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 McKoy with her bronze medal at the 2006 British Commonwealth Games |
Aug. 7, 2008
BEIJING, China -- Louisiana Tech legend and two-time All-American Olivia McKoy will be competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics in the javelin representing the country of Jamaica.
This will be McKoy's second Olympic endeavor as she also represented Jamaica in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Tech assistant coach Larry Carmichael was McKoy's coach during her years competing for the Techsters and has maintained close contact over the years.
"Olivia continues to train and compete at a high level and is an amazing athlete and person," Carmichael said. "She holds the distinction of being the highest finishing Tech woman track athlete ever in the NCAA Championships, and she finished runner-up not once, but two years in a row in 1998 and 1999."
McKoy currently holds the Jamaican National Record in the javelin with a 2005 mark of 200 feet, five inches (61.10 meters). In 2006, McKoy finished with a bronze medal in the javelin at the British Commonwealth Games.
McKoy was the Tech school record-holder in the javelin with a mark of 182-0 until fellow Jamaican Brenda Grace Hunt eclipsed that mark by winning the prestigious Texas Relays in 2005 with the current Tech school record distance of 186-8.
In 1999, McKoy led the javelin in the NCAA Championship until the final round of throws.
Carmichael said he remembers being in competition with McKoy fondly.
"I am not surprised that Olivia has continued to improve and do well," Carmichael said. "She has talent; however, it is her determination to succeed that sets her apart from most other athletes."