Leslie Maxie facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | January 4, 1967 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in | |||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 lb | |||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Track and Field | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | hurdles, jumps | |||||||||||||
| Club | Millbrae Lions | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Leslie Maxie was born on January 4, 1967, in San Francisco, California. She is a former American track and field athlete. After her sports career, she became a television journalist.
While attending Mills High School, Leslie Maxie set a special record. On June 9, 1984, she ran the 400 metre hurdles in 55.20 seconds. This was a World Youth Best time, meaning it was the fastest ever for young athletes at that time. She achieved this while finishing second at the 1984 TAC USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Maxie competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics. She ran the 400 hurdles in 56.10 seconds. She finished 5th in her heat and did not move on to the next round. However, she did win "Best Smile" at the Olympic Village!
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Early Sports Career
Leslie Maxie was coached by the famous Ed Parker. She was part of the Millbrae Lions Track Club. This club encouraged young athletes to try many different events. Maxie competed in the High Jump, Triple Jump, 400 metres, and 100 metre hurdles.
High School Achievements
As a freshman in 1982, she was among the top four in three events at the CIF California State Meet. To get there, she won the CCS Section Championships. She also placed second in both jumps.
In 1983, she won the 400 m race. She also finished second in the 100 hurdles. The year 1984 was her first time trying the longer hurdles race. A week before setting her World Youth Best, she won the state meet with a new record time. As a senior, she won the 300 hurdle championship again.
A week before the 1984 state meet, in Berkeley, California, she set a National High School record in the 300 hurdles. Her time was 40.18 seconds. This performance is still ranked as one of the best of all time. She was named "High School Athlete of the Year" by Track and Field News in 1984.
College Athletics
After high school, Leslie Maxie studied Public Policy and Planning at the University of Southern California. She is still ranked as the second-best 400 hurdler in the school's history. Her school record lasted for 13 years.
In 1987, she finished second in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She was also part of the National Champion 4x400 relay team. This earned her "All-American" status in both events. She was the team captain in 1990.
Throughout her career, she was ranked in the U.S. top ten in the 400 hurdles four times.
Becoming a Broadcast Journalist
When Leslie Maxie was a young athlete, she was chosen to work on a children's TV show called Kidwatch on KRON. This sparked her interest in journalism. She also got a singing role on another show called Just Kidding on the same station.
Career in Television
Maxie returned to TV in the mid-1990s. She wanted to be known as a general reporter first. This allowed her to cover many big sports events. She reported on the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA All-Star Games, Tour de France, and championship boxing and tennis. She worked for Fox, CBS, Oxygen Media, and NBC.
When she did cover track and field, her smart comments and great interviewing skills made her stand out. ESPN noticed her talent. In 2003, Maxie was the first person hired for their morning talk show, "Cold Pizza."
Later, when the show was going to move, Maxie decided to leave her contract. She started working as a freelance reporter for ESPN. In 2005, she started her own television production company, LeMax Productions LLC. Her first client was Red Bull energy drink. LeMax Productions has also worked with Madison Square Garden Network, ABC, and ESPN. Leslie Maxie has also worked as a motivational speaker.
In 2009, Maxie joined NASCAR. She became the Manager of Communications for East Regional Media Outreach. She has also written episodes for the NASCAR BET show called Changing Lanes.
