CHARLENE FRANCIS

Charlene Francis ran with Liberty for years as a masters long-distance runner. Former Liberty President Mary Harada says that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, “I started ‘poaching’ masters runners who belonged to other Boston-area running clubs,” especially those who didn’t offer much support for female masters runners. Mary notes, “There were so few Black female masters runners until maybe 20 years ago when former college runners aged up to masters track and field. There now are some wonderful Black female masters sprinters and field event athletes. Still not many Black female masters distance runners.” Charlene was the exception.

Cathy Utzschneider, former Liberty coach, remembers Charlene as a “beautiful person -- a role model for all: humble, optimistic, loving, courageous.... a wonderful friend, always there." Charlene’s training partner, Sue Gustafson said, “Every time I looked at Charlene, I saw the youngest one of us, not the oldest. She was always going toward the next great thing.” At the November 2019 Run For all Ages 5K, at the age of 78, Charlene ran the race in 33:41. We miss Charlene, who passed away in February 2021.

PATRICIA (PAT) MELTON

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Pat came east to attend Middlesex School in Concord, MA, and later Yale University (class of 1983). A standout athlete in multiple sports, Pat ran with Liberty following her Yale collegiate career. She qualified for the July 1988 Olympic Trials in the 800-meter run and was a finalist in the event. At the Trials, she ran the 800 in 2:05.55 in the initial heats, then 2:04.20 in the semifinals, and finally, 2:04.88 in the finals, which earned her 8th place.

In 2012, Pat became the executive director of New Haven Promise, a non-profit which aims to make the promise of college a reality for local high school students.

Check out Yale University Athletics’ recent profile of Pat—https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/2/14/general-celebrating-black-history-month-at-yale-patricia-melton-83.aspx

DARLENE BECKFORD

One of Liberty’s strongest middle distance / distance runners, Darlene began running with Liberty in 1977 while a high-school student at Cambridge Rindge and Latin. Her running achievements while still a teenager were impressive -- she was the US Junior Olympic champion in multiple distances (mile, 800m, and 1500m). Her best times in high school were: 2:04.6 in the 800m, 4:19.6 in the 1500m, and 4:41.9 in the mile.

Darlene attended Harvard University (class of 1983), where she continued to excel. She was the National Collegiate Champ in the indoor 800m (first Ivy League woman to win a national title in track) as well as in the indoor mile, setting the National Collegiate indoor mile record in 1980. She was a multiple All-American and never lost a meet on the famed Harvard indoor track. Her PR’s in college were: 2:05.75 in the 800m, 4:14.0 in the 1500m, and 4:32.3 in the mile. In 1998, Darlene was inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Harvard still considers Darlene to be one of their best all-around runners ever.

After college, Darlene was the US Indoor Mile Champion in 1983 and 1987. She was a finalist in the 1500m at the US Olympic Trials, both in 1984 and 1988, placing 6th in 1984. At the 1987 World Indoor Track and Field Championships, she finished 7th in the 1500m with a time of 4:13.57. She ran 15:53 to set the US women’s 5K road race record. Her final personal best performances are very compelling: 2:02.93 for the 800m, 4:04.81 for the 1500m, and 4:30.12 for the mile.

BETTY SELMAN

As a high-school student, Betty Selman was one of Liberty's top sprinters in the mid to late 1970s. She was also a star for Lexington High School. The Boston Globe selected Betty as an All-Scholastic in the 220-yard dash in 1977 and 1978.

Betty attended the University of Nebraska (class of 1983) and was a sprinter on their 1979-1980 track and field team (her Nebraska teammate was Merlene Ottey, nine-time Olympic medalist). Some of Betty’s best race times as recorded by former Liberty coach Ken McKenna for the years 1975-77 include:

60-yard dash – 7.07 seconds
100-yard dash – 11.00 seconds
100-meter dash – 12.70 seconds
220-yard dash – 25.10 seconds
200-meter dash – 26.20 seconds
300-yard dash – 38.20 seconds
440-yard dash – 57.40 seconds

ELOISE EVANS

Despite starting college at Salve Regina in her late twenties, after marrying and having two children, Eloise rapidly brought athletic star power to the school. A 1986 graduate, Eloise earned All-American honors in track and field (1984 and 1985) and cross country (1984). She held numerous school records -- eight indoor track records, four outdoor records, and eight cross country records. She was a two-time NACC Division 3 national champion in the 800 meters, with times of 2:07.84 in 1984 and 2:10.98 in 1985. In February 1998, she was inducted into the Salve Regina Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Eloise ran with Liberty following her collegiate career. She qualified for the July 1988 Olympic Trials in the 800 meters and made it through the first round of heats. Her time of 2:12.20 earned her 7th place in the heats.

Learn more about Eloise in Salve Regina’s school paper, the Nautilus—https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1069&context=student-newspapers

KATHIE LAWSON

Kathie Lawson began running with Liberty in 1971 while still in high school, as a way of expanding her competitive horizons. (One of her high-school times still stands as a New Hampshire high school track record, 50+ years later – 24.44 seconds for the 200m.) Kathie qualified for the US-USSR dual meet in 1971 and went on to become a member of the US Travelling Team for the next three years. She was undefeated in the 100m and the 200m in Europe in the summer of 1971.

Kathie went on to study at U-Mass Amherst in fall 1971, where she trained with the men’s track team, since there was no women’s equivalent. Word has it that she anchored the men’s 4x100 team. She unfortunately missed the 1972 Olympics due to a torn fascia in her right foot (an injury that would eventually end her running career).