Gaile Hainely (2008)
Graduated from Mansfield High School in 1961, attended Westark (Ft. Smith), 1963, and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1966.
After teaching a year at Marshall, Hainley began coaching track at Waldron High School in 1968. The girls teams won the Ouachita College Relays for several years during her tenure. Along with Helen Parker of Ashdown, the two were instrumental in expanding the state track meet to include all classes for girls in 1973.Later she was active in getting girls track added to the Meet of Champs. Hainley’s Waldron teams won the 1973 state championship and her teams continued to excel by finishing in the top five the next several years, winning three more state championships. At one time her Waldron junior high track team had won twenty-six straight track meets. She was called upon several times over her coaching career to serve on the AAA’s Track and Field Advisory Committee as one of the most knowledgeable track coaches in the state representing girls track. Hainley retired from full time teaching and coaching in 1999 but continues to be actively involved during the track season working high school meets at the local, conference and state level. |