Pair of Hart pupils named U.S. track and field athletes of the decade

The spring athletic season is now completely underway, as Baylor baseball begins its 2010 season today hosting the QTI Apparel Opening Weekend Classic. The 25th-ranked Baylor softball team is also at home, hosting the QTI Getterman Classic in their first home games of the young season. Tennis, equestrian and track and field have all been underway for a couple of weeks already.

It’s that last sport that merits discussion today. We noted in January that longtime Baylor track and field head coach Clyde Hart had been named World Coach of the Year by the IAAF; earlier this month, a pair of his star pupils — former Baylor star Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards — were named the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Athletes of the Decade by Track and Field News.

Wariner, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, was a four-time NCAA champion and six-time All-American at Baylor. Richards, the current World champion in the 400 meters, ran collegiately at Texas but selected Hart as her coach when she began international competition. Both continue to train with Hart today.

Sic ’em, Jeremy and Coach Hart!