s team in the dual meets with Russia, Poland, Germany and England. “I was in a state of shock,” she says. “Lord, I was hysterical.” The trip began disastrously. In Moscow, the girls performed way below expectations, and newspaper stories told how they broke training and carried on. The reports, Mrs. Ellison contends, were exaggerated. As the European trip progressed, the girls’ behavior and performances improved markedly. Mrs. Ellison says the girls told her in England that they were sorry they had given her such a hard time. “Two of the girls gave me presents,” she says. “I cried. It proved to me, however, that I can handle girls.”

The trip also gave Mrs. Ellison an opportunity to buy a form-fitting German uniform, which she had copied for the Texas Track Club by the Fab-Knit Division of Holt’s Sporting Goods in Waco, a fact that is boldly embroidered on the sweat-suit tops. “I wish I could design the stuff for the U.S. Olympic team,” Mrs. Ellison says. “Whoever picks them doesn’t know enough about style today. The uniforms are baggy, like the boys’. And someone ought to design a dress for the banquets the girls have to attend after every international meet. If a girl has nothing to wear she feels left out, and that creates problems. The traveling dresses aren’t too bad, but they have no style.” The Texas Track Club’s traveling uniforms are royal blue shifts that are decorated with a patch depicting the flag of Texas. “When we go to hotels they must wear the dresses,” says Mrs. Ellison. “They are permitted to wear slims in motels.”

As Mrs. Ellison drove south to Austin, the cactus, mesquite, and jackrabbit country gave way to more fertile farmland, and a sign proclaimed “Sure Fresh Eggs.” Sue was reading a history assignment in The American Spirit, and Mrs. Ellison was fiddling with the radio dial.

“This is the time when all the personalities come out,” said Mrs. Ellison. “You know, no one ever explained to me that you had to go to college to become a coach. Everything I’ve learned has been from books, talking and observation. Sometimes the men coaches make fun of me. They say you’re not a coach, you’re a promoter. Maybe I’m not a coach, but maybe I’m out to prove to these men who are so learned that I can do it. It will give me a lot of satisfaction to prove that it doesn’t take years of experience and education to become a successful coach. I’ve been coaching for only five years and I was the coach of the U.S. team that went to Russia. It’s a laugh in a way.

“Did you know that Babe Didrikson was the only girl from Texas that ever made the Olympic track team? I want Janis to make it and Sue and Dora…. Then someday I’d like to get me a summer track camp by a river and make Flamin’ Mamie a little money.” The story of Babe is at the link below

https://youtu.be/His_0F1bVgY