University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Welcomes Back Greats at 2016 Track Reunion
April 09, 2016 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee hosted the its 2016 Track and Field Alumni Reunion on Saturday with a special ceremony at noon and an alumni dinner in the evening with over 200 alums back on Rocky Top.
At noon, the Tennessee coaches and student-athletes honored former head coach Terry Crawford and UT's 1981 AIAW national championships team with a special ceremony at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center indoor football field. At 5 p.m., UT hosted its alumni dinner at the Tennessee Terrace in Neyland Stadium.
"It was just an absolute honor to have these Tennessee Vols back with us this weekend," Tennessee director of track and field and cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "We had just a great amount of people that came from all of the eras, both men and women, with all of the success in one room together and just enjoying themselves. It was just tremendous. It was great to honor coach Terry Crawford and her successes in the early years for the women and the Lady Vols. On behalf of my entire program, it was a thrill to have that much passion behind our sport back in town supporting us."
Christian Coleman was awarded the 2016 Ed Murphey Award, which recognizes Tennessee's men's MVP. Cameron Brown received the 2016 Chuck Rohe Award, which is given for outstanding leadership.
Tennessee Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor Dave Hart, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Donna Thomas and Sullivan addressed the crowd in the evening at the dinner at the Tennessee Terrace, thanking the alums for their passion, commitment and contributions to the Tennessee track and field program. All-Americans Coleman and Chelsea Blaase also spoke the alums and held a Q&A session at the dinner.
Crawford was Tennessee's head coach from 1974 to 1984. In addition to the 1981 AIAW national title, she led Tennessee to four-straight SEC outdoor crowns from 1981-84, the 1984 SEC indoor title and six national runner-up team finishes (1981 AIAW Indoor, 1982 AIAW Indoor, 1982 NCAA Outdoor, 1983 NCAA Indoor, 1984 NCAA Indoor, 1984 NCAA Outdoor). Crawford produced 120 All-America honors and 19 individual national champions during her time on Rocky Top.
The 1981 national champions scored 61 team points and stand as one of the strongest teams in Tennessee history. Benita Fitzgerald was the national champ in the 100-meter hurdles. UT's 4x400m relay of Sharrieffa Barksdale, Joetta Clark, Cathy Rattray and Delisa Walton and the 800-meter medley relay of Barksdale, Fitzgerald, Rattray and Walton also captured national titles. Rose Hauch (shot put) and Walton (800 meters) were national runners-up and Clark took third place in the 800 meters.
