Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field

   NCAA Indoor National Championships2005, 2009NCAA Outdoor National Championships1981*NCAA Indoor National Runner up1981*, 1982*, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2010NCAA Outdoor National Runner up1982, 1984NCAA Indoor Tournament Appearances1981*, 1982*, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024NCAA Outdoor Tournament Appearances1976*, 1977*, 1978*, 1979*, 1980*, 1981*, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Asterisk = AIAW
Conference Indoor Championships1984, 2005, 2007, 2009Conference Outdoor Championships1981, 1982, 1983, 1984

The Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field program represents the University of Tennessee in the sport of track and field. The indoor and outdoor programs compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Lady Vols host their home outdoor meets at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, located on the university's Knoxville, Tennessee campus. They formally held meets indoors at Stokely Athletic Center until the arenas demolition in 2012, but will soon have a new indoor track facility sometime in the 2020s.[5] The team is led by current head coach Duane Ross who took over the program after the firing of Beth Alford-Sullivan in May 2022.

Along with all other UT women's sports teams, it used the nickname "Lady Volunteers" (or the short form "Lady Vols") until the 2015–16 school year, when the school dropped the "Lady" prefix from the nicknames of all women's teams except in basketball.[6] In 2017 the university announced the return of the “Lady Volunteer” name.[7]

Throughout the program's history, the Lady Vols have produced 23 NCAA Indoor Individual Champions, 14 NCAA Outdoor Individual Champions, won 8 conference titles, and 3 team national championships. While not as successful historically as the Tennessee men's program, the Lady Vols have appeared in 33 NCAA Indoor Championships (4th most in SEC) and 37 Outdoor Championships (3rd most in SEC). Additionally, the program has finished as national runner up 7 times in Indoor Track and 2 times in Outdoor Track, and produced 4 Olympic Medalists.[8]

Head coaches

Source[9]

# Coach Years Seasons National Championships Conference Championships
Indoor Outdoor Indoor Outdoor
1 Terry Crawford 1974–1984 11 – 1 1 4
2 Gary Schwartz 1985–1988 4 – – – –
3 Dorothy Doolittle 1989–1997 9 – – – –
4 Myrtle Ferguson 1998–2002 5 – – – –
6 J.J. Clark 2003–2014 12 2 – 3 –
7 Beth Alford-Sullivan 2015-2022 8 – – – –
8 Duane Ross 2023- 0 – – – –
Total 2 1 4 4

Yearly Record

Source[10]

Season Coach NCAA Conference
Indoor Outdoor Indoor Outdoor
Independent (AIAW)
1976 Terry Crawford – 4th (AIAW) – –
1977 Terry Crawford – 4th (AIAW) – –
1978 Terry Crawford – 13th (AIAW) – –
1979 Terry Crawford – 3rd (AIAW) – –
1980 Terry Crawford – 4th (AIAW) – –
Southeastern Conference
1981 Terry Crawford 2nd (AIAW) 1st (AIAW) – 1st (197)
1982 Terry Crawford 2nd (AIAW) 2nd (126) – 1st (214)
1983 Terry Crawford 2nd (44) 4th (87) – 1st (223)
1984 Terry Crawford 2nd (48) 2nd (124) 1st (148.5) 1st (207)
1985 Gary Schwartz 6th (22) 7th (30) 3rd (94.5) 2nd (109)
1986 Gary Schwartz 2nd (26) 4th (36) 3rd (87.3) 3rd (87.5)
1987 Gary Schwartz 2nd (30) 4th (33) 4th (79) 4th (80)
1988 Gary Schwartz 10th (12) 21st (12) 3rd (79) 3rd (84)
1989 Dorothy Doolittle T-32nd (2) 37th (6) 2nd (100) 3rd (91)
1990 Dorothy Doolittle T-9th (14) 6th (28) 3rd (83) 3rd (106)
1991 Dorothy Doolittle T-6th (24) 5th (33) 3rd (91) 3rd (84)
1992 Dorothy Doolittle T-13th (12) T-9th (21) 4th (69) 5th (75.5)
1993 Dorothy Doolittle – 18th (25) 5th (54) 5th (81)
1994 Dorothy Doolittle 11th (17) 5th (30) 4th (73.3) 3rd (125)
1995 Dorothy Doolittle 18th (11) 9th (23) 4th (64) 3rd (125)
1996 Dorothy Doolittle – T-49th (3) 7th (83) 9th (106)
1997 Dorothy Doolittle – T-18th (14) T-7th (33) 7th (64)
1998 Myrtle Ferguson T-31st (7) T-15th (15) 6th (69) 7th (5.5)
1999 Myrtle Ferguson T-32nd (6) T-20th (12) 5th (54) 6th (81)
2000 Myrtle Ferguson – – 8th (35) 6th (71.25)
2001 Myrtle Ferguson T-58th (1) T-60th (2) 10th (64) 9th (125)
2002 Myrtle Ferguson T-42nd (3) T-39th (6) 7th (21) 6th (52.25)
2003 J.J. Clark T-23rd (8) T-22nd (12) 9th (25) 7th (55)
2004 J.J. Clark 4th (43) T-7th (24) 2nd (99.5) 6th (78.5)
2005 J.J. Clark 1st (46) 4th (40) 1st (135.5) 3rd (108.3)
2006 J.J. Clark T-18th (13) 18th (15) T-3rd (78.5) 5th (78)
2007 J.J. Clark 3rd (30) T-27th (9) 1st (120) 4th (89)
2008 J.J. Clark T-8th (19) T-13th (21) 2nd (116) 4th (85)
2009 J.J. Clark 1st (42) T-10th (21) 1st (42) 3rd (106)
2010 J.J. Clark 2nd (36) T-26th (10) 4th (77) 7th (62)
2011 J.J. Clark T-7th (24) T-11th (20) 3rd (78) 5th (92)
2012 J.J. Clark T-48th (3) T-9th (21) 4th (68) 5th (97)
2013 J.J. Clark – – 8th (29) 9th (39.5)
2014 J.J. Clark – T-59th (1) 7th (35) 10th (28)
2015 Beth Alford-Sullivan T-38th (5) T-56th (3) 10th (22) 14th (15)
2016 Beth Alford-Sullivan 7th (30) T-29th (8) T-4th (77) 4th (62)
2017 Beth Alford-Sullivan – T-62nd (2) 12th (14.5) T-11th (27)
2018 Beth Alford-Sullivan T-40th (4) T-25th (11) 11th (21) 4th (78)
2019 Beth Alford-Sullivan T-21st (10) T-66th (1) 8th (40) 9th (45.5)
2020 Beth Alford-Sullivan – – T-8th (43) –
2021 Beth Alford-Sullivan T-40th (3) T-46th (5) 9th (32) 9th (38)
2022 Beth Alford-Sullivan 16th (12) T-62nd (1) 6th (50) 9th (34)
2023 Duane Ross T-7th (24) T-10th (19) 3rd (56.33) 5th (67)
2024 Duane Ross T-17th (13) 8th (38)
Total 2 1 4 4

