Roddie Haley facts for kids
Roddie Haley (born December 6, 1964 – died February 17, 2022) was an amazing American sprinter. Sprinters are athletes who run very fast over short distances. Roddie was known for his incredible speed on the track.
A Fast Start in College
Roddie Haley was a superstar athlete at the University of Arkansas. He was a freshman when he became a champion in the 400 meters race for the NCAA. The NCAA is a big organization that manages sports for college students in the United States. Roddie ran the 400 meters in an amazing 44.20 seconds!
He was coached by John McDonnell, a famous coach. Roddie was named an All-American nine times. This means he was recognized as one of the best college athletes in the country. He was a top performer in both indoor and outdoor track events.
Winning Championships
Roddie Haley won many important races during his career. He was a three-time NCAA champion. He won the indoor 500 meters race twice (in 1986 and 1987). He also won the outdoor 400 meters race in 1985.
He also won many titles in the SWC, which was another college sports league. He won the 440 yard dash and the 600 yard dash indoors. Outdoors, he won the 400 meters three times from 1985 to 1987. He also helped his team win the 4x100 meter relay in 1985.
Roddie still holds the outdoor 400-meter record for his university. He set this record in 1986 with a time of 44.48 seconds. He was part of four SWC and four NCAA team championships. In 1985, he helped his school achieve a "triple crown." This means they won three major national championships in one year!
International Success
Roddie also competed on the world stage. He was part of the American 4 × 400 m relay team. In a relay race, four runners each run 400 meters.
He won gold medals at two big international events in 1987. These were the Pan American Games and the World Championships. He also finished eighth in the individual 400 meters race at the 1987 World Championships.
His Legacy
Roddie Haley's amazing achievements were recognized when he was inducted into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honors. This happened on September 2, 2016. He passed away on February 17, 2022, at the age of 57. He is remembered as a true legend in track and field.
See also
In Spanish: Roddie Haley para niños
