Miami Northwestern has Three Olympians Headed to Paris

Jul 18, 2024

It is not very often that a high school and a coach can boast of having three of its graduates in the same Olympics. Carmen Jackson the head T&F Coach at Miami Northwestern can do just that. Jackson, who has been at Miami Northwestern for 44 years has 19 girl's State team titles from 1999-2024, 12 of which were consecutive from 2009-2023. At the Paris Olympics three young ladies that were under her support and guidance will be representing their countries. Lloydricia Cameron (Class of 2014) will be representing Jamaica and Twanisha Terry (Class of 2017) and Aaliyah Butler (Class of 2022) will be representing the USA. In addition to these three current Olympians, Jackson has also coached two other Olympians, Tiffany Ross-Williams in the 2008 Beijing Games, and Brianna Rollins-McNeal in the 2016 Rio Games.

What is the secret to her success? Jackson said in an earlier interview on FLRunners in 2014, "I am always working toward elite development in an athletes event and working with them toward team building that would put them in a championship mode and creating an environment to win." In describing her coaching style, Jackson said "Firm, committed, focused, and a big dreamer for the team." "I coach athletes towards being in the position to earn scholarships by posting elite times in the sprints and elite marks in the throws and jumps."

Congratulations to Coach Jackson and her 2024 Olympians!

The youngest of the Paris Olympians is 2022 Northwestern graduate Aaliyah Butler. Butler is currently at the University of Georgia. She will represent the USA in the 400m. She was 2nd in the US Olympic trials with a 49.71.

Photo by Danny Aguas

Butler was the 3A State Champion in the 400m in 2019 (52.25), 2021 (53.89), and 2022 (53.42). She was the 2019 State 3A Champion in the 200 (23.91), 5th in 2021 (24.23), and 2nd in 2022 (23.91).

Twanisha Terry was a 2017 graduate of Northwestern, attended USC and will represent the USA in the 100m. She was 3rd in the US Olympic trials 100m with a 10.89.

Photo by Tyler Copeland

Terry was a 6-time FHSAA 3A State Champion. As a freshman, she was 3rd in the 100m (12.12) and the 200m (24.83). She dominated the 3A 100 and 200m the next three years taking the title all three years. In the 100m, she ran 11.44w, 11.72, and 11.75. In the 200m, she ran 23.55, 24.29, and 23.73.

Jackson's third Olympian headed to Paris is 2014 Miami Northwestern graduate and a University of Florida graduate, Lloydricia Cameron. Cameron will represent Jamaica in the Shot Put.

Coach Jackson when asked who really stepped up individually for her 2014 State Championship team commented "My throwers Lloydricia Cameron, Jontavia Dykes, and Akassja White really stepped up, as they have been the backbone of this year's team. They brought in 48 points going 1-2-3 most meets when three entries were allowed."

Cameron was a five-time State Champion for Miami Northwestern. She took home the Discus titles in 2013 (44.77m) and 2014 (48.84m) and the Shot Put titles in 2012 (12.6m), 2013 (13.49m) and 2014 (14.22m).