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The UF Trackmen & Trackwomen Archives 1970's & 1980's

Roster

James E. DeWitt was on the Track Team with Coach Carnes 1966 but had a season ending injury and didn't finish Season...Graduated and Taught, Coached Football, Track for 30+yrs sending many good Athletes to the FB, Track Team.

Ed TC Wilson / aka ‘The Hammer-man’ /

The UF YEARS

1970-1973 UF Track and Cross Country

Distance Runner: Mile, 3mile, 6mile, Marathon

1. Ed TC Wilson Is A Pioneering Black Student and Athlete That Helped DESEGREGATE and INTERGRATE The University Of Florida In The Classroom and in Athletics. 1970-1973

2. Ed TC Wilson Is One Of The First 12 Black Athletes To ORIGINALLY Compete For The University Of Florida [ Fall Of 1971 ]

3. Ed TC Wilson Is One Of The First 6 Black Athletes To Break A School Record At UF

4. Ed TC Wilson Is The 2nd BLACK Athlete In UF Athletic History! To Set A SCHOOL RECORD As A WALK ON! April 1972 - Marathon / ( Johnny Brown was the 1st - 6 Mile Run )

5. In Nov1971 @ age 19 - Ed TC Wilson Finished Directly Behind The #1 Marathon Runner In The WORLD ( FRANK SHORTER ) In A 12 Mile Race

6. In APRIL Of 1972 Ed TC Wilson Ran One Of The Fastest ‘FIRST TIME ‘ Marathons By A ‘TEEN-AGER’ In Running HISTORY!!! AGE 19 26.2miles In 2hrs 39min ! / 1972 Florida Relays

7. By Doing Something Few Distance Runners In History Have Ever Done - RUN A SUB 2:40 Marathon AS A TEEN-AGER!!! / Something That Takes GUTS, DARING, COURAGE, and TOUGHNESS That Few Have At Age 19!!!

8. When Head Track and Coaching Legend JIMMY CARNES Recognized His Accomplishment As A NEW UF SCHOOL RECORD It Meant - ED TC WILSON Had Made UF / SEC / and NCAA ‘ATHLETIC HISTORY’ !!! as The 1st BLACK ATHLETE To Set A School Record At A MAJOR ‘WHITE’ UNIVERSITY - In A ‘DISTANCE RUNNING EVENT’ - Longer Than 6 Miles - In NCAA HISTORY!!!

In The Spring Of 1971 During The Greatest Racial Tension In The History Of UF / Ed TC WILSON RESISTED Being Threatened and Bullied To WITHDRAW From School / I Didn’t Come To The University Of Florida TO QUIT - I Came To DESEGREGATE, INTEGRATE, and Help CHANGE The Racial History / To Be A Pioneer That Helped PAVE THE WAY For Other Black Students and Athletes / If I Had Withdrawn - I Never Would Have Made UF - SEC - and NCAA ATHLETIC HISTORY A Year Later ! - Being The 1st To Do Something Is Always FOREVER / It’s A RECORD That Can Never Be Broken or Changed

Jeremy Stallings 1993 - 1997 - Stanton HS - Stanton TX

UFTF Team Captain 1996-1997

UF Cross-Country Team Captain 1996

UFTF MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETE - 1995 Indoor Track

UFTF MVP 1997

US Junior Runner Up 800M 1993

PanAm Junior Games Bronze Medal 800M 1993

UF School Record Holder - Distance Medley Relay

8-Time NCAA Qualifier 800M - Mile - Distance Medley Relay

6-Time All American 800M - Mile - Distance Medley Relay

Olympic Trials Qualifier 800M - 1996

SEC CHAMPION - Mile - 1997

FLORIDA RELAYS CHAMPION - 4x800 - 1997

Personal Bests:

Indoor 800 - 1:48.03

Outdoor 800 - 1:47.50

Indoor Mile - 4:01.73

Takydra Robinson

A member of the Women’s University of Florida Track Team from 1997 to 2001. Main events were the 100 and 200 meter dashes while the 4x100 meter relay was a staple as well. One-time All American (1998 NCAA Outdoor 4x100 meter relay team).

SEKOU CLARKE

Sékou Clarke is the founder of the Sekou Clarke Law Group. As an immigrant himself, he has firsthand experience with the intricacies and challenges navigating the U.S. Immigration system.

