2011 NSU Women's Track Media Guide by Matt Michalec

2010-11 NSU TRACK TEAM

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

2010-11 NORFOLK STATE WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD TEAM Front row (seated, left-right): Ashleigh Joseph, Naomi Hargrove, Rayiana Johnson, Jonee’ Artis, Champagne Bell, Shanneka Claiborne, Syeeda Gee Middle row (kneeling, left-right): Alicea Teamer, Teressa Nance, Andrea Saunders, Ashley Sessoms, Alaina Hite, She’Anna MItchell, Tierra Flowers, Elaine Rhoades, Academic Advisor Vicki Jones-Whitties Back row (standing, left-right): Director of Track & Field Kenneth Giles, Head Coach Ronda Berard, Assistant Coach Dwayne Miller, Assistant Coach Serge Bengono, Kellen Rutto, Kaleena Gray, Jamia Hutto, Wanetta Kirby, Ashanti Matthews, Tyler Savage, Assistant Coach Jerry Price

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TABLE OFTEXT CONTENTS SAMPLE NSU President ....................................................................... 4 NSU Athletics Director ...................................................... 5 About Norfolk State University.................................... 6 NSU Timeline ......................................................................... 7 NSU Athletics Highlights ................................................. 8 About Hampton Roads ...................................................10 NSU Athletics Foundation ............................................12 Strength & Conditioning Program ...........................13 Athletics Administration ...............................................14 Athletics Department Directory ................................16 Coaching Staff Director Kenneth Giles .................................................17 Head Coach Ronda Berard .........................................18 Assistant Coaches ..........................................................19 Meet the 2010 -11 Spartans Roster .................................................................................20 Season Outlook ..............................................................21 Schedule ...........................................................................22 Returner Profiles.............................................................23 Newcomer Profiles ........................................................32 NSU 2010 Season In Review.........................................34 The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference .....................35

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2010-2011 2010-2011 NORFOLK WOMEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE WOMEN’S

Norfolk State University 2010-11 Women’s Track

Quick Facts University Information Location ...................................................................Norfolk, Va. Founded ................................................................................1935 Enrollment ............................................................Nearly 7,000 Mascot............................................................................ Spartans School Colors .....................................................Green & Gold Affiliation ..................................................................... Division I Conference ....................Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Acting President .............................................Dr. Kim Luckes Athletics Director ........................................... Marty L. Miller Athletics Phone ..............................................(757) 823-8152 Ticket Office .....................................................(757) 823-9009

Sports Information SID ........................................................................ Matt Michalec Email ....................................................... mmichalec@nsu.edu SID Phone .........................................................(757) 823-2628 SID Fax ...............................................................(757) 823-8218 Cell .......................................................................(757) 592-1245 Mailing Address ......... NSU Office of Sports Information 700 Park Ave., Norfolk, VA 23504 Website ..............................................www.nsuspartans.com

Coaching Staff Director of Track & Field ...........Kenneth Giles (8th year) Head Women’s Coach ................ Ronda Berard (6th year) Alma Mater ............................. Southwestern Louisiana ‘90 Assistant Coaches ................... Jerry Price, Dwayne Miller ........................................................................Serge Bengono Track Office ......................................................(757) 823-2104

Team Information 2009-10 MEAC Indoor Finish.................................................... 1st 2009-10 MEAC Outdoor Finish .............................................2nd Letterwinners Returning/Lost ..........................................18/10 Newcomers .................................................................................................6 The 2010-11 NSU Women’s Track Media Guide was written, edited and produced by the NSU Sports Information Office, director Matt Michalec and assistant Mike Bello. Editorial assistance was provided by Craig Cotton and Marty Miller. Photography was provided by Dominion Photography, Jerry S. Altares, Mark’s Digital Photography and NSU Marketing Services. Special design assistance was provided by Steve Gray.

