Dawn Sowell facts for kids

Dawn Sowell (born March 27, 1966) is an American former sprinter. She was incredibly fast in the 100 and 200 meter races in 1989. That year, she ran the 100 meters in 10.78 seconds and the 200 meters in 22.04 seconds. Her 10.78 second time in the 100 meters made her the third-fastest woman ever at that time! Even today, she is still one of the fastest women in the world for the 100-meter dash.

Growing Up Fast

Dawn Sowell was born in Philadelphia, a big city in Pennsylvania. She was one of seven children. Her dad was an electrician, and her mom worked very hard at three jobs before starting a career in real estate.

Dawn went to Chester High School in Chester, Pennsylvania. She wasn't really interested in sports at first. But then she noticed something cool: she was faster than all the boys in her gym class! This made her realize she had a special talent. Later, her family moved to Richmond, Virginia, where she finished high school in 1984.

Becoming a Track Star

Dawn went on to study at a junior college and then moved to Texas. After that, she joined Louisiana State University (LSU). There, she became a star on the LSU Lady Tigers track and field team.

Setting Records

In 1989, Dawn set an amazing record for college athletes in the 100-meter dash. She ran it in just 10.78 seconds during a qualifying race at the NCAA Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She went on to win that championship race in 10.91 seconds, even after a slow start!

Her record stood for many years. In 2019, another LSU athlete named Sha'Carri Richardson broke it with an even faster time of 10.75 seconds.

World's Fastest in 1989

Dawn didn't just win the 100-meter race in 1989. She also won the 200-meter race in 22.04 seconds. This made her the fastest woman in the world for both sprint races that year!

Even though she didn't always focus on her studies or training, Dawn quickly became excellent on the track. By the end of 1989, her best times put her among the top sprinters ever. She was ranked third in the U.S. and worldwide for the 100 meters. She was also ranked sixth in the U.S. and 15th worldwide for the 200 meters.

Winning National Titles

Dawn won her first and only major national title in 1989. This was at the 1989 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She won the 100-meter race in 11.12 seconds, beating other great runners like Sheila Echols and Esther Jones.

Representing the USA

After winning the national title, Dawn got to represent the United States internationally. She competed at the 1989 IAAF World Cup in Barcelona, Spain. There, she was part of the 4 × 100-meter relay team. Her team, which included Sheila Echols, Esther Jones, and Wendy Vereen, won a bronze medal!

Many people thought Dawn would become the next big track star, like the famous Florence Griffith-Joyner. However, she had to stop competing due to ongoing injury problems. Today, Dawn Sowell is a public speaker. She talks to people about health and wellness.

See also

• List of 100 metres national champions (women)