Note: The 2020 season was canceled after the SEC Indoor Championships due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the SEC Outdoor and both NCAA Championships were not held.

NCAA Individual Event Champions

The Lady Vols have claimed 23 NCAA Indoor individual titles, 14 NCAA Outdoor individual crowns, 13 AIAW individual champions, and 3 DGWS wins.[11]

Indoor
Year Name Event Time/Mark
1981 (AIAW) Delisa Walton 600m 1:26.56
1982 (AIAW) Delisa Walton 600y 1:17.38
1982 (AIAW) Benita Fitzgerald 60y Hurdles 7.54
1982 (AIAW) Rose Hauch Shot Put 55-0
1982 (AIAW) Joetta Clark 1000y 2:26.70
1983 Delisa Walton 600y 1:20.21
1983 Joetta Clark 800y 2:06.02
1983 Barksdale, Clark, Rattray, Walton Mile Relay 2:06.02
1984 Cathy Rattray 500m 1:10.82
1984 Joetta Clark 1000m 2:43.85
1984 Bolden, Rattray, Barksdale, Oliver 4x400 Meter Relay 3:37.04
1984 Davidson, Quelch, Harvey, Clark 4x800 Meter Relay 8:40.17
1986 Ilrey Oliver 500m 109.68
1986 McLaughlin, Benjamin, Martin, Oliver 4x400 Meter Relay 3:34.19
1987 LaVonna Martin 55m Hurdles 7.57
1988 LaVonna Martin 55m Hurdles 7.56
1991 Wiegand 3000m 9:09.83
1991 Johnson, Jones, Olkowski, Wiegand 4x800 Relay 8:36.32
2004 Nicole Cook 800m 2:03.27
2004 Novak, Trotter, Cook, Hyatt Distance Medley Relay 11:06.07
2005 Tianna Madison Long Jump 6.78m (22-3)
2008 Sheffey, Jones, Wright, Bowman Distance Medley Relay 11:01.97
2009 Sarah Bowman Mile 4:29.72
2009 Wright, Jones, Price, Bowman Distance Medley Relay 10:50.98
2010 Phoebe Wright 800m 2:02.55
2010 Wright, Wortham, Price, Sheffey Distance Medley Relay 10:58.37
2011 Jackie Areson 5000m 16:04.16
2016 Felicia Brown 200m 22.47
Outdoor
Year Name Event Time/Mark
1969 (DGWS) Terry Hull 220y 25.4
1969 (DGWS) Terry Hull 440y 56.4
1970 (DGWS) Terry Hull 880y 2:09.70
1977 (AIAW) Brenda Webb 5000m 16:13.90
1977 (AIAW) Jane Haist Discus 188-5
1979 (AIAW) Brenda Webb 1500m 4:17.06
1979 (AIAW) Brenda Webb 3000m 9:15.80
1980 (AIAW) Delisa Walton 800m 2:04.88
1981 (AIAW) Benita Fitzgerald 100m Hurdles 13.12
1981 (AIAW) Barksdale, Fitzgerald, Rattray, Walton 4x200m Medley Relay 1:36.70
1981 (AIAW) Barksdale, Clark, Rattray, Walton 4x400m Relay 3:31.70
1982 Delisa Walton 800m 2:05.22
1982 Kathy Bryant 5000m 16:10.41
1982 Benita Fitzgerald 100m Hurdles 13.13
1982 Barksdale, Clark, Rattray, Walton 4x400m Relay 3:28.55
1983 Joetta Clark 800m 2:02.28
1983 Benita Fitzgerald 100m Hurdles 12.84
1984 Joetta Clark 800m 2:02.60
1986 Alisa Harvey 1500m 4:17.48
1986 Benjamin, Oliver, Martin, McLaughlin 4x400m Relay 3:29.35
1987 LaVonna Martin 100m Hurdles 13.05
1994 Dedra Davis Long Jump 22-5.75
2004 DeeDee Trotter 400m 50.32
2005 Tianna Madison Long Jump 21-10.25
2010 Pheobe Wright 800m 2:01.40

