Karen Bakewell

While running for the Striders, she won a bronze medal at the T.A.C. Age Group Nationals at Dayton, OH and a silver medal in the 200m at the Region 1 Junior Olympics in Providence, RI, in 1983. Her silver medal performances in the 200 and 400 at the 1983 Empire State Games in Syracuse, drew the attention of Richard Ceronie, who would later become her coach at Miami (OH) University. He recalled, “She had a beautiful stride pattern, long and flowing, and I thought she would make an ideal 800 meter runner.”

Following her graduation from Jamestown High in 1983, Karen found immediate success at a freshman at Miami. She set Miami University Indoor Track records for 200, 300, 400 and 500 meter races and Miami University Outdoor track records in 100, 200 and 400 meter races. She was the 1984 Mid-American Conference Indoor 400 meter Champion and the 1984 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Champ for 400 meters. She ran a 53.4, 400 meters, at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, OR.

After a red-shirt year in 1985, Bakewell picked up right where she left off. She was the 1986 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track Champ for 500 meters and the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track Champ in both 400 and 800 meter sprints. For her remarkable season, she was named 1986 MAC Female Track Athlete of the Year

Then came the previously mentioned 1986 NCAA Division 1 National Champion 800 meter sprint, in a new meet record of 2:00.85. She was the first USA female collegiate runner to break 2:01 and was ranked 10th in the world. She was selected as a 1986 NCAA D-1 Track & Field All-American.

The next season Karen set a new Miami record in the indoor 600 meters and during the early outdoor season recorded the fastest 400 and 800 times in the MAC. But she sustained an injury that halted her career.

Coach Ceronie summarized his thoughts about Karen Bakewell with these words: “She was the finest track and field athlete in Miami University’s track and field program. She excelled at the NCAA Championship level and was world-ranked. I have helped coach 6 Olympians, 9 NCAA individual champions and over 100 conference champions. In my opinion, Karen Bakewell is the very best athlete I ever coached and if not for her injury would have been an Olympian and world record holder.”

Bakewell is retired and resides in Fairport, NY.