Jearl

Clark

Events: 400m, 800m
Height: 5-7
Weight: 129
PRs: 200m - 23.03 (1997); 400m - 49.40 (1997); 800m - 1:56.40 AR (1999)
Born: 1966, in Gainesville, Fla.
Current Residence: Knoxville, Tenn.
High School: Buchholz HS (Fla.) '84
College: Alabama A&M '89
Coach: J.J. Clark
Agent: John Nubani
Club: New Balance

Career Highlights: 5-time Olympian; 1996 and 2000 Olympic gold medalist (4x400); 92 Olympic silver medalist (4x400); 93 World 400m champion; 97 World Indoor 400m champion; 93, 95, 2003 World Outdoor Championships gold medalist (4x400); 97, 99 World Outdoor Champs silver medalist (4x400); 4-time U.S. Outdoor 400m champion (93, 95, 97, 02); 4-time U.S. Outdoor 800m champion (98, 99, 03, 04); 2001 U.S. Indoor 800m champ; 1992 World Cup 400m champion; two-time World Championship 400m bronze medalist (95, 97)

Current American record holder Clark at age 37 won her fourth U.S. outdoor title and made her fifth career Olympic Team by winning the 800 meters at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Clark has competed at the '92, '96, '00 and '04 Games and was on the relay pool in 1988 but did not compete.  For the second time in her career, Clark at the 2000 Olympic Games, captured a gold medal in the 4x400m relay. She also pocketed relay gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Clark is coached by her husband, J.J. Clark, himself a 3:41.5 runner at 1,500m. The two were married November 30, 1996. Sisters-in-law are fellow 800m Olympians Joetta and Hazel Clark...originally a long jumper, Clark left that event behind when she graduated from college Alabama A&M...never placed lower than 3rd at NCAA Division II nationals when Clark competed for them. She earned her degree in business in 1988...became a godmother in September 1998, to the daughter of Nekita Beasley (former Florida 800 star)...in 2002 Clark was ranked #1 in the 400m in the U.S. for the seventh time...her 11-appearances in the T&FN rankings is an event record...in 2002 Jearl and J.J. relocated from Gainesville, Fla., to Knoxville, Tenn where J.J. is the womens head coach at the University of Tennessee. Jearl says getting used to the winters has been an adjustment.

