Nell Jackson

Nell Jackson
Photo of Nell Jackson.jpg
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born(1929-07-01)July 1, 1929
Athens, Georgia
DiedApril 1, 1988(1988-04-01) (aged 58)
EducationTuskegee Institute
Springfield College
University of Iowa
OccupationCoach, Administrator
Sport
SportTrack and Field
University teamTuskegee Institute

Dr. Nell Jackson (July 1, 1929, Athens, Georgia – April 1, 1988)[1] was an Olympic sprinter and track coach. In 1956 she was the first African-American be named head coach of the U.S. Olympic Women's Track and Field Team. She also served as the head coach in the 1972 Olympic Games.

Education

Jackson earned her college degree from Tuskegee Institute in 1951, a master's degree from Springfield College in 1953, and a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa in 1962.[2]

Athletics

In 1944, at the age of 15, Jackson competed in the US national championships. In 1945, she competed in the AAU indoor and outdoor championships, placing second each time to Stella Walsh in the 200 meters.[3]

While she attended Tuskegee Institute, she was a member of the 1948 US Olympic team and won two national collegiate titles in 1950, in the 200 meters and the 400 meter relay. She competed at the 1951 Pan-American games, placing second in the 200 meters and first as a member of the US 400 meter relay team.[3]

Jackson set the American record for 200 meters in August 1949, running 24.2 seconds.[1][note 1]

Jackson was inducted into the US National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1989.[1]

Championship results

  • 1945 AAU: 200 m (2nd)
  • 1945 AAU Indoors: 200 m (2nd)
  • 1951 Pan-Am Games: 200 m (2nd)
  • 1951 Pan-Am Games: 400 m relay (1st)
  • 1950 NCAA: 200 m (1st)
  • 1950 NCAA: 400 m relay (1st)

Coaching and athletics administration

In 1953, Jackson returned to Tuskegee to work as the women's track and field coach, later also serving as the first men's swimming coach after creating the Tuskegee swimming program in 1958. She subsequently coached track and field at four universities: Iowa, Illinois State, Illinois, and Michigan State. She was the head coach of the 1970 national champion track team at the University of Illinois.[3]

In 1956, Jackson was the first black head coach for a US Olympic track and field team. She served as the head coach of the women's team at the 1956 and 1972 Olympics.[3] In 1973 she became the first Assistant Director of Athletics for Women at Michigan State.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Multiple sources note this time as an American record, though American Helen Stephens appears to have run 24.1 seconds in 1936.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Nell Jackson". USATF - Hall of Fame. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Nell Jackson Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports Reference. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Dr. Nell Jackson, USTFCCCA Special Inductee". U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  4. ^ "MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2010: Dr. Nell Jackson". Michigan State University Athletics. Retrieved 11 February 2019.

This page was last updated at 2019-11-16 05:33 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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