Evelyn Lawler (October 18, 1929 – January 4, 2023) was an American

track and field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...

athlete. She competed for the United States in the

80 meters hurdles 80 metres hurdles is a distance in hurdling run by women until 1972 in international competitions. Since the 1972 Summer Olympics, the event has been permanently replaced by the 100 metre hurdles. Masters athletics The distance, with different sp ...

at the

1951 Pan American Games The 1951 Pan American Games, officially known as I Pan American Games () and commonly known as Buenos Aires 1951, were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina between February 25 and March 9, 1951. The Pan American Games' origins were at the Games of the ...

, finishing 6th, and formerly held the American record in the 80 meters hurdles. Lawler graduated from

Tuskegee University Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was founded as a normal school for teachers on July 4, 1881, by the ...

. She started in the sport as a sophomore in high school when her school picked 6 or 7 girls for a start-up track team. Lawler was not selected but watched them practice. She later asked if she could join the team, and beat all the other girls. When her school competed at a meet at Tuskegee, the coach Major

Cleveland L. Abbott Cleveland Leigh "Cleve" Abbott (some sources say "Cleveland S. Abbott") (December 9, 1894 – April 14, 1955) was an American college football player, coach and educator. He was the head coach of the Tuskegee Golden Tigers football team from 1923 ...

invited her to come to the university. Lawler started hurdling when the previous hurdlers including 1948 Olympian Theresa Manuel had graduated and the coach suggested she take up the discipline. Her trip to the Pan Am games in

Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

was her first out of the country, the first time on a plane and first national team. By 1952, she had become one of the best three hurdlers in the world, but injuries prevented her from qualifying for the Olympics. She continued to participate in

Masters athletics Masters Athletics managed by World Masters Athletics is a class of the sport of athletics (sport), athletics for athletes of 35 years of age and over organized by World Masters Athletics. The events include track and field, road running and cross ...

but eventually retired from the sport due to injuries. Lawler was the mother of multiple Olympic gold medalist

Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold. Lewis was a dominant sprinter and lo ...

, World Championship bronze medalist and sports announcer

Carol Lewis Carol LeGrant Lewis (born August 8, 1963) is an American former track and field athlete who specialized in the long jump. She is the 1983 World Championship bronze medalist, and a 4-time US Champion. Her best long jump of 7.04 meters in 1985 is ...

, and professional soccer player Cleveland Lewis. Lawler died on January 4, 2023, at the age of 93.

References

External links

Profile
at ''trackfield.brinkster.net'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Lawler, Evelyn 1929 births 2023 deaths American female hurdlers Pan American Games track and field athletes for the United States Athletes (track and field) at the 1951 Pan American Games 20th-century American sportswomen Sportspeople from Gadsden, Alabama