RAMON CLAY

RAMON CLAY
Event: 200m
Height: 6-2
Weight: 192
PR: 200m - 20.05 (2001)
Born: June 29, 1975, in Memphis, Tenn.
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Hunter's Lane HS, Nashville, Tenn. '94
Colleges: Blinn JC '95; Norfolk State '96
Coach: Trevor Graham
Agent: Ray Flynn
Club: adidas

Career Highlights: 2002 U.S. Outdoor champion; 2001 U.S. Outdoor runner-up; 1998 U.S. Indoor champion; 4th at 2002 World Cup; 1994 World Junior silver medalist.

Clay started running in ninth grade, but wasnt serious about it until his junior year: My coach (Charles Lewis) stayed on me and Ive been going at it ever sincedid brief stints at Blinn JC and Norfolk State, but after 1997 returned to Nashville to work with his high school coach: I was really excited with 1998, and I was happy that I improved. I was just moving back with my coach and we werent sure if we could make the conversion from high school coaching to world-class coachinga close friend of pro basketball player Ron Mercer, the two pooled money and started a foundation to aid five inner-city families who had lost their houses to fire: We wanted to help them outin his spare time, he likes to play golf; if its too cold, he and his friends head to a local virtual reality golf set-upmarried to Julian, a 400-meter runner, on May 1, 2002daughter Jada Nicole was born April 5, 2002.

2003: 5th at USA Outdoors 200m (20.27)2nd in race #1 at Gaz de France (20.31)ran 2nd leg on USA Reds 1st place 4x200m relay team at Penn Relays (1:19.16)best of 20.27ranked #9 in the world, #6 in U.S. by T&FN.
2002: USA Outdoor 200m champion (20.27)4th at World Cup (20.32)1st at Bridgetown (20.27)1st at Port-of-Spain (20.28)2nd at Lausanne (20.45)3rd at USA vs. GB, RUS (20.62)2nd at London (20.34)ranked #5 in the world, #2 in U.S. by T&FNbest of 20.27. 2001: 2nd at USA Outdoors (20.60)8th in second round at World Outdoors (23.58)ran 20.20 to win his semifinal heat at USA Outdoors 200mran 20.25 in Barbadosran 20.27 in Niceranked #6 in world & #3 U.S. by T&FNbest of 20.05 in Lausanne.
2000: 5th, semis at Olympic Trials (20.30)bests of 10.29 and 20.30.
1999: 7th in semis at USA Outdoors (20.62w) best of 20.26.
1998: Won USA Indoors (20.42) won Doha GP (20.06 PR) undefeated until injury at St-Denis in early June ended seasonranked #6 in world (#3 U.S.) at 200 by T&FNbest of 20.06.
1997: 4th in 200 at USA Outdoors (20.50)ranked #9 in U.S. at 200 by T&FNbest of 20.49, plus 10.31w.
1996: 4th in 200 at Olympic Trials (20.08 PR)ranked #9 in world (#5 U.S.) at 200 by T&FNbest of 20.08.
1995: Won 400 at JUCO Indoor (47.32)won JUCO 400 (45.48 PR)did not finish semi of 200 at USA Outdoors (after 20.55w heat); disqualified in 400 heats (46.34)best of 20.55w, plus 45.48. 1994: Won Tennessee HS state titles at 100, 200 and 4002nd in 400 at USA Juniors (45.82 PR); 2nd in 200 heat (21.48)3rd in 400 at Olympic Festival (45.94)silver medal at World Juniors (46.19); anchored gold medal 4x400 (45.6 for 3:03.32)best of 21.48, plus 10.71 and 45.82.
1993: Won Tennessee HS state titles at 100 and 200best of 21.30.
1992: Ran on 4x200 team that won Tennessee HS state title.
1991: Ran on 4x100 team that won Tennessee HS state title.

3/12/04
http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2004/Clay_Ramon.asp