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NSU PRESIDENT

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

im Luckes (LEW-kus), J.D., the acting president of Norfolk State University, previously served as the liaison to the NSU Board of Visitors and assistant to the president. Luckes holds a bachelor’s degree from Elizabeth City State University and a juris doctor degree from North Carolina Central University’s School of Law. Additionally, she is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina, Class XII (2005) and has participated in the Mabel Parker McLean Women’s Leadership Development Forum of the United Negro College Fund, Inc. (April 2004). She is also a member of the 2011 CIVIC Leadership Institute. A native of Newport News, Va., Luckes brings more than 20 years of administrative experience in higher education to Norfolk State. Prior to NSU, she served as executive vice president at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. As Executive Vice President, she was responsible for the areas of institutional effectiveness, personnel management, and strategic planning and assessment. Additionally, Luckes was responsible for the day-today operations at Saint Augustine’s College. Before assuming the position of Executive Vice President, she served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Augustine’s. In that role, Luckes was responsible for the oversight and execution of education policy; supervision of programs of instruction of faculty and instructional budgets, and faculty and staff effectiveness and development. Luckes also held several higher education administration positions at Hampton University, serving as Director of Human Resources and Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Provost. She serves and takes great pride in her volunteer work as a peer evaluator with the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Dr. Luckes is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Highlights from her career include the following: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Nauticus Board of Directors (2009-present) Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees (2009-present) Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Regional Board of Trustees (2009-present) Hampton Roads Partnership Board of Directors (2009-present) Urban League of Hampton Roads Board of Directors (2009-present) Greater Norfolk Corporation Board of Directors (2009-present) National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education Distinguished Alumni Award (2009) Outstanding Leadership Award from City of Newport News (1995) Outstanding Educational Support Award from City of Hampton (1994) Nominee, Governor’s Emergency Medical Services Award, Commonwealth of Virginia, Office of Emergency Medical Services (1993) Distinguished Leadership Award, The United Negro College Fund, Inc. (1990) Chief Academic Officers’ Task Force, Council of Independent Colleges Society of Human Resource Management College and University Personnel Association Association of College Administration Professionals Kid’s Voting North Carolina Wake County Board of Directors

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SAMPLE TEXT DIRECTOR NSU ATHLETICS Marty Miller has been called many things during his tenure at Norfolk State University. Some have called him a rock. Others have referred to him as one of Norfolk State’s greatest ambassadors. Regardless of the label, what’s clear is that Miller has served his alma mater in various capacities for nearly 40 years, providing NSU with stability in times of need. His professional career at Norfolk State has included stints in the areas of financial aid, career services, student affairs and athletics. After winning more than 700 games as the school’s baseball coach, Miller was named NSU’s acting athletics director on December 16, 2004. He was appointed to the permanent athletics director post on March 18, 2005. Early in Miller’s tenure, he was confronted with many challenges, the biggest one being the hiring of a football coach. Miller and his search committee worked during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to find a football coach. The hard work paid off when the decision was made to hire Pete Adrian from Bethune-Cookman. With approval of then-President Dr. Marie V. McDemmond, Adrian became the first white head coach in any major sport at NSU and the second ever in MEAC football history. Shortly thereafter, with help from alumni, fans, friends and the Department of Facilities Management, the athletics department was able to raise funds to renovate and purchase new equipment for the weight room. In 2007, the school completed a major renovation of the NSU Softball Field, which included the installation of new team dugouts and a press box. Bleacher renovations to Joseph Echols Hall were completed for the 200809 basketball season. A new track surface is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2010. Another highlight of his tenure as athletics director includes NSU capturing the last six Talmadge Layman Hill awards, given annually to the top men’s sports program in the conference. NSU has received a total of $145,000 for winning the awards. Miller was also presented in March 2006 with the Tom Fergusson Memorial Award, given annually to the area’s top sportsman by the Norfolk Sports Club. Miller is no stranger to winning. His career record as baseball coach was 718-543-3. Miller first started making a name for himself as a player at NSU from 1965-68. He hit .380 as a sophomore; .438 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 27 RBI as a junior; and .406 as a senior, when he became the first Spartan player to be named an NCAA College Division All-American. Miller was an All-CIAA baseball selection in 1967 and 1968, and led the nation in doubles in 1968. Miller graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1969. An ROTC member in college, Miller was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after he graduated. While on active duty, Miller was signed by the Minnesota Twins. Miller returned to his alma mater in 1972 as an assistant to baseball

