Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2004
When Holly Kelly graduated from Palmetto High School in Miami, Florida, she was one of the most coveted signees in the state's history of track and field. The three-time prep All-American surpassed the NCAA qualifying standard and finished ninth in the voting for Track and Field News' High School Athlete of the Year. As a prep, Holly was named to several national teams, including the '86 Pan Am Junior and the '86 World Junior Championship teams, and earned state champion titles in the high jump for three consecutive years. Along with her dominance in the high jump, Kelly held a state title in the 800 meters and was runner-up in the 300 meter hurdles making her all-around skills a perfect fit for the Florida State Seminoles.
Holly's freshman season, she won three outdoor events while qualifying for the NCAA's and took titles at the Eastern Airlines Invitational and the Seminole Twilight. She went on to become a four-time All-American in the high jump and a four-time Metro Champion. Kelly was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Festival team and competed in three Olympic trials. In her senior season in 1991, Holly broke the Florida State indoor and outdoor record in the high jump. Both marks are still etched in the FSU Track and Field record books as of 2004.
Since completing her degree in physical education in 1991, Holly continued her career as a high jumper. She went home to Miami and trained and traveled internationally competing for the Goldwin and Nike Track Clubs.
She also as an assistant at Miami, coaching the high jumpers to two Big East Championships and two runners up. Holly was also working as a teacher and Assistant AD at Coral Gables High School. After receiving her master's degree in Educational Leadership and Management, Holly took the position with the MF Athletic Company as the Southeast Sales Manager. She has authored three books and four videos on the high jump and continues to lecture at clinics. She serves on the committee for the Florida Track Hall of Fame and hosts free clinics for high school students each year throughout the Southeast.
