Track is a fascinating sport that requires mental toughness and the ability to overcome adversity.

 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,