Evelyn Ashford (born April 15, 1957) is an American retired track and field athlete, the 1984 Olympic champion in the 100-meter dash, and the world record-holder in the 60-yard dash. She ran under the 11-second barrier over 30 times and was the first woman to run under 11 seconds in an Olympic Games. Ashford has the distinction of owning the longest unbroken athletics record (60y dash).
Biography
As a 19-year-old, Ashford finished fifth in the 100 m event at the 1976 Summer Olympics. After beating the world record holders in the 100 m and 200 m in 1979 at the World Cup of Track and Field in Montreal, Ashford was one of the potential medalists for the 1980 Summer Olympics, but these Games were boycotted by the United States. Ashford also tore a quad muscle in 1980 and was out for the rest of the season.
In 1977, she won the first Broderick Award (now the Honda Sports Award) as the nation's best female collegiate track and field athlete.
Ashford was ranked No. 1 in the world by Track & Field News over 100 meters in 1979 and 1981, and over 200 meters in 1981. She also was named Track and Field News "Athlete of the Year" twice, in 1981 and 1984
She again won the sprint double, at the world cup in Rome, in 1981. That race proved to be Ashford's personal record. It still ranks as the No. 13 individual all-time. Ashford regained her No. 1 Track & Field News ranking. where she is said to be "one of the greatest track and field runners ever". Ashford went to the University of California, Los Angeles and Roseville High School. She was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.