Advertise on podcast: Track and Field Black History

Judi Brown Clarke is the 1984 Olympic silver medalist in the 400mH at a time when the Women's event was still in its infancy on the international stage, so she was one of the pioneers in the event. She also won the 400mH at the Pan-American games in 1983 and 1987. But even more than an Athlete, Judi Brown Clarke has been an integral part of politics, education, science, technology, and has been focused on leadership and equity in the many years since her career on the track. In our conversation, we dive into all of that and more, including her background growing up in the Midwest, the effects of title IX on her career and other women as well as the intersection of politics and sports. We really dive into the importance of travel and the global experiences she has had from being in Venezuela and experiencing a country of Black and Brown people for the first time, to crossing Checkpoint Charlie at the Berlin Wall in the 1980s. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Joetta is a 4-time Olympian in the 800m, having made every team between 1988-2000, and one of the most consistent athletes in the sport, having ranked 22 consecutive years in the US top-10. More than just an athlete, Joetta is an Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker and mother of NCAA Champion Talitha Diggs. We recorded this conversation a week before Talitha went on to win the 400m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In our conversation, we dive into various topics including growing up in New Jersey, the impact of Title IX on her life, the legendary Clark sisters 1-2-3 at the 2000 Olympic Trials, the differences between professional track for women then vs now as well as her daughter Talitha Diggs.   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

At the 2022 Prefontaine Classic, we had the chance to speak with multiple coaches who were legends in their own right before they transitioned into coaching:   Dennis Mitchell 3-time Olympian in the 100m in the 80s and 90s Currently leads Star Athletics and coaches the likes of Sha'carri Richardson and Kenny Bednarek   Alleyne Francique 2-time 400m World indoor gold medalist for Granada's in 2004 and 2006  Coaches Fred Kerley among other athletes   Randall Cunningham Former NFL legend, on the Philadelphia Eagles during the 80s and 90s Father and current coach for Vashti Cunningham   John Smith 440 yard world record holder and 1971 Pan American Games Gold medalist Legendary coach for UCLA, HSI and currently coaches Michael Cherry   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Wallace Spearmon is a 4-time World Championship medalist, and still one of the fastest 200m runners in the history of the sport.  He talks with us about recently transitioning into his post track career and now having the opportunity to work with current athletes to help fix some of the problems he experienced while he was competing as an athlete. We also dive into his personality on the track, role models and his support system while competing as well as a discussion on if more prominent sprint clubs and rivalries are needed in Track & Field now.   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/  

Lawrence Boogie Johnson, also known as the Hurdle Mechanic, talks with us about his career, not only as a coach but also as an athlete at the University of Arkansas where he ran the 400m for the Razorbacks. He went on to have one of the greatest coaching careers in history, working with athletes from Queen Harrison-Claye and Brianna Rollins McNeal, to Dalilah Muhammad and Gianna Woodruff. In addition to hurdles, he works with sprinters such as Bryce Deadmon and Brittany Brown. In our conversation, Coach Johnson discusses his time at Arkansas, his role models growing up as well as provides insight on how athletes could prepare themselves for life after track. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Steve Lewis is a 3-time Olympic Gold medalist in the 400m and 4x400m and still holds the World Junior record in the 400m at 43.87, the only U20 athlete to ever break 44 seconds. In our conversation, we dive into Lewis background growing up in Los Angeles as well as the support he received from his family and community. He also talks about his family who served in the military and the work he does now to support the Veteran community. Lewis also talks about the competitive training environment both at UCLA and in the Santa Monica Track Club and how having sprint clubs and teams now would likely be a positive for the sport. He also provides insight into how he overcame multiple injuries and setbacks to not only be ready when it came time for the Olympics, but also transition into life after track. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Terrence Trammell is a 2-time Olympic medalist, 2-time World Champion, 3-time World Silver medalist and arguably the greatest sprint-hurdle combo athlete in history.  In our conversation, we talk about his upbringing in Atlanta and how. After watching the 1996 Olympics in his hometown at just 18 years old, he made it a goal to be at the next Games. He not only made it to the Olympics, but won silver in 2000 and would go on to win medals at various championships through 2010. We also discuss the importance of storytelling through the use of social media and the work he does now as a coach, mentor and leader through Trammell Athletics. Finally, as one of the greatest sprint/hurdler combo athletes in history, we discuss how he made his way onto the 4x100m relay that ran at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Mark Everett is a 3-time Olympian, World Champion and World Record Holder in the 600 yards. With personal bests of 44.59 and 1:43.20, he is still easily one of the best 400/800 combination runners in history. In our conversation, we touch upon various topics including, being born in Brooklyn but growing up in Florida, his entry into T&F, his relationships with other athletes in different events and how they helped him during and after his career, and we dive to how the sport is represented today and how athletes at all levels of success can really leverage social media to tell more compelling stories to draw fans in. We also discuss how, if he competed in the 400m Hurdles, he could have run under 46 seconds! Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Over the course of 30 plus years, Merlene Ottey competed in 7 Olympic Games, 9 World Championships, and earned almost 40 global medals both indoors and outdoors. Her longevity and career accolades led to her being called the "Queen of the Track”.  Though she has already been running for a few years, after watching Jamaica’s Don Quarrie’s win Olympic 200m Gold and 100m Silver medal at the 1976 Olympics, Ottey was further inspired to one day become an Olympic medalist herself. Ottey won her first major medal at the 1979 Pan American Games when she finished 3rd place in the 200m. This would be a prelude to her Olympic success as just a year later, at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, she earned a Bronze medal in the 200m, becoming the first ever Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Antonio Mckay is a 2-time Olympic Champion, 2-time World Indoor Champion and 440-yard Indoor World Record holder. Along with names like Steve Lewis, Alonzo Babers, Butch Reynolds and Danny Everrett, McKay was part of a Golden age of 400m sprinting in the 1980s.  In our conversation, we touch upon various topics including, growing up in Atlanta and his entry into T&F, the competition and camaraderie between him and other 400m runners, why he preferred running Indoors to Outdoors, managing finances as a professional T&F athlete, and why T&F doesn't get as much recognition in the sports world today. We also discuss how more current 400m runners should take a shot at the 800m instead of moving down to the 200m! Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, the United States 4x400m Relay team composed of Vincent Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James and Lee Evans won the Gold medal and broke the world record in one of the most impressive performances in the history of the sport. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/  

In 1984, Tessa Sanderson became the first Black athlete and first British athlete to win Olympic Gold in the Javelin Throw. Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/