Tyrone Ward

As a freshman at Alisal High School, Tyrone Ward stood just 4-feet, 11-inches tall. But steady growth — eventually carrying him to a height of 6 feet — put him on a path to greatness in football and track and field. By his senior year, Ward was his football team’s MVP and post-season All-Star game MVP. On the track, he left his mark as one of Alisal High school’s all-time greats, ranking 4th in the triple jump and 5th in the long jump.

Ward continued his two-sport dominance at Hartnell College, where he became a three-time JUCO All-American — once in football and twice in track and field. He was a conference champion in the long jump in 1999 and 2000, the 4×400 relay in 1999 and 2000, and the 400-meter hurdles in 2000. Known for his extraordinary versatility, Ward routinely competed in five, sometimes six, events in a single meet. He remains among Hartnell’s all-time leaders, ranked #1 in the 400 hurdles, #1 and #2 in the 4×400 relay, #2 in the long jump, #5 in the 400 meters, #9 in the 4×100 relay, and #11 in the triple jump.

Tyrone’s talents earned him Division I scholarship offers in both football and track. Ward accepted a track scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he went undefeated in the 400 meters throughout his career there. He was the 2002 and 2003 Big West Conference champion in both the 400 meters and long jump. Ward remains Cal Poly’s long jump school record holder at 26’ 7.75” and #6 all-time in the 400m at 46.57. In 2002 he placed 8th in the long jump at the USA Track and Field Championships and was named Cal Poly Athlete of the Year.

In 2018, Ward was inducted into the Hartnell Athletics Hall of Fame. His journey — from a 4-foot-11 freshman to a world-ranked athlete and record-holder — stands as a testament to the power of sheer determination and perseverance.