Deworski Odom (born April 11, 1977) is a former

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

sprinter who specialized in the

100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...

. As a 17-year-old, he won a bronze medal in the

at the 1994 World Junior Championships, surpassing Henry Thomas's World Youth Best over this distance. Odom was born in

Cordele, Georgia Cordele is a city in and the county seat of Crisp County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,147 at the 2010 census. Cordele calls itself the Watermelon Capital of the World. History Cordele was incorporated on January 1, 1888, and ...

, to Lessie Odom, then 16. When he was 4 years old, he moved with family to Philadelphia. He began running as a sixth-grader at Shoemaker Middle School. He later attended Overbrook High School. In the 1995 National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships in

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...

, Odom set three national records. Although recruited by every major track program in the United States, Odom did not meet the academic requirements to attend college. He went to Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, where his career derailed. He eventually attended

St. Augustine's University Saint Augustine's University is a private historically black Christian college in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded by Episcopal clergy in 1867 for the education of freed slaves A freedman or freedwoman is a formerly enslaved pers ...

in Raleigh, North Carolina, for one season before turning professional. , Odom serves as track and field coach at his alma mater, Overbrook High School in Philadelphia.

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* 1977 births Living people People from Cordele, Georgia Sportspeople from Georgia (U.S. state) Track and field athletes from Philadelphia American male sprinters African-American track and field athletes American male track and field athletes 21st-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American sportspeople {{US-sprint-athletics-bio-stub