he youngest child of Cecil, Sr. Who believes in me? I know my Tand Queen Manning, coach that started with me, that Madeline Manning Mims was is here with me, my coach from diagnosed with spinal meningitis college, I know they believe in at the age of three. Her parents me, but they don’t know the were told she would not survive, outcome. I know what I think I PHO but Mims had records to set and can do, you know, I’ve been the T ceilings to break. best in the world for the last two O B In high school, she scored years. I don’t know exactly how Y CREEL higher than anyone her age on this is going to turn out. I said M the national 昀椀tness test. While to the lord, ‘you know, from here CF ARLAND at Tennessee State University, on out I’m running for Jesus, during the height of political I’m running for you Lord. And, | LIMERICK unrest and racial tensions, however this turns out, to you be S Mims made the 1968 Olympic the Glory.’ And I felt this peace TUDIO team. In Mexico City, after the just 昀氀ood my body, and I was just . opening ceremonies and before relaxed and ready to go.” MADELINE MANNING MIMS the competition, she recalled, “I Mims became the 昀椀rst started thinking, what am I going American woman to win Gold TULSA to do? How is this going to turn in the 800 meter—a record she out? I started questioning myself. would hold for more than 50 years—and the 昀椀rst American woman to break the two-minute barrier in the 800. She also set Olympic, World, and American records and she’s been “running for Jesus ever since.” Her TSU Tigerbelle teammates were witness to Mims’ opening the global door for women of color in distance running. She earned Silver in the 4 x 400 relay at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany, where she was awakened in the night by the Munich Massacre. She participated in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and quali昀椀ed as a member of the 1980 Olympic Team. With the United States’ boycott of the John Jackson, left, presented Madeline Manning Mims for induction to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. PHOTO BY CREEL MCFARLAND | LIMERICK STUDIO. 28