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SPRINGFIELD — Nicole Green's track and field career — which eventually took to her countries like Sweden, Japan and elsewhere — began in Springfield.

She's been an NCAA national champion and a gold medalist, but Green was still shocked to hear she was named the No. 1 female athlete in the history of South High School — and that's because she knows what South athletes are capable of.

"I never doubted the talent of anyone from South," Green said. "I did my best to get in where I fit in. They were all good."

To honor South and its athletic achievements, the Springfield News-Sun and a panel of former school coaches and administrators selected the top 10 female athletes in school history — and Green came out on top in a very crowded field of stellar athletes.

In high school, Green competed in volleyball and basketball, but excelled on the track where she helped the Wildcats finish in the top five at state for three consecutive seasons.

As a sophomore in 1988, Green finished third in the state in the 200-meter run (24.90), fourth in the 100 (12.38), and ran the anchor leg of the sixth-place (48.94) 400-relay team with Yolanda Bragg, Andrea Lytle and Chanda Williams for the Class AAA fifth-place Wildcats.

In 1989, Green won her first individual state title, claiming the 200 in 24.53. She also finished second in the 100 (12.12) and third in the 800 relay (1:42.70) with Bragg, Alfie Chilton and Tahwanna Hawkins. The Wildcats were Class AAA state runners-up, finishing with 28 points.

As a senior in 1990, Green was fourth in the 100 (12.12) and third in the 300 (24.69), but she and teammates Bragg, Chilton and Tasha Marable won both the 400 relay (48.69) and the 800 relay (1:41.18) as South finished fifth in Division I with 30 points.

Green said her performances at the state track meet proved she could take it to the next level.

"It was an eye-opener of my talent and where it would lead," Green said.

Her career then took her to Kansas State, where there was a period of adjusting to the level of competition.

"You had to dedicate yourself," Green said.

In 1995, Green's hard work paid off in the form of a national championship, thanks to all the people who doubted her.

She said she wasn't even projected to finish in the top eight at the Division I Track and Field Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.

"It really pushed me," Green said. "My times were just as good, if not better, than some of the people in my race.

"I had to prove to everybody there that I wasn't a joke."

Green won the 400 in a time of 52.01.

"To be the best in the nation, words can't describe how that makes one feel," Green said.

"It was very awesome," she continued. "You get to the point where you work so hard, it's a big sigh of relief."

Green later ran at the 1995 USATF World Championships in Goteborg, Sweden, where she won a gold medal as a member of the 400 relay team.

"It was all that and then some," Green said of the world title.

In 1996, Green vied for a spot on the Olympic team in the 400.

"It was so phenomenal," Green said. "The higher you get, the bigger the crowd and the bigger the adrenaline becomes. You have to put everything on the line."

A top-six finish would've guaranteed her a spot on the squad, but she finished seventh. "Without a shadow of a doubt, I should've been in the top six, but I didn't run my race," Green said. "I walked away from it knowing I did my best."

She later signed endorsement deals with Nike and Coca-Cola and ran track professionally until she retired in 2000. During this time, Green also earned her master's degree from Kansas State.

"It wasn't a problem for me walking away when it was over," Green said. "I wanted to help people reach their dreams."

She serves as the assistant athletic director in charge of compliance at the University of Memphis.

But she hopes to someday, somehow give back to the people of Springfield. "That's one of my goals," Green said.

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