Margo Jennings

Margo Jennings was born and raised in the Bronx borough of New York City. She studied dance and piano, beginning daily lessons at four years of age and continuing through high school. She attended the University of Miami from 1962–1966, during the years of segregation, race riots and the rumblings leading up to the Vietnam War. In 1981, she began teaching 6th grade at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield, Oregon and coaching the 7th and 8th grade track and girls cross country teams. In 1987, Springfield High School hired Jennings as the Cross Country/Distance Track Coach for boys and girls. Jennings continued teaching middle school while coaching the high school teams. She continually improved her training program to fit the needs of her athletes, resulting in a double periodized program focusing on low mileage and strength building workouts. At one time, Jennings was coaching eight of the women in the IAAF World Championship semi-final race in Paris 2003. Jennings is best known for coaching Kelly Holmes to her infamous Double Gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She also coached Maria Mutola, who won two Olympic medals, 11 World Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and hundreds of international elite racing circuit races.