Davian Clarke

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

JAMAICAN sprint hurdler Lacena Golding-Clarke has called it quits after 11 years of professional track and field.

Golding-Clarke, who was a finalist in the 60m hurdles at the recent IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, her sixth straight Indoor Championships final, made the decision about a week ago.

“I’m now ready to take on the next chapter in life. I have been a professional athlete for 11 years and it has been an amazing career,” Golding-Clarke told the Observer.

The 35-year-old former Vere Technical, San Jacinto Junior College and Auburn University star who was fourth twice in the Indoor Championships — in 2003 in Birmingham, England, and 2008 in Valencia, Spain — says she is pleased with her career.

“I’m very pleased and happy about what I’ve done throughout my career; the journey has been great,” she said.

Golding-Clarke, who is married to former Jamaica quarter-miler Davian Clarke and won the 100m hurdles gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, said:

“Track and field has been a fun-filled job for me. I had great days and sometimes bad days, but all in all, it was awesome. Every day of my career was a blast and it’s only because I loved and enjoyed track and field,” she added.

Golding-Clarke, who has personal bests of 7.83 seconds and 12,68 seconds for the Indoors 60m hurdles and 100m hurdles, respectively, had a diverse career, winning two long jump titles at Girls Champs and winning at every level, including the CARIFTA Games and Penn Relays.

She is a nine-time South Eastern Conference Champion at Auburn and runner-up four times at the NCAA level, while competing at three Olympic Games in 1996, 2000 and 2004. She also competed at the IAAF World Outdoors Championships on five occasions.

LOCAL RUNNING

By John Maher
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, November 13, 2009

Marion Jones will be a featured speaker Sunday morning before the USA Track and Field Lions Relays at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy.

“I’ll be talking about my journey, my challenges and my setbacks. It’s not going to be some set speech,” said Jones, won three golds and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “I’ve been speaking at a number of high schools, mainly in Dallas.”

Jones, who has been an Austin resident for more than a year, returned her Olympic medals in 2007 after being implicated in the BALCO scandal and admitting to steroid use. She also admitted to lying to a federal grand jury and was sentenced to six months in prison and to complete 800 hours of community service. Her talks, a series entitled “Take a Break,” are a part of that commitment.

“It’s not just for kids,” Jones said of her free talk. “It’s for anybody.”

Jones’ husband, Obadele Thompson, and former Jamaican sprinter Davian Clarke also will hold a sprinting clinic at St. Michael’s. Thompson, who was a star at UTEP, won an Olympic bronze medal in the 100 meters for Barbados at the Sydney Games. Clarke ran on Jamaica’s 1,600-meter relay team that claimed a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Jones’ talk is scheduled for 9 a.m., and the sprinting clinic will follow.

jmaher@statesman.com; 445-3956

Mr. Davilous has hit the blogwaves. Stay tuned for more info, news, and helpful tips for up and coming athletes.