Judi Brown Clarke

Judi Brown Clarke is one of the most prolific track and field stars to ever compete in Howard County. She was a standout in the 400-meter hurdles with her career culminating with a Silver Medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She was also a two-time Gold Medalist at the Pan American Games, collecting medals in 1983 and 1987.

Clarke competed collegiately at Michigan State University, where she earned 12 Big Ten championships. In 1982, Clarke helped MSU win its first Big Ten Indoor Championship in women’s track and field and was named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year. In 1983, she was named the NCAA’s Suzy Favor Female Athlete of the Year.

Clarke was MSU’s track coach from 1992-97, completing a master’s degree there before earning her doctoral degree at Western Michigan University. She returned to MSU in 2006 as Director of Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion at the College of Communications Arts and Sciences and then as Diversity Director of MSU’s BEACON Center.

Known for her volunteer work with underprivileged children, Clarke made the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1987 as the magazine’s “Sportswoman of the Year,” one of eight “Athletes Who Care.”

During her time in Howard County, Clarke attended Haworth High School before her family moved to Lansing, Michigan.