The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2014
- Class:
- 1988
A two-time NCAA champion and eight-time All-American, Karol Davidson is one of the top middle distance runners and relay performers in program history. During her three seasons in Austin, Davidson helped lead the Longhorns to three NCAA team titles (1986 and 1988 indoor and 1986 outdoor) and five Top-Five showings at nationals. After spending her freshman season at the University of Tennessee (1983-84), she transferred to Texas and sat out the 1984-85 season due to NCAA transfer rules. During her sophomore year, Davidson won the 1,000 meters at the 1986 NCAA Indoor meet to help lead the Longhorns to the NCAA team championship. She then finished fourth in the 800 meters and ran the third leg of the fourth-place 4x400-meter relay at the 1986 NCAA Outdoor meet to lead Texas to the team title. As a junior, Davidson ran the third leg of the fifth-place 4x400-meter relay at the 1987 NCAA Indoor meet and the final leg of the 4x400-meter relay which placed sixth at the 1987 NCAA Outdoor meet. In her senior season, she won the 800 meters while helping the Longhorns claim the 1988 NCAA Indoor team title. Davidson then finished third in the 800 meters and ran the third leg of the 4x400-meter relay which placed sixth at the 1988 NCAA Outdoor meet. A 10-time Southwest Conference champion while at Texas, Davidson helped the Longhorns win all six indoor and outdoor league team titles during her three seasons. She won four SWC titles in 1986 (indoor 1,000 yards, indoor 4x400-meter relay, outdoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters), two in 1987 (outdoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters) and four in 1988 (indoor 800 meters, outdoor 800 meters, outdoor 1,500 meters and outdoor 4x400-meter relay). Davidson still holds the school record in the outdoor 800 meters with a time of 2:01.50 (set in 1987) and held three additional school records as part of relay teams in the sprint medley relay (3:41.96 in 1988), 4x800-meter relay (8:27.90 in 1986) and outdoor distance medley relay (11:05.71 in 1986). She also was a member of the cross country team during each of her three seasons at Texas. Davidson earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1988 and went on to receive her law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1994. A government agency lawyer who resides in Del Valle, Texas, she has served as an attorney with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department since 2000.