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NORFOLK STATESTATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 NORFOLK UNIVERSITY 2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

coach Bob Andrews. The next season, Miller inherited the headcoaching job, which he held until early in 2005. Miller is the winningest baseball coach in CIAA history, having led the Spartans to a 584-374-3 record in their years in the league. Miller’s ledger in the CIAA includes 17 conference championships, including seven in a row from 1987-93; 12 post-season appearances; 15 CIAA Coach of the Year awards; six All-Americans and 22 players signed to pro contracts. He also won the 1980 NAIA District 19 Coach of the Year award after his team won the District 19 title. Between 1993-97, Miller won five consecutive Louisville Slugger Awards, given to championship coaches. He was one of a select few baseball coaches to receive the award for five consecutive years. In 1997, NSU honored Miller by building the Marty L. Miller Baseball Field. One year later, Miller led NSU to the MEAC Tournament championship round in the Spartans’ first year in the league. He was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2000, and NSU reached the championship round again in 2001. The year 2003 was also a special one for Miller. In February, Miller was inducted into the CIAA’s John B. McLendon Hall of Fame. In May, Miller earned his 700th career win with the Spartans when sixth-seeded NSU upset No. 2 Delaware State in the MEAC tournament. In August, Miller the player was honored as one of eight inductees into the Norfolk State University Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame in November 2010. Miller, a native of Danville, Va., serves on the Norfolk Sports Club Board of Directors and serves as its president for 2011. Miller was also elected to serve on the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court beginning in 2009. He and his wife Liz have one son, Marty Eric, a former NSU outfielder.

ABOUT NSU

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

The Institution of Choice Norfolk State University was founded in 1935 as a beacon of hope to the region’s youth. Brought to life in the midst of the Great Depression, Norfolk State was named the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University at its founding. By 1969, Norfolk State began its status as an independent college and was designated a university in 1979. Today, the University remains a source of inspiration for those who aspire to fulfill their dreams. A four-year public institution, Norfolk State is located in the dynamic Hampton Roads region and is close to the Virginia Beach oceanfront and downtown Norfolk. NSU has an enrollment of nearly 7,000 students. A Strong Academic Profile NSU recently received reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097, 404-6794501) which is effective through 2018. In addition, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology also was awarded accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. The School of Business received reaffirmation of accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International and the School of Education received continuing accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Additionally, the National Collegiate Athletic Association recertified Norfolk State’s intercollegiate athletics programs for NCAA accreditation, effective February 2009 for a 10-year period. The certification means that Norfolk State is considered to be operating under the principles adopted by the NCAA’s Division I membership. Norfolk State’s Athletics program is experiencing unprecedented success at the NCAA Division I level. Athletes are competitive on the field of play and in the classroom. During the academic year, NSU recognized more than 60 young men and women who were inducted into the Athletics All-Academic Team for 2008-2009. To qualify, the scholar-athletes had to have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4 point scale. This team includes first-year and continuing students and represents all 15 of the department’s sports programs. From 2005-2010, NSU athletics has won the last six MEAC Men’s All-Sports Awards (Talmadge Layman Hill Award) and earned the department $125,000 during that period. Norfolk State University is also one of the top 50 producers of African-American Ph.D. recipients, according to Inside Higher Ed. The finding, based on a National Science Foundation report, says that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are graduating a growing share of African Americans who go onto earn Ph.D.s in science and engineering. Norfolk State’s Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) is specifically geared towards increasing the number of Ph.D.s in science, engineering, technology and mathematics. The program has been in place since 1986. More than 50 percent of DNIMAS scholars have earned advanced degrees. Moving Forward Norfolk State is making the right changes to provide the best learning and living experiences for its students. The University is in the midst of $80 million worth of capital improvements. Projects just completed, underway, or in the pipeline include the 84,500 squarefoot New Student Center was completed in August of 2009; a new library and a new classroom building. The New Student Center offers students a place to socialize as well as take care of student business. Offices for the Student Affairs division and the Office of Student

