The Grand Marshals for the 2017 North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's
Day Parade are USA Olympian Amber Campbell and former Coastal Carolina
University (CCU) Coach Alan Connie. Coach Connie was Amber's
Head Coach while she attended Coastal Carolina University.
Amber, a
resident of Myrtle Beach, is one of the top track and field athletes in the
world, competing in the hammer throw. A three-time USA Olympian (2008, 2012 and
2016), she has also represented Team USA at five Outdoor World Track and Field
Championships (2005,2009,2011, 2013 and 2015). At the 2016 Summer
Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, her sixth place finish was the highest
finish ever by a USA Olympian in the hammer throw, and her throw was the best
ever by a USA Olympian in the hammer. She is a 12-time USA National Champion
and twice has set USA Olympic Trial records with her championship throws in
2012 and 2016.
At
CCU, Amber was a five-time NCAA Division 1 All American, and graduated as
the all-time American Collegiate Record Holder.
Coach
Connie began his coaching career in 1979 at North Myrtle Beach High
School. His boys cross country teams and girls track teams won four South
Carolina State Championships, and had three state runner-up finishes in
his eight years of coaching at the high school. His girls track and field
teams had a combined record of 169 wins, one loss and two ties over
eight years.
In
his 28 years as the head women's cross country and track and field coach at
CCU, Coach Connie's teams won 28 Big South Conference Championships, and he was
named Big South Conference Coach of the Year 33 times in the two sports. He
coached 12 All Americans and was named the Big South Conference Coach of the
Decade twice in women's cross country for the 1990s and 2000s. He was also
named Big South Conference Coach of the Decade for women's indoor track and
field for the 2000s and for women's outdoor track and field for the 2000s.
Amber
and Coach Connie have been inducted into the Coastal Carolina University Hall
of Fame and the Big South Conference Hall of Fame.
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