Conference Individual Event Champions

Through the end of the 2022 season, the Lady Vols have won a total of 76 SEC Indoor individual championships, and 111 SEC Outdoor individual titles.[12]

Indoor
Event Titles
55-Meter Hurdles 2
60-Meter Hurdles 2
55 Meters 1
60 Meters 2
200 Meters 2
300 Yards 2
400 Meters 2
600 Yards 1
800 Meters 8
1000 Meters 4
1500 Meters 1
Mile 5
3000 Meters 10
5000 Meters 4
4x400-Meter Relay 6
4x800-Meter Relay 4
Distance Medley Relay 8
High Jump 2
Long Jump 1
Pole Vault 1
Shot Put 6
Weight Throw 1
Pentathlon 2
Outdoor
Event Titles
100-Meter Hurdles 8
400-Meter Hurdles 6
100 Meters 6
200 Meters 5
400 Meters 6
800 Meters 11
1500 Meters 13
3000 Meters 3
5000 Meters 8
10000 Meters 2
4x100-Meter Relay 2
4x400-Meter Relay 5
4x800-Meter Relay 1
800-Meter Medley Relay 1
Long Jump 4
Pole Vault 3
Shot Put 8
Discus 9
Hammer Throw 2
Javelin 2
Heptathlon 6


Tennessee Lady Volunteer Olympians

Through the 2020 Summer Olympics, 18 current and former Lady Vols have represented 8 different nations in the Olympic Games. They have brought home a total of 8 medals, including 6 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal.[13]

Medalists

Athlete Country Olympics Event Medal
Benita Fitzgerald-Brown  United States 1984 Los Angeles 100 m hurdles Gold
Tianna Madison  United States 2012 London 4x100 m relay Gold
2016 Rio Long Jump Gold
100 m relay Gold
LaVonna Martin  United States 1992 Barcelona 100 m hurdles Silver
DeeDee Trotter  United States 2004 Athens 4x400 m relay Gold
2012 London 4x400 m relay Gold
400 m Bronze

Participants

Athlete Country Olympics
Missy Alston  United States 1984 Los Angeles
Alice Annum  Ghana 1964 Tokyo
1968 Mexico City
1972 Munich
Sharrieffa Barksdale  United States 1984 Los Angeles
Joetta Clark-Diggs  United States 1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
Dedra Davis  Bahamas 1992 Barcelona
Kali Davis-White  Jamaica 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Veronica Findlay  Jamaica 1984 Los Angeles
Jane Haist  Canada 1976 Montreal
Joella Lloyd  Antigua and Barbuda 2020 Tokyo
Ilrey Oliver  Jamaica 1984 Los Angeles
Stamatia Scarvelis  Greece 2020 Tokyo
Cathy Rattray-Williams  Jamaica 1980 Moscow
1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
Patricia Walsh  Ireland 1984 Los Angeles
Erica Witter  Canada 2000 Sydney

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tennessee athletics parts ways with track and field director Beth Alford-Sullivan".
  2. ^ "Tennessee tabs Duane Ross, NCAA coach of the year in 2021, to lead track and field program".
  3. ^ "Focused on the Future, White Launches "My All" Campaign".
  4. ^ "General Information". UTSports.com. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Focused on the Future, White Launches "My All" Campaign".
  6. ^ Megargee, Steve (June 26, 2015). "Tennessee set to make move to a lone 'Lady Vols' team". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "University of Tennessee announces return of Lady Vols logo for all sports".
  8. ^ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/track_indoor_champs_records/2021-22/D1Women.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  9. ^ https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/utsports.com/documents/2021/7/30/TRACK_AND_FIELD_2021_22_Record_Book.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  10. ^ https://utsports.com/documents/2021/7/30/TRACK_AND_FIELD_2021_22_Record_Book.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/utsports.com/documents/2021/7/30/TRACK_AND_FIELD_2021_22_Record_Book.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  12. ^ https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/utsports.com/documents/2021/7/30/TRACK_AND_FIELD_2021_22_Record_Book.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  13. ^ https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/utsports.com/documents/2021/7/30/TRACK_AND_FIELD_2021_22_Record_Book.pdf [bare URL PDF]
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