For quite some time, California track & field alumna Sheila Hudson has been known as one of the greatest pioneers and athletes in women's triple jump history; now, she adds another accolade to her name, as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has honored her as part of its 14-member Class of 2023 to the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame.
 
A 1999 inductee to Cal Athletics' Hall of Fame, Hudson is a six-time NCAA Champion and eight-time All-American. She began her illustrious Golden Bear career in 1986 by setting Cal's freshman record in the triple jump at 13.50m (44-3.5); that mark would stand today as the No. 2 entry on the program all-time list had she not surpassed it by a large margin later in her career. The next year, she won her first NCAA Championship in the outdoor triple jump, which she would also do in 1988 and 1990. She also earned titles in the indoor triple jump and both the indoor and outdoor long jump during her senior year. Her achievements earned her a spot on the Pac-12's All-Century Team, as well as Cal's nominee for the Pac-10 Athlete of the Decade (1986-96).
 
To this day, Hudson owns the school records in the outdoor triple jump (14.30m/46-0.75), the indoor triple jump (13.95m/45-9), the outdoor long jump (6.73m/22-1) and the indoor long jump (6.64m/21-9.5).
 
Although the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame only accounts for collegiate accomplishments, Hudson's career spanned far beyond the bounds of Berkeley. Following her graduation, she passionately advocated for the inclusion of the women's triple jump in the Olympic Games. When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally implemented the event for the 1996 Games in Atlanta, she placed 10^th for Team USA in the final. Hudson is also a four-time USA Outdoor triple jump champion and a five-time USA Indoor triple jump champion. She held the indoor American record until 2017 and the outdoor record until 2004.
 
Hudson is  Cal's first-ever inductee (man or woman) into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, which was founded last year and honors the best of the best in collegiate track & field and cross country. She will join her fellow honorees for the induction ceremony on Sept. 14 at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Ore.
 
To be eligible for induction this year, nominees were limited to men who completed their collegiate eligibility prior to 2000 and women prior to 2010.
 
Class of 2023 Inductees
 
WOMEN (School, Events, Years in School)
Joetta Clark (Tennessee, Mid-Distance, 1981-84)
Sheila Hudson (California, Jumps, 1986-90)
Holli Hyche (Indiana State, Sprints, 1992-94)
Sonia O'Sullivan (Villanova, Distance, 1988-91)
Julie Shea (NC State, Distance, 1977-81)
Seilala Sua (UCLA, Throws, 1997-2000)
Wyomia Tyus (Tennessee State, Sprints, 1964-67)
 
MEN (School, Events, Years in School)
Dyrol Burleson (Oregon, Mid-Distance, 1959-62)
Michael Carter (SMU, Throws, 1980-84)
Michael Conley (Arkansas, Jumps, 1982-85)
Edwin Moses (Morehouse, Hurdles, 1974-77)
Renaldo Nehemiah (Maryland, Hurdles, 1978-79)
John Thomas (Boston U., Jumps, 1959-62)
Dave Wottle (Bowling Green, Mid-Distance, 1969-73)
 
 
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