Sekou’s unique vision and personal experiences led to the birth of The Sekou Clarke Law Group. A full-service Immigration Law firm, providing services in Family Immigration, Large and Small Business Employment visas, Sports Visas, Investor Visas, Deportation Defense and Immigrant Injury.

The Sekou Clarke Law Firm is quickly making a name for itself in Personal Injury. The firm represents injured clients in Auto accidents, slip and fall and Medical negligence throughout the State of Florida. The Firm has focused on a client-based approach to maximize medical and settlement recovery.

Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Sekou’s work ethic and athletic ability earned him a full athletic Track and Field scholarship to the University of Florida where he was team captain, 10-time All-American, and helped the Gators to 2 National titles.

Sekou retired from Collegiate and International Track and field competitions, with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Leo University. Sekou followed his dream to be an advocate for people whose voices needed to be heard and whose rights needed to be protected and pursued Law School. Sekou achieved his Juris Doctor Degree from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2016.

Sekou started his legal career as an associate attorney at a Personal Injury law Firm in Clermont, Florida. Soon after Sekou joined a Major law Firm in Downtown, Orlando, as an associate Personal injury attorney and the lead attorney for the firm’s Immigration Department.

Sekou’s experience working with Immigrants developed his passion for representation and honed a keen sense for litigation. The discipline and patience from Sekou’s sports background is evident in his zealous approach to fighting for his clients and his unyielding dedication in ensuring that his clients are adequately heard, represented and compensated.

In 2018, Sekou was recognized for Excellence in Immigration Law by the Association of American Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 in Immigration Law. In 2019, Sekou was recognized by premier Lawyers of America Top 40 under 40 in recognition of $1+ Million Recovered in Personal Injury. In addition, Sekou was named a Team Jamaica Bickle International Ambassador for his philanthropic community efforts and excellence in the practice of Law. Sekou enjoys participating in community outreach programs and mentoring athletes and High school students.

Based on Sekou’s personal experiences in the US as an Immigrant coupled with his Journey as an attorney in representing Immigrants he has Authored the Book “ Surviving Trump’s America- An immigrant’s Guide in 2020.

Sekou is Licensed to practice in all Florida State Courts, the Middle and Southern District of Florida and he is a member of the American Bar Association, Florida Bar Association, Association of Immigration Lawyers and Orange County Bar Association.

BETH FARMER - LUSNIA

Beth Farmer Lusnia

Seven-time All-American

SEC 10,000 meter record of 32:49 as a Junior

Three time SEC winner in 10,000 meters in 1982,1983 and 1984

Back to back SEC Indoor Championships in 3,000 meters

NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships top 20 in 1983, 1985

1984 U.S Women’s Marathon Trials 18 th place finish with a time of 2:36:22

Married Steve Lusnia – high jumper on UF Track and Field team

Two children

Ciara Lusnia- graduated from UF in May of 2019, Summa Cum Laude in

Neurobiology and minor in Theatre. Competed for UF Crew team and won first

place in the Dad Vail National Collegiate Championships in the Light Weight

Women’s 4 boat.

Conor Lusnia- currently a Junior at UF studying Economics. Conor is a member of

the UF Cheer Squad.

NADIA GRAHAM

UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2019 at BULL GATOR ZONE

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UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2018 at BULL GATOR ZONE

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UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2017 at BULL GATOR ZONE

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UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2016 at F-CLUB

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UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2015 at F-CLUB

Will Claye DID NOT RECEIVE the award

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UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2014

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2014 Blue Goose Awards Honorees at UF President House

BEAUFORT BROWN

(born: Tampa, Florida USA 1953)

University of Florida 1971 – 1975 “The Genesis of Champions Era”

