Ocky Clark
Encyclopedia
Octavius Rene Clark was born November 14, 1960 in Sanford, Florida
. He grew-up
on his grandparent’s farm in Bookertown, named after Booker T. Washington
. Clark would interject Booker T. Washington’s words of “nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work” into every aspect of his life. He was given the nickname Ocky by one of his favorite aunts.
Clark began competitive running at Sanford Seminole High School as a 3200 meter runner. With times of 4:23.8 in the Mile, 1:57 for 800 meters and 47 splits on the 4x400 relay he was one of the top runners at his school. After high school Clark attended Ottawa University
in Ottawa, Kansas briefly, but then dropped out and joined the Navy on October 9, 1979 in downtown Ottawa, Kansas.
After basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois he was assigned to the USS Enterprise which was dry docked in Bremerton, Washington. It was in Bremerton where Clark began to study the training methods of Arthur Lydiard. At the Inter-Service championships held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland Clark clocked 1:51.65 at 800 meters.
Clark entered Santa Fe Community College in the fall of 1982. He began with the Cross-Country team but it was clearly on the track where Clark would win two National Junior College indoor 800 meters titles and one outdoor championship. He never lost a National Junior College race. From 1982-84 Clark established the Junior College Indoor and Outdoor National Record. Accomplishing 5 Junior College All-American titles in only two years.
Clark would follow one of his coaches, Coach Long to Florida State University where he became a two time All-American and setting school records at 800m 1:46.19, 1500m 3:43.02 that would stand for over 20 years.
It was his introduction to Brazilian National Coach Luiz De Oliveira that would catapult his running career to the world class level. Under the tutelage of De Oliveira he would become the first American to run 1:45 indoors for 800 meters. During the Winter of 1989 Ocky would break the indoor American Record for 800m and also establish an indoor American Record for 1000m that would stand for fifteen years. At the height of his running career, he continued to set personal best running 1:44.83 in Vigo, Spain on July 3, 1991 at the age of 30. 1991 was the year that Clark traveled to Havana, Cuba to represent the United States at the Pan American Games
where he won the gold medal at 800 meters which was presented to him by Fidel Castro. In Rome, Italy, during the summer of 1991 Clark also ran 3:39.40 for 1500m. Also that year, he was rewarded by Track & Field News for his outstanding performances with a ninth place World Ranking. From 1985-92 Ocky Clark was one of the most feared and respected Middle Distance runners in America. Never falling out of the top 10 for 800 meters. Three times he qualified and competed at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials 1984, 1988 and 1992.
Ocky is a true Patriot with two tours of duty to Iraq
and a tour in Afghanistan
. He is a major for the United States Air Force Reserves and is the Dean of Students at Winter Springs High School
. He received his bachelors degree from Florida State University
and his Masters degree from National University
, San Diego. He is a single father with two wonderful daughters Cierra and Carina.
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
. He grew-up
on his grandparent’s farm in Bookertown, named after Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
. Clark would interject Booker T. Washington’s words of “nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work” into every aspect of his life. He was given the nickname Ocky by one of his favorite aunts.
Clark began competitive running at Sanford Seminole High School as a 3200 meter runner. With times of 4:23.8 in the Mile, 1:57 for 800 meters and 47 splits on the 4x400 relay he was one of the top runners at his school. After high school Clark attended Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
in Ottawa, Kansas briefly, but then dropped out and joined the Navy on October 9, 1979 in downtown Ottawa, Kansas.
After basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois he was assigned to the USS Enterprise which was dry docked in Bremerton, Washington. It was in Bremerton where Clark began to study the training methods of Arthur Lydiard. At the Inter-Service championships held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland Clark clocked 1:51.65 at 800 meters.
Clark entered Santa Fe Community College in the fall of 1982. He began with the Cross-Country team but it was clearly on the track where Clark would win two National Junior College indoor 800 meters titles and one outdoor championship. He never lost a National Junior College race. From 1982-84 Clark established the Junior College Indoor and Outdoor National Record. Accomplishing 5 Junior College All-American titles in only two years.
Clark would follow one of his coaches, Coach Long to Florida State University where he became a two time All-American and setting school records at 800m 1:46.19, 1500m 3:43.02 that would stand for over 20 years.
It was his introduction to Brazilian National Coach Luiz De Oliveira that would catapult his running career to the world class level. Under the tutelage of De Oliveira he would become the first American to run 1:45 indoors for 800 meters. During the Winter of 1989 Ocky would break the indoor American Record for 800m and also establish an indoor American Record for 1000m that would stand for fifteen years. At the height of his running career, he continued to set personal best running 1:44.83 in Vigo, Spain on July 3, 1991 at the age of 30. 1991 was the year that Clark traveled to Havana, Cuba to represent the United States at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
where he won the gold medal at 800 meters which was presented to him by Fidel Castro. In Rome, Italy, during the summer of 1991 Clark also ran 3:39.40 for 1500m. Also that year, he was rewarded by Track & Field News for his outstanding performances with a ninth place World Ranking. From 1985-92 Ocky Clark was one of the most feared and respected Middle Distance runners in America. Never falling out of the top 10 for 800 meters. Three times he qualified and competed at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials 1984, 1988 and 1992.
Ocky is a true Patriot with two tours of duty to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and a tour in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He is a major for the United States Air Force Reserves and is the Dean of Students at Winter Springs High School
Winter Springs High School
Winter Springs High School, is a high school in Winter Springs, Florida. It was founded in 1997 as the seventh full-time high school in Seminole County. The school is operated by Seminole County Public Schools.-History:...
. He received his bachelors degree from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and his Masters degree from National University
National University
National University may refer to:*National University *National University *National Universities in Argentina*National University of Ireland*Australian National UniversitySee also:*National Universities...
, San Diego. He is a single father with two wonderful daughters Cierra and Carina.
Achievements
| Representing the | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | US National Championships | Tampa Tâmpa Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city... |
2nd | 800m | 1:45.64 |
| 1990 | US National Championships | Norwalk Norwalk Norwalk is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Norwalk, California, a suburb of Los Angeles*Norwalk, Connecticut, a city in southwestern Connecticut that contains several neighborhoods including Central Norwalk, East Norwalk, South Norwalk, and West Norwalk** The Norwalk... |
4th | 800m | 1:45.99 |
| 1991 | US National Championships | New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... |
4th | 800m | 1:44.88 |
| Pan American Games Athletics at the 1991 Pan American Games The athletics competition at the 1991 Pan American Games was held in Havana, Cuba.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*... |
Havana, Cuba | 1st | 800m | 1:46.91 | |
| 1992 | US National Championships | New Orleans | 6th | 800m | 1:44.87 |