Florida Track Club

The Florida Track Club was founded in Gainesville, Florida in 1965 by Jimmy Carnes and Jack Gamble. They wanted to create a community for runners to continue racing and training after their collegiate running careers were over. The club became well-recognized throughout the United States during the early 1970s when it won three straight national cross country titles from 1971-73. It was also known for its iconic logo design, created by club member and Olympian Jack Bacheler, who made sure the Florida orange was botanically accurate in the design. Two other notable members of the club were Frank Shorter and Jeff Galloway, who, with Jack Bacheler, all competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics, where Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon. Shorter’s Olympic victory created a running boom in the United States and caused an explosion in popularity for the Florida Track Club, making Gainesville a hotspot for distance running. Many recreational runners came to Gainesville to join the Florida Track Club, turning it into a club that serves both elite runners and novices alike to this day.

Rep our recreation of the iconic orange below!