Walker’s fifth season with the team was the most productive, back-and-forth yet successful affairs as the jumps were a huge part of the women’s Peach Belt Conference title scoring 49 of the 214.50 points. In the triple jump, the Sharks placed first thru fourth and claimed first, third and fifth in the long jump. During the season, the women’s triple jump record was broken on numerous occasion by three separate jumpers.
During the season, Shakira Bartley, Jazmine Elleston and Nisha Bryant battled for the record until Bartley cemented her name in the record books as the senior jumped 12.73m to become the first automatic qualifier in program history. In addition to winning both the long and triple jump, Bartley also became the first automatic qualifier, South Region Field Athlete of the Year and All-American in a field event in program history. The season was capped off with a third-place finish in the triple jump with a school record and all-time PBC record, 12.93m.
Walker enters his fifth season as a volunteer jumps coach for the men’s and women’s track and field teams. He is the founder of the Fast Lane Track Club which has been one of the top track and field clubs in the nation for the past 11 years.
Since his time here, Walker has brought success to the jumps program for the Sharks with jumpers qualifying for nationals. Every season, the Sharks have broken the school records in the men’s long jump, triple jump and high jump as well as the women’s triple and high jump.
Walker has more than 30 years of experience in track in field. Was a member of the national runner up team at Santa Fe College in 1983. Named Junior College All-American in the long jump, triple jump and 100 meter dash. Went on to run for Bud Light Track American and Nike. Began coaching in 1999 at North Florida Christian High School. Continued coaching in 2004 at Florida A&M University. Also coached at Royal Palm Beach High School in 2011 and Plam Beach Central in 2014.
