Sanya Richards-Ross to visit St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas alum Sanya Richards-Ross, the American outdoor record holder (48.70) and two-time IAAF World Athlete of the Year (2006, 2009) will make a return visit to her alma mater on Tuesday morning.

Richards-Ross, who is promoting her Team SRR Sports Clinic at the Ansin Sports Complex on Nov. 7 and 8, will speak briefly to athletes before hopping on a flight to New York for a Nike Womens' convention. The Jamaican native and Pembroke Pines resident was the catalyst behind Aquinas’ run to eight consecutive state titles (1998-2005) and holds the state record (52.51) in the 400 meters, her specialty.

“I have so much pride about St. Thomas Aquinas,” Richards-Ross said. “Arman Hall was another prodigy Aquinas produced. It gives me tremendous pride and going back there, and knowing I started there. I can’t wait. I’m excited about meeting the kids.”

Richards-Ross, who will be inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 28, went on to a prolific All-American career at Texas and ultimately set more sub 50s times in the 400 than any woman in history.

“To have somebody of Sanya’s magnitude return to the school and reach out to the kids is great,” said Aquinas track coach Alex Armenteros, who has led the Raiders girls team to back-to-back state champions following a seven year state title drought. "Sanya has always kept it real. She hasn’t lost touch of who she is. When she talks to them she tells them how it is.”

This story was originally published October 20, 2014 at 11:15 PM with the headline "Sanya Richards-Ross to visit St. Thomas Aquinas."