BEFORE TITLE IX, WOMEN SPORTS AND THE AIAW AND NCAA WOMEN’S SPORTS AT TEXAS WERE BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION AT THE INTER-MURAL level.

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 competitor's weakness. Track participant’’ 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.  

 1974-1975 Coach Jack Daniels

This was the women’s track teams 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 National Champion as a member of the 4  x 100 and 4 x 400 relays, and she is a 3-time All-American.

• Hollie Denny is National Champion as a member of the 4  x 100 and 800 medley relay, and she is a 3-time All-American.

• Lorri Kokkola is the National Champion in the Javelin, and she is a two time All-American.

• Sharon Neugebauer is National Champion as a member of the 4 x 800, and she is a two time All-American.  

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

• Florence Walker is a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 and a 6-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

5 school records were broken-  Susan Shutt 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. .

 Mary Bolden is a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 relay. She is a 3 time All-American.

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

9 team members were named All American.  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.

Stacey Clack is recognized as National Champion as a member of the    4 x 100.  She is a 3 time All-American.

Eileen Vanisi is the National Champion in the shotput in 1991 and 1994 and is an inductee into the HOH in 2010. She is also an 8 time All-American. 

Tamela Saldana is recognized as 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 4x100 relay team that won the national championship during the 1991 track season.

1992 Coach Terry Crawford

TOP OF THE CHARTS IN 1992

Longhorn women win the indoor and outdoor SWC championship (again). 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. In her final year as a Longhorn, she coached the women’s track team to an SWC indoor championship.

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 scores the most points in the SWC meet, Lynch shatters the meet record in the 1500, Manship wins the 3000 meter, and Vanisi wins the discus. Shola Lynch is 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.