2005: Qualified with the 5th fastest time (2:04.42) at USA Outdoor Champs (did not run in final).
2004: Olympic Trials 800m champion (1:59.06)6th at Olympic Games (1:57.27)1st at Stockholm (1:59.46)2nd at Zurich (1:58.03)2nd at Rieti (1:58.64)1st in 500 yd run at Verizon Millrose Games (1:03.68i)1st in 500m at Penn State (1:08.71i)ranked #5 in the world (#1 U.S.) at the 400m and #7 in the U.S. at the 800m by T&FNbest of 1:57.27.
2003: USA Outdoor 800m champion (1:58.84)World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist (3rd leg 3:22.63)4th in heat 3 in first round at World Outdoor Championships 800m (2:04.21)runner-up at Nike Prefontaine Classic (1:58.61, U.S. Leader)1st at Verizon Millrose Games 400m (55.08)4th in Zurich 400m (50.53)ranked #10 at 400m in the world (#2 U.S.) and #1 in the U.S. at 800m by T&FNbests of 400m (50.53) and 800m (1:58.61).
2002: USA Outdoor 400m champ (50.91)ran 1:59.02 for 800m on February 251st in semi (53.50) at U.S. Indoors but did not compete in final2nd at World Cup (50.27)3rd in Monaco (50.37)1st at Oracle U.S. Open (50.45)3rd at Brussels (50.76)3rd at Zurich 800m (1:58.41) ranked #3 in the world, #1 in U.S. at 400m, #2 in U.S. at 800m by T&FNbests of 50.27AL, 1:58.41.
2001: Won U.S. Indoor 800m (2:00.96) and Tyson Invitational (2:01.00)suffered a leg injury at U.S. Outdoors ran 2nd leg on U.S. 4th-place 4x400m relay team at World Championships (3:26.88)ran lead leg on U.S. gold medal-winning 4x400m at Goodwill Games (3:24.63)ran 50.80 to win at Indianapolis on 7/28ranked #2 in U.S. at 400m by T&FNbests of 50.80 and 2:00.96i.
2000: Olympic gold medalist in 4x400m relay (1st leg), 5th in semifinal 800m (1:59.44) in Sydney after suffering from the flu...2nd in 400 (50.23) and 800 (1:59.12) at Olympic Trials...later decided to concentrate on 800 at Olympics...in 800, joined sisters-in-law Hazel Clark and Joetta Clark-Diggs on Olympic team ...won semifinal in 400 at USA Indoors with a world-leading 51.36 but did not compete in final because of injury... in Golden League competition, finished 2nd at Monaco (50.04)...ran AR and world best 1:00.61 for 500 yards indoors... ranked #9 in world (#3 U.S.) in 400 and #8 in U.S. in 800 by T&FN... bests of 23.13, 50.04 and 1:59.12.
1999: Won 800 at USA Outdoors (1:59.47)... 4th at World Outdoor Champs; also anchored silver medal winning 4x400 relay...won 400 at USA Indoors... 3rd at World Indoors... ranked #7 in world (#1 U.S.) in 400 and #4 in world (#1 U.S.) in 800...bests of 23.92i, 49.98 and 1:56.40AR.
1998: Won 400 at USA Indoors (51.11)...won the 800 at USA Outdoors (1:58.78) ...400 best of 50.11 came in 4th-place run in Rome...2nd in 800 at Goodwill Games (1:59.08)...American record 1:56.43 for 2nd at Zurichs Weltklasse...4th in 800 at World Cup; anchor of 4th-place 4x400 (49.7 for 3:25.34)...also 23.39 at 200...ranked #5 in world (#1 U.S.) at 400 by T&FN, #2 in world (#1 U.S.) at 800...bests of 50.11 and 1:56.43.
1997: Gold in 400 at World Indoors (50.96 indoor PR); anchored runner-up 4x400 (50.25 for 3:27.66 AR)...bronze at World Champs outdoors in 400 (49.90); anchored runner-up 4x400 (49.2 for 3:21.03)... won 400 at USA Indoors (51.31) and Outdoors 400 (49.40 PR); 4th in 200 (23.06)...ranked #3 in world (#1 U.S.) at 400 by T&FN; at 800, ranked #6 in world (#1 U.S); also #5 U.S. in 200...bests of 23.03 (PR), 49.40 and 1:56.78.
1996: 5th at Olympic Games at 400m; anchored winning 4x400 (49.56)... 2nd in 400 at Olympic Trials...4th in 400 at GP Final...2nd in 400 at USA Indoors...ranked #5 in world (#1 in U.S.) at 400 by T&FN; also #4 in U.S. at 800... bests of 49.55 and 1:58.91.
1995: Bronze in 400 at World Champs (50.00); anchored winning 4x400 (49.56)...won USA Indoors (50.99)...5th in 400 at World Indoors (52.01)...won Mt SAC 800 in 2:02.79, calling it a training run...won USA Outdoors 400 (50.90)... defeated world champion Ana Quirot of Cuba at 800m with a PR 2:00.86 in a late-season race...ranked #3 in world (#1 in U.S.) at 400 by T&FN; also #5 in U.S. at 800...bests of 50.00 and 2:00.86.
1994: 2nd in 400 at USA Indoors...3rd at USA Outdoors...ran season-best 50.11 for 2nd at Lausanne...3rd in World Cup 400...4th in 400 at GP Final...ranked #4 in world (#2 in U.S.) at 400 by T&FN...best of 50.11.
1993: Won 400 gold at World Champs (49.82 PR); anchored winning 4x400 (48.78 lap for a 3:16.71)...bronze at World Indoor 400 (51.37)...won USA Outdoors 400 (50.43) and USA Indoors (53.26; 2nd to Canadian Jillian Richardson)...won Olympic Festival 400...ranked #1 in world at 400 by T&FN...best of 49.82.
1992: 2nd in Olympic Trials 400...5th in 400 semis at Olympic Games; third leg on silver medal 4x400 relay...won World Cup 400; anchored 3rd-place 4x400...4th in 400 at GP Final...2nd in USA Indoors...ranked #9 in world (#3 in U.S.) at 400 by T&FN...bests of 50.30 and 2:04.78.
1991: 5th in 400 at World Champs (50.50), and ran third for silver medal winning 4x400...5th in 400 at World Indoor (52.00), and ran third-leg on bronze medal 4x400 (52.2 for 3:29.00 AR)...2nd in 400 at USA Indoors and USA Outdoors (50.19 PR)...bronze in 400 at Pan Am Games; anchored winning 4x400...ranked #7 world (#2 in U.S.) at 400 by T&FN...best of 50.19.
1990: 3rd in 400 heats at USA Indoor...5th in 400 at USA Outdoors...won 400 at Olympic Festival...ranked #5 in U.S. at 400 by T&FN...best of 51.76.
1989: Runner-up in USA Indoors and Outdoors in 400...6th in 400 semis at World Indoors (53.28)...silver medal at World University Games...3rd at 400 in Olympic Festival... ran third leg on 4th place 4x400 at World Cup...ranked #5 in U.S. at 400 by T&FN...best of 51.52.
1988: 3rd in 400 at USA Outdoors; qualified for LJ final but did not compete...7th in 400 at Olympic Trials; 16th in LJ qualifying ...won 400 (52.29) at NCAA Division D-II Championships, 2nd in LJ, 3rd in 200, ran on 3rd-place 4x100 and anchored winning 4x400...3rd in NCAA 400, and 8th in LJ...ranked #7 in U.S. at 400 by T&FN...bests of 51.28 and 20-10.5.
1987: Won 400 (52.36) and long jump (20-1.5) at NCAA D-II, 6th in 200, ran on 3rd-place 4x100 and anchored runner-up 4x400...6th in 400 semi at USA Outdoors...bests of 52.36 and 20-1.5.
1986: 4th in NCAA D-II LJ, 6th in 200, second-leg on winning 4x100 (44.50) and anchored 4th-place 4x400...bests of 52.41 and 21-2.
1985: Won NCAA D-II LJ, and ran on 3rd-place 4x400... won LJ at SIAC Champs...best of 20-1 LJ.
1984: Won Florida state HS title in 400; in the long jump, she fouled three times and failed to make the final...best of 19-8.25 LJ.

1/17/06