Linda Ware has one daughter by birth, two sons by marriage, and hundreds of other kids through adoption. Linda, a fiscal auditor the past three years for the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, has been handling the administrative end of the club since marrying Howard four years ago. They met through her daughter Khalilah, whose performance as a quarter-miler for the Striders earned her a full track scholarship to the University of Southwest Louisiana. Howard also is the head track coach at Austin's Huston-Tillotson College, a historical liberal arts institution just a javelin throw from the state capitol and Linda's alma mater. Amateur athletes between the ages of eight and 18 make up the Striders team.
All comers are welcome, regardless of sex, strength or speed.
All that's needed is a desire to learn and a willingness to work hard within a supportive but disciplined environment. Local, regional, and state meets sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union are held May through July, with the top three finishers in each event advancing to the next meet. The season culminates the first week of August with the Junior Olympics competition. Over the years, more than 150 Striders have become Junior All-Americans and another 50 have won in national competitions. Will Porter and Stacy Clack are just two Strider alumni who have gone on to run in the U.S. Olympic Trials as adults.