Activities are also located in the new center. It provides students with a two-level book store, a two-level wellness center and student lounges. The new library will be 132,000 square feet and will house library services, archives and a 24/7 café with Internet connection. The groundbreaking for the new library was held in June. The anticipated occupancy date is August 2011. A new nursing and general classroom building is in the planning stage. The building will have 13 labs, 33 classrooms, 39 group study/lounges and 63 offices. From the university choirs to the 250-member Spartan Legion Marching Band, Norfolk State is known for its rich music tradition. The marching band has made appearances at the Honda Battle of the Bands, while the University concert choir has toured the country. The choir is best known for its beauty of choral tone and the ability to render exemplary performances of masterworks. NSU Choirs are among the most ardent and prominent ambassadors of the University. Behold, the Green and Gold!™

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

QUICK FACTS Location: Extended Campus Center: History:

Enrollment: Acting President: Faculty: Degree Offerings: Athletics: Student Organizations: Website:

Historic Norfolk, Va.; 134-acre campus 2 miles from downtown Norfolk Virginia Beach Higher Education Center • Founded in 1935 as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University • Became the independent Norfolk Polytechnic College in 1942 • Became an independent institution in 1969 • Granted University status in 1979 Nearly 7,000 Kim Luckes, J.D. 300 + full-time equivalent 2 associate degrees; 32 bachelor’s degrees; 16 master’s degrees; 2 doctoral degrees 15 intercollegiate teams (Division I; competing in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – MEAC) 125 www.nsu.edu

For more information on Norfolk State University, its academic programs and community service projects, research, campus facilities, and other amenities, please call the Office of Communications and Marketing at (757) 823-8373.

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NSU TIMELINE SAMPLE TEXT

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2010-2011 2010-2011 NORFOLK WOMEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE WOMEN’S

Norfolk State University Timeline

Sept. 7, 1935

– Samuel Fischer Scott appointed Director of Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University

1970

– Twin Towers dormitories erected

1972

– Lyman Beecher Brooks Library erected

1974

– Technology Center opened

May 1975

– College granted its first master’s degree

June 1975

– President Lyman B. Brooks retired

– The Norfolk Polytechnic College was chartered to take over the functions and assets of the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University.

July 1, 1975

– Harrison Benjamin Wilson became 2nd president

1977

– Samuel F. Scott men’s dormitory opened

– The Norfolk Division of Virginia State College was established by an act of the General Assembly

1979

– Norfolk State became a University

Aug. 1979

– Academic programs re-organized into nine schools

April 25, 1951 – The City of Norfolk transferred the deed of the Memorial Park Golf Course to the college as a permanent site

1982

– Joseph G. Echols Hall erected

1984

– Harrison B. Wilson administration building erected

Sept. 1955

– The College moved into a new multipurpose administration classroom building on Corprew Avenue

1996

– L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center erected

July 1997

– Marie V. McDemmond became 3rd president

– Norfolk Division of Virginia State College changed from a two-year junior college to a four-year, degree granting institution

May 2000

– First independent doctoral degree awarded

2005

– Alvin J. Schexnider became interim president

1960

– James D. Gill Gymnasium erected

July 2006

– Carolyn W. Meyers became 4th president

1969

– Mills Godwin Jr. Student Center opened

2007

– The Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research dedicated

Feb. 1, 1969

– Norfolk State College emerged as an independent, four-year institution

2010

– University celebrates its 75th anniversary

Sept. 18, 1935 – Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University opened on the second floor of the Hunton Branch YMCA Building on Brambleton Avenue June 1938

March 1942

Feb. 29, 1944

Sept. 1956

– Lyman Beecher Brooks became Director of Norfolk Unit of VUU

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ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Nor folk State University

