USA Track & Field
  • Disciplines
  • Events
  • Programs
  • Resources
  • Associations
  • Safe Sport
  • USATF Fantasy Pick'Em
  • News
  • Membership
  • Clubs
  • Event Insurance / Sanctions
  • Shop
  • Watch
  • USATF Connect Login
Back to Athlete Bios
Athlete Bio

Barbara Ferrell

Basic Information

Status: Hall of Fame Gender: Female Date of Birth: 7/28/1947

Athletics Information

Event: Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field Agent: N/A

Residences

Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS College: California State University, Los Angeles

Follow This Athlete On:

Athlete Profile

One of the world's top women sprinters in the late 1960s, Barbara Ferrell had her first major breakthrough in 1967 when she tied the world record of 11.1 for the 100m dash in winning the 1967 AAU national championship, won the gold medal in the 100m at the Pan American Games and was ranked number one in the U.S. in both the 100 and 200. In 1968, she tied her 100m world record in the semi-finals at the Olympic Games, then finished second in the final to Hall of Famer Wyomia Tyus. She also finished fourth in the 200 meters and was a member of the gold-medal winning 4x100m relay. Running for California State University and the Los Angeles Mercurettes, she was again ranked first in the U.S. at both 100 and 200 meters during 1969. That year, she won the national outdoor 100 and 220-yard dash at the outdoor national championships as well as the 60-yard dash and the rarely run 240-yard dash at the indoor championships. In 1972, she won the 100 meters at the Olympic trials but later was injured and failed to medal in the 100m or 200m dashes. She was an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles from 1968 to 1976 while pursuing a coaching career. She was head coach of the women's track and field team at the University of Southern California from 1992 to 1999 and in 2003 she became head coach of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas' track and cross country teams.

Records Held

World Record: 100 m - 11.10 (July 2, 1967 - )

Championships

1968 Olympics: 100 m (2nd)
1968 Olympics: 200 m (4th)
1968 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st)
1972 Olympics: 100 m (7th)
1972 Olympics: 200 m (7th)
1967 AAU: 100 m - 11.10 (1st)
1969 AAU: 60 yd. (1st)
1969 AAU: 100 m (1st)
1969 AAU: 220 yd. (1st)
1969 AAU: 240 yd. (1st)
1967 Pan-Am Games: 100 m (1st)

Occupations

Teacher
Coach

Our Sport. Our team. Our journey. Join our team. Become a USATF Member today

  • Join Today

Official Sponsors

Official Suppliers

Official Technology Partners

Official Medical Network Partner

  • Contact Us
  • About USATF
  • Governance
  • Media Center
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Copyright 2025 USA Track & Field  Privacy Policy  Website Terms of Use  Ad Choices