Coaches: Jimmy Carnes, Head; Roy Benson, Asst; Dave Atkins,

440 and Relays

2011

I was recruited to the University of Florida's Track Program in 1971, by Head Coach Jimmy Carnes. While in Tampa Florida’s Middleton High School, I played football; was track team captain; and had won Championship titles at the Conference, District, Regional, and State levels. 　When I was competing in the State of Florida’s Championship meet, Coach Carnes came to watch me run the 440 and the sprint medley relay—both of which I was favored to win. I anchored and won the relay; but when I made the mistake of looking back near the finish line, I lost the 440! As a result, Coach put me on the Gators’ team—but he wouldn’t give me a scholarship until I proved myself. From that point on, I never looked back—either literally or figuratively. My time as a Trackman at the University of Florida was The Best Time of My Life! I made some life-long friends with some great guys. Together, we put UF on the National Track and Field “map”, and we were among UF Track’s pioneers in “The Genesis of Champions” era. Florida’s jumpers, vaulters, and fielders were already soaring, so we runners began the tradition of the “Flat Out Flyin’ Florida Gators!” I loved impressing the fans with my trademark ‘flying’ leap across the finish line. The UF Track Team, several individuals and I became SEC Champions; my mile-relay teammates and I became National Champions; and I enjoyed earning a long list of honors and awards—including being elected team captain for an unprecedented three years! Coach Carnes encouraged me to be a versatile runner by challenging me to run everything from sprints to middle distances (100 – 880 yds)! I clocked some of the fastest times in the world for several events; ran in prestigious invitational meets; qualified for the Olympic Trials; and beat the Russians in the Jr. Olympics, while setting and shattering UF records all along the way! I even managed to make the Dean’s List! One newspaper article proclaimed, “Brown Is Beautiful!” and another nicknamed me, “Bodacious!”

When I arrived at UF, I met my friend and college sweetheart, Barbara Lee, who graduated from UF cum laude. Three years later, we were married; and we now have three adult children—all of whom are honor students and musicians. Older son, Beaufort III—aka “Robb”—has graduated from USF; son Brandon has graduated cum laude from UF; and daughter Briahna is currently a student at UF (Class of 2012).

Four years after arriving at UF, I graduated as an Outstanding Senior. Then, I earned my state insurance license and worked in that area for a few years. Since that time, I have been blessed to work as an educator in the field I love—health, fitness, and physical education. In addition to working in the Florida school system, I have coached track at the high school and college levels; managed swimming programs; and worked with Migrant and Special Olympics. I have been honored by induction into three Halls of Fame. I learned to water-ski—even barefoot! I am an avid student of religious studies and a spiritual teacher. My wife and I recently had a great visit to Mayan lands; so I hope to do more traveling. I enjoy grilling, cooking—and eating—but I still do a little running to stay in shape. *lol*

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LORI MERCER

In high school (1979 – 1981) Lori earned All-America status as a shot putter and discus thrower for Cheyenne Central High School where she held the state record in the Shot Put for over 20 years and continues to hold the record in her high school. She was an 8 time State Champion in the shot put, discus, and softball throw. She was heavily recruited in high school and after attending Utah State University from 1981-1982, she followed her coach to the University of Florida where she made a name for herself. In the fall of 1983 while training in “THE SWAMP” she was challenged by linebacker great Wilbur Marshall in a baseball throwing competition. To the amazement of her coach and all

in attendance, she threw a baseball the length of Florida Field splitting the uprights of the goal posts at the other end. Her coach was so impressed that he put a javelin in her hand and her track career took flight. In the spring of 1984 she qualified for the NCAA Championships where she finished 3rd and qualified for the Olympic Trials where she finished 8th ; after only training in the even for eight months.

She has always considered her throwing ability a gift from God stating, “I don’t know many people who grow up dreaming of throwing the javelin!” Since that time she set the University of Florida record for the javelin at 188’ 8”. Lori also set records and won the Penn Relays two years in a row (1985 and1986) and won the Gatorade Classic. At the 1985 US Championships she finished 2nd earning her a spot on the United States Track and Field Team. She competed in several international competitions that year and ended that season with a trip to Tokyo Japan where she finished 11th in the World University Games. She carried a US top 10 ranking 4 out of the 5 years she competed on the national and international track circuit and was a three time Collegiate All-America and two time Olympic Trials finalist in the javelin.

Lori earned a BA in Health Science from the University of Florida in 1986. Since then she has earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling Education, and a Masters of Arts in Education: Administration and Supervision. She has worked for the past 25 years with disadvantaged, inner city youth. She currently resides in Newark, NJ and works in Jersey City, NJ at the Hudson County Schools of Technology/County Prep High School where she is a School Counselor. She continues to stay close to her athletic roots and

has been a volunteer throws coach at Newark Central High School and an assistant volleyball coach at Jersey City’s Snyder High School. She also continues to play competitive volleyball and likes to take her javelins out often to take road trips down memory lane.

Go Gators

Go UFTFAA

Hugo Miller

UFTFAA

President

UFTFAA BLUE GOOSE AWARDS 2013

Copyright Hugo R. Miller aka Hugeaux All Rights Reserved. Permission Granted. copy. 2011

" Passing the Baton "

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Home of The Blue Goose Award

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