Athletics Five-Year Highlights (2005-Present) The Norfolk State University intercollegiate athletics program has experienced unprecedented success at the NCAA Division I level during the past five years (2005-10). This period of progress has been highlighted by improvements in virtually every area critical to transforming the NSU athletics program into a highly competitive program that will consistently challenge for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and NCAA Division I championships. The catalyst for these advancements has been Marty Miller, who was appointed athletics director at NSU in December 2004. Miller believes that the mission of the athletics program is an extension of the mission of Norfolk State University. He places an emphasis on areas that impact the welfare of student-athletes. Improving graduation rates, gender equity, and the retention of student-athletes are equally, if not more important, than winning conference and national championships. However, the initiatives designed to enhance the student-athlete experience and improve the overall administrative process have been successful due to the achievements of the teams and individual athletes. Perhaps the biggest achievement came in early 2009, when the athletics department was recertified to receive NCAA accreditation for the next 10 years. By achieving certification status, NSU is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA’s Division I membership. Numerous staff and coaching hires have been made to enhance the department’s efficacy. New personnel have been hired in the areas of academic support, compliance, business operations and development to meet the growing demand in those departments. A host of new head coaches joined the staff signaling new beginnings in several sports. They included Pete Adrian (Football), Claudell Clark (Baseball), Anthony Evans (Men’s Basketball), Heidi Cavallo (Softball), and Wilhelmenia Harrison (Bowling). Kenneth Giles (Men’s Track) and Ronda Berard (Women’s Track) were promoted from interim to full-time head coaches in their respective sports. Giles’ cross country and track teams have dominated the MEAC. Adrian has orchestrated the steady progress of the football team, which came within a game of capturing its first MEAC title in 2007. Evans led the Spartans to the MEAC Tournament championship game in his second year. Clark and Cavallo helped guide their teams to runner-up finishes at the MEAC championships in their respective sports in 2008. Harrison guided the bowling team to its first MEAC Southern Division regular-season championship in 2008-09 and the No. 19 national ranking in 2009-10. The accomplishments of NSU student-athletes in the classroom since 2005 have been equally impressive. The number of athletes annually named to the MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team has steadily increased, and now numbers 40 or more each year.

Tennis player Stepanka Velebova (left) is presented with the 2009 Scholar Athlete of the Year Award by NSU Professor Dr. Norma Brumage. Velebova was one of 42 NSU members of the 2009 MEAC All-Academic Team.

The following is a list of accomplishments and improvements the NSU athletics program has experienced since 2005. Academics • Had 36 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2005-06 • Had 34 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2006-07 • Had 42 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2007-08 and 2008-09 • Had 40 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2009-10 • Increased student-athlete graduation success rate from 40% to 60% • Won the inaugural Division I Football Championship Subdivision Academic Progress Rate Award for having the MEAC’s highest cumulative APR for the 2008-09 school year • David Kemboi was one of 50 student-athletes nationwide named to the 2006-07 Division I Men’s Cross Country All-Academic team as selected by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Administrative • Hired a full-time assistant sports information director (January 2007) • Hired a full-time athletics academic coordinator (March 2008) • Hired a full-time strength and conditioning coach (August 2008) • Hired an associate athletics director for development (August 2009) • Hired an assistant athletics director for academic services, an assistant compliance coordinator and an additional athletic trainer (August 2010) • Developed comprehensive gender-equity and catastrophic incident guideline plans

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ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS SAMPLE TEXT

Defensive back Don Carey became the first Spartan football player to be drafted in 13 years when the Browns selected him in the 2009 draft.

