Carmelita Jeter
Carmelita Jeter

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama Track and Field Head Coach Dan Waters announced the addition of one of the most accomplished female track and field athletes in United States history, Carmelita Jeter, to the coaching staff Friday afternoon.

“We’re very excited to have Carmelita join the Crimson Tide family,” Waters said. “As an Olympic and World gold medalist and world record holder, she brings a ton of expertise and knowledge to our program and our staff. She has taken her experience as a world-class athlete and made a highly successful transition into being one of best young coaches around. Her drive, desire and determination to see our student-athletes excel at the highest level make what I believe is one of the best staffs in the country even stronger, adding to the winning environment we have here at Alabama.”

Tabbed the “Fastest Woman Alive,” the three-time Olympic and four-time World Championships medalist will work with the Crimson Tide’s highly successful sprint program.

“Joining the Alabama Track and Field family, I’m excited to bring my passion, knowledge and love for the sport,” Jeter said. “I hope my energy becomes contagious not only with the athletes and staff but also within the community. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Crimson Tide legacy.”

Jeter arrives to the Capstone after a two-year stint as associate head coach with Missouri State University women’s track and field program. Most recently, Jeter helped guide the Bears to a third-place team finish at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships, highlighted by a season-best performance from the 4x400m relay team.

Nicknamed the “The Jet” during her competitive career, Jeter holds three of the top 10 fastest times ever run in the women’s 100-meters.

Jeter joined the professional track and field circuit in 2007, taking home her first international medal in the 100m at the 2007 World Championships. In 2009, at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Jeter posted a 10.64 on the way to the gold, giving her a spot in history as the second-fastest woman ever in the 100m. She won three gold medals at the World Championships and two more in the World Athletics Finals between 2007 and 2011.

At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she anchored the U.S. Olympic 4x100m relay team that took home gold by smashing the previous world record by more than half of a second. London also saw Jeter become one of the very few U.S. athletes to medal in the 100m and 200m races in the same Olympic Games.
She earned the 2012 Jesse Owens Award – the highest accolade in the sport of Track & Field, awarded by USA Track and Field, as the most outstanding U.S. female track and field athlete. She was also named the 2012 Los Angeles Sports Woman of the Year.
“The Jet” returned to the international scene at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, winning the bronze medal in the 100m dash, despite competing with a torn right quadricep. She retired from professional competition in 2017.

Jeter began her coaching career in 2004 as the track and field coach at Bishop Montgomery High School in California where she also served as assistant athletic director.

From 2016 to 2017, she was sprints and hurdles coach at her alma mater, Cal State Dominguez Hills. She has been a certified Level 1 professional track coach since 2017, helping emerging athletes reach their potential with her own company, TeamJet, LLC.

Jeter enrolled at CSUDH, where she earned her degree in Physical Education in 2006 after a highly decorated collegiate career. During her time in a Toro uniform, Jeter set the record for the most NCAA medals by a CSUDH track athlete and became the university’s first U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier. CSUDH and the California State University Board of Trustees bestowed an Honorary Doctorate on Jeter in May of 2019.

Off the track, Jeter continues to invest her time in community and philanthropic endeavors. She partnered with Nike to design hot pink spikes that she wore during each race in support of breast cancer research.

In 2014, Jeter was named the official ambassador for the Susan G. Komen’s California Circle of Promise Initiative designed to promote breast cancer awareness among African American women. She is also active in several outreach initiatives designed to give back to track and field and the community at large.

9 COMMENTS

  1. Have high respect for this woman. Don’t matter which country she competes for.. Love the rivalry with our Jamaican women. Need to compete against the best to be the best. Jamaica and USA spring rivalry brought out the best of both teams. Makes for exciting track and field. Can’t be bias have to give respect where it is due.

  2. No disrespect to Ms Jeter, she was a very accomplished sprinter, but not the best.The best are multiple(x)Champions!🇯🇲🇯🇲

    • Ron Atkins, I’m tracking! So blessed our family is. One day I’m going to tell you all.the garbage Nadia went through the get to this place. Thanking God they’ve added Carmelita to the coaching staff.

  3. Congrats to the fastest woman alive….something my Jamaican friends don’t like to hear.

    Jamaicans just don’t like to know an American is the best, why?

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