Posted on 12/26/2002 5:46:02 PM PST by TLBSHOW
Florida Wreck Kills Two, Including Mom of Olympian; Texas Track Coach Injured.
AUSTIN (AP) - Texas women's track coach Beverly Kearney was critically injured in a car accident in Florida that killed a university staff member and the mother of former world champion sprinter and Olympic medalist Michelle Freeman on Thursday. Killed were Ilrey A. Sparks, 40, of Austin, an academic counselor for women's athletics at UT, and Freeman's mother, Muriel Wallace, 63, who also lived in Austin.
Kearney, 44, had emergency surgery for back injuries at Shands Jacksonville hospital later in the day, University of Texas officials said.
According to an accident report filed by the Florida Highway Patrol, Freeman, who won a relay bronze for Jamaica in 1996, was driving a Lexus sport utility vehicle about 35 miles west of Jacksonville at 7:57 a.m. when the vehicle crossed the median and swerved back, causing it to roll.
Freeman, 33, a former world indoor champion in the 100 meters who also won bronze in the 400-relay for Jamaica in 1996, was listed in good condition. Sparks' toddler daughter, Imani, 2, was also in the vehicle and was listed in fair condition on the accident report.
Freeman, Wallace and Imani Sparks were wearing seatbelts, the accident report said. Kearney and Ilrey Sparks were not, it said.
Kearney, a seven-time national coach of the year, has led the Texas women to four NCAA national team championships and 13 league titles in the Big 12 and Southwest conferences since 1993.
Kearney has coached 22 Longhorns to 29 national titles in individual and relay events, has had 33 All-Americans at Texas.
Kearney coached at the University of Florida from 1988 to 1992, where she led the Gators to three Southeastern Conference titles. Sparks was an All-American at Florida under Kearney. The Gators won the indoor national title in 1992 when she was voted the indoor and outdoor coach of the year.
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- E, Texas A&M Class of '77.
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