Vernon Norwood receives SPC Distinguished Alumni Award

LEVELLAND – South Plains College alumnus Vernon Norwood has made his mark in track and field from the collegiate to the international level. As a gold medalist in the men’s 4x400-meter relay during the 2024 Summer Olympics, he now joins the long list of SPC Distinguished Alumni.

Norwood was honored during SPC’s annual Scholarship Banquet on Thursday. Leslie Valentine, senior regional product creation director at Nike, also received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Norwood was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and graduated from Morgan City High School in Morgan City, Louisiana. As a first-generation college student, he attended SPC from 2011 to 2013 and majored in general studies.

“It made sense to me moving forward with my life because it was an opportunity for me to go to college and continue in track,” he said regarding his start at SPC.

Moving away from Louisiana, traveling to Levelland and living in Stroud Hall his first year and in Magee Hall his second year were new experiences for Norwood. Despite the differences to his hometown, he said he had a lot of fun on and off the track at SPC.

“[SPC] opened my mind being around other people from different countries and different parts of the state because I had been in Louisiana my whole life,” Norwood said. “All I’ve been around were people from Louisiana, so being around different types of people made everything so much fun.”

At SPC, Norwood was a six-time NJCAA all-American who ran on 4×400 relay teams. He set personal records of 20.93 seconds in the 200-meter dash and 45.72 in the 400 in 2012. He was also SPC’s record holder in the 600-yard run after winning the event in 1:08.8 at the 2013 Texas Tech Red Raider Open.

Working with former SPC Assistant Track and Field Coach Blaine Wiley and other talented student-athletes made Norwood realize how powerful SPC was in the sport.

“Coach Blaine Wiley did a good job with all of us,” he said. “He gave us a blueprint of life: working hard and staying dedicated to your path to help you succeed in the sport.”

In 2013, Norwood enrolled at Louisiana State University, where he was a four-time NCAA champion and an interdisciplinary studies major. At LSU, he earned NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles in the 400 in 2015 and ended his career as the No. 2-ranked 400-meter runner in LSU history with personal records of 45.31 for indoor and 44.44 for outdoor. His outdoor record made him the No. 8-ranked performer outdoors in NCAA history on the all-time collegiate Top 10 list.

After graduating from LSU and moving into professional track and field, Norwood said he learned a lot about competing internationally and being strategic when planning his future.

“It was a bit of a transition to be mentally and physically prepared to compete,” he said.

Since his time at LSU, Norwood has represented Team USA in multiple competitions. In the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, he earned a gold medal in the men’s 4x400 relay and a bronze medal in the mixed 4x400 relay. In the men’s 4x400 relay of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, he ran the second leg with a time of 43.3. Team USA set a record of 2:54.43 and earned their third consecutive gold medal in the event. Norwood was also on the mixed 4x400 relay team, which had the third-best time in history and won a silver medal at 3:07.74.

Whether in the collegiate or professional space, Norwood has earned multiple track achievements. However, his education is one milestone he said he continues to cherish.

“My biggest accomplishment to me is graduating and getting my college degree,” he said. “Running is temporary. Going to school, getting an education and being the first in my family to have a college degree weighs so much on me.”

Norwood’s mother, Charliette Ray, has given him unconditional love and support throughout his education and career. He also looks up to his three older brothers. Norwood’s family is one aspect of his life that motivates him to grow.

“I just want to continue improving and being a better person, better brother, better uncle, better friend,” he said regarding his current aspirations. “I think that will help me be better at everything else I do.”

For students working to achieve their dreams, Norwood said there are many opportunities for self-improvement at SPC.

“Understand that every day, there will be moments when you’ll be challenged, uncomfortable, when you have to stay disciplined and hungry,” he said. “Just stay ready for the moment because you never know when your name is going to be called for anything.”

At SPC, Norwood said he and his peers were able to challenge themselves and achieve successful careers. He said he credits the college for helping him become an Olympic gold medalist.

“For SPC to give me this distinguished award means a lot to me,” he said. “South Plains made me who I am today.”