Olympian Inspires Boys Town Washington, D.C.

Two-time Olympian track and field runner, Lacey O’Neal, taught the Boys Town Washington, D.C. youth some speedy techniques during her visit for international Olympic Day.

O’Neal started by showing the youth the proper way to jump a hurdle. They also learned basic warm-up exercises, how to run using official starting blocks and how to pass the baton correctly while running a relay race.

It didn’t stop just with technique. O’Neal also shared an inspiring message about pursuing your passion and not letting anyone steal your dream. Her success story begins in Chicago where she was born and raised by a single mother in a time when it was illegal for women to receive athletic scholarships. Not letting that stand in her way, O’Neal accepted an academic scholarship to the University of Hawaii at just 16 years old. There, she joined the track team and had to race against men because the University was just starting its women’s team. She then went on to compete in the 1964 and 1972 Olympic games.

Now, she coaches at high schools and colleges in Maryland and O’Neal mentioned she may come back to Boys Town DC to recruit some runners. “Some of our youth really excelled at the exercises and [O’Neal] noted that a few of them had real potential,” said Tosha Roundtree, Boys Town Washington, D.C. Development Director. “It was great they had the chance to meet her.”