SOUTH ORANGE & MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The towns celebrated Hazel Clark Day on March 12 with a series
of youth-focused events honoring the hometown Olympian and her commitment to inspiring the next
generation through sports, education, and community engagement. First proclaimed by local leaders in
2018, Hazel Clark Day recognizes the achievements of the three-time Olympian and six-time U.S.
champion who grew up in South Orange, attending South Mountain Elementary School through
Columbia High School. This year’s celebration featured student programming in partnership with USA
Track & Field (USATF) and a public community event at Maplewood Memorial Library.
School-based events included two RunJumpThrow activities sponsored by USATF for students at SouthMountain Elementary School and Maplewood Middle School. Hazel Clark was joined by fellow
Olympians Sharrieffa Barksdale of USATF and DeeDee Trotter to introduce this fun experience to kids.
RunJumpThrow is a free, hands-on, noncompetitive initiative designed to introduce children ages 7 and
up to the fundamentals of track and field. Through dynamic warm-ups and skill stations focused on
running, jumping, and throwing, the program encourages physical activity while helping young people
build confidence, coordination, and a love of movement. During the school programs, Clark shared her
personal journey of perseverance, discipline, and developing a performance mindset.
The day concluded with a community event at Maplewood Memorial Library at 4 pm, where Clark, with
her daughter by her side, read from her debut children’s book, “Hazel Takes the First Step”. The reading
was followed by an active Q&A (with Olympian DeeDee Trotter facilitating), photo opportunities and a
book signing. The event was open to the public and kicked off the library’s annual “Hazel
Takes the First Step,” reflects on Clark’s childhood experiences navigating expectations, comparisons to
her Olympian relatives, and the influence of her father, renowned educator Dr. Joe Clark. The story
encourages children to build self-confidence, manage performance anxiety, and develop a healthy mindset
when facing challenges. Olympian The book was available for purchase at the event.
“I recently permanently moved back to South Orange and it has been heartwarming to return home.”
Hazel Clark, 3x Olympian shared, “Giving back on Hazel Clark day is my way of honoring all those who
invested in me—and of being intentional about serving the next generation. Exposing SOMA youth to
track and field experiences through the USATF RunJumpThrow activity is one of those ways. Releasing
my new children’s book on Hazel Clark Day with my daughter and so many friends and neighbors in the
room was a beautiful experience. A big thank you to South Orange-Maplewood School District and
Maplewood Memorial Library for all the support to make Hazel Clark Day a huge success.”
Superintendent Bing shared, “We were thrilled to celebrate Hazel Clark Day in our schools. It was
inspiring for students to meet an athlete like Hazel Clark who has not only achieved greatness in her
sport, but also continuously gives back to the community that helped shape her. Her presence coincided
with the launch announcement of our new middle school sports programming–we cannot wait to see what
our athletes in 6th to 8th grade will achieve next fall.”
Maplewood Middle School Principal Dana Granau said, “Hazel Clark Day was a special day at MMS.
Our students were in the presence of one of their own—Olympian and CHS graduate—and my former
CHS track and field teammate Hazel Clark! We thank Hazel for bringing along fellow Olympians
DeeDee Trotter and Dr. Barksdale to remind them the importance of movement and wellbeing. Hazel
stayed and signed autographs and truly poured into our kids. Youth sports has the power to change lives
for the better. I know my students were inspired today!”
South Mountain Elementary School Principal Kevin Mason said, “South Mountain Elementary School’s
superstar second graders were excited to celebrate Hazel Clark Day by participating in the
RunJumpThrow program sponsored by USA Track & Field and Hershey’s. Our physical education
teachers emphasize the importance of physical activity and healthy habits, and this event provided
students with a fun opportunity to run, jump, throw, and stay active.”
Hazel Clark is widely regarded as one of the strongest U.S. middle-distance runners of her era. A three-
time Olympian and six-time U.S. champion, her career includes seven national championships, three
NCAA indoor titles, three NCAA outdoor titles, and an undefeated Southeastern Conference record while
competing for the University of Florida. Beyond athletics, Clark has built a career focused on youth
empowerment, sports development, and community impact. She has served as a U.S. Sports Envoy,
partnering with the U.S. Department of State and World Learning to deliver sports and education
programs that empower young people around the world. She also runs Nike Sport Performance Camp and
Nike Running Camp across New Jersey and New York with US Sports Camps.
Clark is the daughter of the late Dr. Joe Clark, the influential educator whose leadership at Eastside High
School inspired the film Lean on Me. She continues her family’s legacy of community impact through the
Clark Family Legacy Fund, which provides scholarships and access to extracurricular programs, camps,
and educational opportunities for young people. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to using sports, mentorship, and storytelling to build confidence, create opportunity, and inspire the next generation to lead with resilience and purpose.
About Hazel Clark
Hazel Clark is a three-time U.S. Olympian, six-time USA Champion, and University of Florida Hall of
Famer. She previously served as Global Director of Business Development and Partnerships at the
Bermuda Tourism Authority and has recently been appointed YMCA District Director of Development.
An author and speaker, she champions youth sports, nonprofit impact, and gender equity. Learn more
about the Clark Family Legacy Fund and HazelClark.org. Follow Hazel Clark on Instagram at
@HazelClarkRuns.
About Hazel Clark Takes the First Step
Before she became a champion, Hazel was simply a young girl standing at the edge of a track, unsure of
what would happen if she took that first step. In this inspiring and heartwarming story, children follow
Hazel as she learns that courage does not mean you are not afraid. It means you move forward anyway.
With encouragement, determination, and a growing belief in herself, Hazel discovers that every big dream
begins with one small act of bravery. Purchase here.