The Colorado Flyers Inc.

The Colorado Flyers Track Team was formally created in February 1966 and was originally composed of both age group girls and boys (7-18 years of age). The team was established as the Red Shield Track Team,under the auspices of the Salvation Army’s, Red Shield Community Center’s athletic program. Mr. Robert P. Smith was the part-time Athletic Director of the Center at the time and with the cooperation of the program staff members, Ms Ruth Lucas, Ms Betty Perry, and the Program Director Mr. Tony Sandoval,  established the program’s “Red Shield Track Team”.

 

The Denver Flyers Track Team became a formal independent entity during January 1968, being coached by Mr. Smith and future High School Hall of Fame Coach, Mr. Donald Gatewood. in 1972 the organization became a girl’s and women’s team only. In 1975 the Denver Flyers merged with Coach John Greene’s, Adams County team, the Colorado Pacers and became the Colorado Flyers. That merger produced future Flyers stars,Ms. Andrea Bush, Ms. Yvette Grove, and Ms. Lisa Thomas,  The team had two additional major mergers in 1977, the Mile High Denver Track Club (formerly known as the  Denver All-Stars) , and the Ms. Stanelia Mallard’s Glenarm Recreation Center’s Track Team,  which was sponsored by “Junior’s Grocery Store” in the Holly Shopping Center. The Mile High team included the future Flyer stars ,Ms. Sharon Acker, and Ms. Sheila Polk,(Ms. Pam Greene was a Denver All-Star , coached by Mr. Alfred Durst  when she became the first Colorado Olympic sprinter, during the 1972 Munich Games), she was also a member of the 1980 Olympic team as a protege’ of the Colorado Flyers . She was coached by Flyers associate Mr. Richard Thompson in Phoenix, Arizona. The Glenarm Center team  provided the future great hurdler Ms.Yolanda Johnson, mother and coach of national junior and world record holder in 100 meter hurdles, Ms. Dior’ Hall.

 

The Flyers filed the teams Colorado State’s Article of  Incorporation on September 9,1993 and became a formal Federal Exempt Nonprofit 501(c) (3) entity on June 11, 1998.

 

Mr. Tony Wells the Flyers legendary “ USA Master Coach” became a Flyers assistant coach in 1977. Mr. Freddie Houston became Head Field Event Coach in 1980, he was responsible for coaching national record holding Shot Put athlete Ms. Collinus Newsome. Mr. Houston passed away in 2010. Mr. Wells became Head Coach in 1980. The President and Founder Mr. Robert P. Smith retired from active coaching in 1996 he returned to assist in coaching in 2013 for one year upon the death of Mr. Wells, Mr. Smith continues to serve as the organization’s only President a position he has held for 50 years. Note: former Flyer’s Ms. Alexis Joyce ,and Ms. Brittany Frierson  returned to the team to coach in 2013, implementing and following their mentors Mr. Wells and Mr. Houston philosophy, they were assisted by Mr.Thal  Woods, Ms. Korey Hardiway and Mr. Chris Walsh.

 

The new Flyers era begin in 2014 ending in 2016 with coaches Tara Doublin ,Darius Reed and Caitlin Able Rose. The Team was inactive during 2017, 2018, and 2019 . During November 2019 the team was reestablished under the leadership of Michael Tasker, the grandson of Founder and President Robert P. Smith. The new Head Coach and Vice -President of the Colorado Flyers, is a Flyers, and University of Wyoming alumni hurdler,he was coached by Tony Wells, and Michigan State University, Sprint and Hurdle Coach Yolanda Johnson  (Hall) , as a high school athlete.

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Mr. Wells USATF recognition as a USA Master Coach , was his greatest accomplishment, at the time he was appointed he was one of only 25 coaches out of approximately 40,000 United States of America coaches to obtain such a status.

 

During 2006 the Colorado Flyers expanded its Mission of providing young women an opportunity to attend college via athletic performance in the sport of Girls Volleyball by establishing The Colorado Flyers -  Denver Volleyball Club (see website: www. thecoloradoflyers.wix.com/thecoloradoflyers)

 

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

 

The Flyers’ Mission accomplishments have been significant, over the past 50 years, beginning with the first young lady to receive a full scholarship, Ms. Yvonne Braxton of Denver West High School who received a full scholarship in 1976, to Jackson State University.  She was the beginning of 29 years of young ladies and a few young men to attend college as a result of their participation with the Flyers. Thirty-two young women have received Volleyball scholarship, to date, as a member of the Colorado Flyers -  Denver Volleyball Club , the first team members  graduated from college in 2015.

 

1966-1975   EARLY YEARS (Pre-Title IX Regulation)

 

Paula McClain, Michelle Duren, Eleanor Turner, Valerie Miller; First Colorado girls team (14-17 years old) to run a mile relay in less than 4:00 minutes.The team ran a. 3: 58.3 minutes relay at the National Invitational Girls Meet in Bakersfield, California in 1971.The team placed third in the race.

 

Paula McClain was the Rocky Mountain Junior Olympics 1970 Champion in the 100,220, and 440 yard sprints.  Michelle Duran was the 1970, 880 yard Champion in the same Junior Olympics Meet.

 

Paula McClain  graduated from Colorado University , and was the member of the University Track Team. Michelle Duran graduated from Law School at Denver University.

 

Dawnella Jones, Latrice Hunter,Michelle Moore, and Cheryl Lucas won the 9-under national championship at the Mt. Sac National Invitational Girls Age Group Meet in Pomona, California, in 1973. Michelle Moore won the 100 yard, Latrice Hunter won the 220 yard, Cheryl Lucas was second in the 220 yard, Dawnella Jones won the 440 yard and the four girls combined to win both the 440 and 880 relays in national record times.

 

Cheryl Lucas and Dawnella Jones went on to become ranked as the number two national age group runners in the 100,220, and 440 sprints respectively at the age of 12 years old.

 

Felicia Dupuch, Teria Perry, Carolyn Franklin,and Janet Miller won the national 4x110 yard relay in the 10 - 11 year old division at the  Mt. Sac National Invitational Girls Age Group Meet in Pomona , California in 1973.

 

Felicia Dupuch was a semifinalist in the 100 meters, in the 1980 Olympic Trials, she held the national age group record for 15 year olds in the 100 meters until it was broken in 1998 by Colorado Flyers Alexis Joyce. Felicia. received a full scholarship to Arizona University. .

 

 

 

Yvonne Braxton, Jackie White, Robin Castor, Lisa Thomas and, Freda Hancock were all Colorado high school state champions in 1974 and 1975. in the 440, 100, 220, 880, High Jump, and Long jump. Lisa Thomas was the Flyers first Heptathlete, She attended Jackson State University on a full Scholarship. Brittany Frierson was the second multi-event athlete on the Flyers; she graduated from Oral Roberts University.

 

Freda Hancock was the Flyers first National Junior Olympic Champion ,she won the 100 and 220 yard events at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York in 1975 ,and was the national age group record holder for 16 year olds,in the 220. She received a scholarship to Kansas State University. A native of Pueblo,Colorado she placed 5th in the 220 yard dash,in the 1976 Olympic Trials ,in Eugene, Oregon.  She is currently a school teacher in Pueblo, she is in the City of Pueblo, Hall of Fame.

Yvonne Braxton was the fourth place finisher in the 440 yard run, in the 1975 National Junior Olympic Championship in Ithaca, New York, as stated earlier, she was the first Flyer to receive a formal full ride scholarship to college, attending Jackson State University.