Chandra Cheeseborough

TSU Women’s Track & Field Coach Named Assistant USA Track Coach for the 2008 Olympics

Tennessee State University (TSU) Head Women’s Track Coach, Chandra Cheeseborough, has been named a Team USA Olympic Team Assistant Coach for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. On her selection, Cheeseborough remarked, “It is a great honor to be named as one of the staff members of the 2008 USA Olympic Track & Field Team. I am excited and looking forward to assisting the elite athletes of the United States. My selection is just a reflection of my roots from Coach Ed Temple, who was a three time Olympic Track & Field Coach for the USA, and it is such an honor to carry on the tradition.” Last June Cheeseborough was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2007 in St. Petersburgh, Florida.

Coach Cheeseborough is from Ribault High School, Jacksonville, FL., where her talent was developed and driven by her high school track Coach Gwendolyn Maxwell.  While in high school, she attended Coach Edward Temple’s Summer Track Club Program at Tennessee State University. Both tutor coaches helped to develop her into a future national sprinter. She developed into one of the marquee names in United States track & field.

Her success at the state, national and international levels, ranked her among the most noted Florida high school athletes. She began her career as a standout at Ribault High School in Jacksonville, when she played basketball, volleyball, and was a sprinter in track.  In 1975,  she was an all-conference performer in all sports for three years. As a basketball player, Cheeseborough was a Parade All-American, and averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds per game.

However, it was in track that she truly found her calling. She became a three-time state champion in the 100 & 200-yard dashes from 1975-77. She also collected a state championship in the long jump. She won two Gold Medals in the 1975 Pan-American Games at the age of 16, setting an American record in the 220-meter dash with a time of 22.77. She placed 2nd in the USA Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and won a spot on the 1976 Olympic Team, placing 6th in the 100-meter dash in Montreal. She also qualified for the 1980 Olympics in both sprints.

According to “Track’s Greatest Women” by John Henershot, Cheeseborough made US History by winning two Olympic Gold Medals in the 4 x100 & 4x400-meter relays. She set a new American record in the 400-meter dash and took a Silver Olympic Medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Cheeseborough graduated from Tennessee State University in 1981 with a degree in health and physical education, and became the head women’s cross country and track & field coach in 1994. During her career at Tennessee State University she earned Thirteen (13) All-American honors in the sprints. She was inducted into the National USA Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Her teams won the Ohio Valley Track & Field Championships in 2001-Outdoor, 2002-Indoor/Outdoor, and 2003-Indoor seasons. The team’s success led to Cheeseborough being named OVC “Coach of the Year” those three years.

She also served as assistant coach for the U.S. team at the 1999 Junior Pan-Am Championships.

She was recently named Assistant Coach for the World Championship in Greece.

Athletic Career and Honors

State of Florida 100M Dash, 200M Dash, and Long Jump Champions
Pan American Games, 1975
1st Place 200M  Dash 22.77
USA Olympic Trails
2nd place in 100M and 200M Dashes, 1976
Montreal Olympics
Place 6th in 100M Dash, 1976
Tennessee State University
Teamed to set 4x100M Relay
Tigerbelles World Record
4x100 Tennessee State Tigerbelles Team
Set a new World record in 4x100M Relay
Earned a spot on the 1980 USA Olympic Team
100m, 200M, 4x100M Relay Team
(USA Boycotted 1980 Olympic-Russia)
1984 USA Olympic Team
Won Gold Olympic Medals in 4x100M Relay
and 4x400M Relay, Silver Medal in 400M Run
Inductee in Florida Hall of Fame

Coaching Honors
2001 OVC Outdoor Coach of the Year
2002 OVC Outdoor Coach of the Year
2002 OVC Indoor Coach of the Year
2003 OVC Indoor Coach of the Year

Team Honors
2001 OVC Outdoor Track & Field Champions
2002 OVC Outdoor Track & Field Champions