Last summer we announced our All-Decade Team of the top 100 Florida high school athletes from the 1999-2000 through the 2008-2009 season. It has been our pleasure to be able to bring you an occasional series of interviews with the accomplished members of that elite team. In this edition, I interviewed Valerie Flournoy.
The former PK Yonge hurdles and long jump star was a force to be reckoned with in the mid-2000s with high school PRs of 13.90 (100H), 8.21 (55H), and 18-5 (LJ). She earned a whopping nine individual state titles between 2003 and 2006, including four in 2005 when she earned 1A titles in the 100H, long jump, 100, and 200.
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- Jason Byrne: How did you first get involved in the sport?
- Valerie Flournoy: Through the Gainesville Striders Track Club in the 3rd grade, I just wanted another activity to add to my already busy afterschool schedule of basketball and ballet.
- JB: Looking back at your high school career, what are you most proud?
- VF: The time and dedication it took to win multiple individual State Titles and help win a State Team Title.
- JB: What are your fondest memories?
- VF: Fighting through a pulled quad to win the 100 meter high hurdles championship my senior year, Saturday practices with my Coach/Dad, Coach Gretchen Meyer’s first track practice speech “We will win the State Title”, sharing No Ka ‘Oi with teammates, Shannon Stuckman and I finally being able to hold up the State Title after being runner’s up the year before, and the long laughter filled bus rides to the track meets.
- JB: Who or what were your biggest influences or factors in your success?
- VF: My Dad, he was the definition of sacrifice. He would go to work all day and then come out to the track to coach me. He sacrificed hundreds of hours, reading coaching books, watching other coaches, traveling to track camps and meets. He helped instill in me the willingness to work hard, and that everything worth achieving is worth sacrificing for. My dad is my biggest fan and I will be forever thankful for all the things he did to support my high school career.
- JB: Who were some of your favorite athletes (or biggest rivals) to compete against?
- VF: In high school my favorite athletes to watch and compete against was Shantia Moss. She is/was an amazing competitor and hurdler. Kittery Neale, the only state champion discus thrower to ever anchor a 4X4.
- JB: What are you doing now competitively and just in general?
- VF: I am completing my junior year of Track and Field at The Florida State University and graduating with a B.S. in Human Resource Management on May 1st.
- JB: What piece of advice would you offer today's high school athletes? Or what do you realize now that you wish you knew then?
- VF: Be the complete package in school, life, and on the track, nobody can take away your education. Don’t do things to prove others wrong, but to prove yourself right. Always believe in the power of working hard even when nobody is looking, the best athletes aren’t just the ones who show up ready to run at the meets, but the ones who show up to run and work hard every day. Dreams come true if you work for them.