Meet Golding-Clarke, the coach behind Amusan feats
Golding-Clarke competed for Jamaica at the Olympics in 1996, 2000 and 2004, participating in the long jump and 100m hurdles
Team Nigeria hurdler, Tobi Amusan's feats at the just concluded Oregon 2022 World Athletics, a gold medal and world record, is not just a victory for the Nigerian star but for her coach Lacena Golding-Clarke.
The Jamaican who turned our girl from a semi-processed athlete to the best in the world in 100m hurdles deserves all the accolades also.
The duo's journey began during the 2017 season, when Golding-Clarke mentored sophomore Amusan to her third consecutive All-American status after claiming her first NCAA title in the 100m hurdles, breaking her own school record with a time of 12.57 and helping the women win their first outdoor conference title in program history.
Amusan with Golding-Clarke's guidance also won the gold medal at the 2017 Texas relays with a time of 12.72. She garnered C-USA Female Athlete of the Year, along with the C-USA High Scorer of the meet with 24 points.
During the indoor season, she defended her indoor title in the 60m hurdles clocking a time of 8.01 and helping the women notch their third consecutive indoor title. Amusan ended her career at UTEP with three All-American honours, four individual C-USA titles and one NCAA outdoor crown.
Golding-Clarke served as a volunteer coach for seven years at Auburn University. She assisted the head coach in hurdles and multi-events as she helped guide the women's team to its first NCAA title in 2006. Clarke mentored three SEC champions during her time with the Tigers.
Golding-Clarke graduated in 1999 from Auburn University with a bachelor's of arts degree in political science and government. As a Tiger, Golding Clarke became a six-time All-American claiming silver in the long jump at the 1998 NCAA Championships. She was a four-time SEC Champion and holds the school record in the women's 55m hurdles. In 1998, she became a South Eastern Conference Women's Commissioner's Trophy winner.
Golding-Clarke competed for Jamaica at the Olympics in 1996, 2000 and 2004, participating in the long jump and 100m hurdles. In the 2004 Olympics, she finished fifth overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.73; her personal best is 12.65.
Golding-Clarke was a professional athlete for 10 years and participated in six consecutive World Championships. She was the Commonwealth Games Champion in 2002; she posted a bronze medal finish at the 2004 World Athletics Final in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.69.
Golding-Clarke, her husband and their son Nathaniel reside in El-Paso, Texas.
