Emmit King - 1989

Emmit King was born March 24, 1959, in Bessemer, Alabama. He graduated from Hueytown High School in the spring of 1978. Emmit signed a track scholarship with Jefferson State and participated in 1978-79 and 1979-80. After two years at Jefferson State, Emmit signed a track scholarship with the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.  After finishing his track eligibility at Alabama in 1983, Emmit has continued to participate in international meets including the 1988 Olympics at Seoul, Korea. 

In 1978 Emmit won both the State 6A 100-yd. dash and the 220-yd. dash for Hueytown High School.  At Jefferson State Emmit was a three-time All-American.  In 1978-79 King won the indoor 60-yd. dash with an electric time of 6.15 sec. This was the fastest time ever run by a junior college runner.  In the outdoor meet at Eugene, Oregon, Emmit won the 100 meter dash with a new national record of 10.0 sec.  This record still stands as the national record for the 100 meters.  In the summer of 1979 Emmit entered the national meet at Walnut, California, where he finished third in the 100 meters. This qualified him for the Pan-American Games at San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he won the Bronze Medal. In the 1979 king again won the indoor 60-yd. dash with a new automatic time of 6.13 sec.  Emmit was injured in the outdoor meet and was not able to defend his 100 meter title outdoors.  In June of 1980 Emmit ran in the Olympic trials, finishing 6^th. 

In 1980-81 Emmit entered the University of Alabama. In 1982 Emmit won both the indoor SEC 60 yd. dash in 6.11 and the outdoor 100-meter dash in 10.15 for the University of Alabama.  In 1982 he repeated as indoor SEC 60-yd. dash champion and won the NCAA 100 meter dash.  He finished 3^rd in the National Meet and 3^rd in the World Meet and ran on the USA 4x100 meters relay team that set a new world record.  In 1984 Emmit placed6th in the Olympic trials and was named alternate on the 4x100 relay team for the Los Angeles Olympics.  In 1988 Emmit was National TAC 100 Meter dash champion.  He finished 7^th at the Olympic trials with 9.98 and was again selected as an alternate for the 4x100 relay team for the Seoul Olympics. 

Emmit’s accomplishments have been outstanding.  He has been a national NCAA 1A Champion in the Southeastern Conference, a member of two Olympic teams, a holder of a world record, a national A.A. U. Champion and a winner in various international track meets.