Football • Matched 2005 and 2006 win total (8-14) in 2007 with a record of (8-3) • Record 10 NSU players named All-MEAC in 2007 • Pete Adrian named NSU’s first MEAC Football Coach of the Year in 2007 • Earned school’s first-ever national FCS national ranking in 2007, reaching as high as 23rd • Had its first NFL draftee since 1996 when Don Carey was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2009 draft • Had three members of the 2009 team sign professional contracts – Chris Bell (New Orleans Saints), Terrell Whitehead (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Dennis Brown (CFL’s Calgary Stampeders)

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2010-2011 2010-2011 NORFOLK WOMEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE WOMEN’S

NSU completed a $550,000 renovation and resurfacing of the Dick Price Stadium track in the summer of 2010. • Became first MEAC men’s track program to win both the indoor and outdoor conference championships for five consecutive academic years (2006-10) • Had two athletes (Marlon Woods, Corey Vinston) earn NCAA Division I All-American status in the same championship meet for the first time in school history in 2009 • Won the school’s first MEAC women’s indoor championship in 10 years in 2010

Football Attendance • Ranked 20th in Division I FCS (I-AA) in 2005 • Ranked 23rd in Division I FCS (I-AA) in 2006 • Ranked 7th in Division I FCS (I-AA) in 2007 • Had the 2nd and 3rd-largest crowds in Dick Price Stadium history in 2007: vs. Hampton (27,756) and vs. Virginia State (26,970) • Set a stadium record in average attendance in 2007 (17,220 average for 6 games)

Facilities • Renovated weight room in Gill Gymnasium in 2005, increasing size of existing room and purchasing new equipment • Completed softball field renovations in 2007-08, including construction of a press box, dugouts and restrooms • Replaced the outfield wall at Marty L. Miller Baseball Field (summer 2007) • Completed refurbishing of women’s sports locker rooms in Gill Gymnasium (fall 2008) • Renovated the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall basketball arena to add new chair-back seating (August 2008 and 2009) • Renovated and resurfaced the Dick Price Stadium track (summer 2010)

Men’s Basketball • Won 16 games in 2007-08, a five-win improvement over the previous year • Competed in the conference championship game in 2009 for the first time since joining the MEAC

Program Awards

Cross Country • Won nine of the last 10 MEAC men’s titles, including a conference-record seven straight from 2000-06 • Sent a runner to the NCAA Division I National Cross Country Championship for the first time in school and MEAC history in 2006 (David Kemboi) • Won the school’s first-ever MEAC women’s title in 2009

• Won the last six MEAC men’s allsports awards (Talmadge Layman Hill Award) and earned the NSU Athletics Department $145,000 from 2005-10 • Had the baseball, men’s basketball and football teams all post winning records in 2007-08 for the first time in the Division I era

Track & Field

NSU became the first MEAC school since 2003 to sweep the MEAC men’s and women’s indoor track and field titles when they accomplished the feat in 2010.

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Media Exposure • Transitioned the department’s web site from the www.nsu.edu domain to a new and improved web site, www.nsuspartans.com, in the fall of 2007 • Hosted the school’s first two nationally-televised softball games in 2007 and 2008 • Had six sporting events televised on ESPN networks (thee football games, two men’s basketball, one softball) in 2007-08, most in school history • Had five sporting events televised on ESPN networks (three football games, two men’s basketball) in 2008-09 • Began airing a weekly radio show, Inside Spartan Sports, on Fox Sports affiliate WXTG 102.1 FM in January 2009 • Conducted live video streaming for the first time in 2009-10, broadcasting 16 athletic events on the department’s web site • Had two men’s basketball plays featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays on February 22, 2010 • Redesigned the school’s current web site again in the summer of 2010

HAMPTON ROADS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

The vibrancy of city life, the charm of the seashore, the verdant countryside, the wild preserves and the historic landmarks are just a few of the features found in Hampton Roads. The area, which includes the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton and Suffolk, has a growing population of about 2 million. There are numerous attractions within each city. Norfolk has its Waterside, a festive marketplace similar to those in Baltimore, St. Louis and Boston. The financial and cultural hub of Virginia, Norfolk is the home of the world’s largest naval installation and serves as headquarters for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As a cultural center, its features include the Chrysler Museum, the Douglas MacArthur Memorial, the Nauticus National Maritime Center, the Virginia Symphony and several theater companies, including Norfolk State University’s own NSU Players.

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HAMPTON ROADS SAMPLE TEXT

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2010-2011 2010-2011 NORFOLK WOMEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE WOMEN’S

Besides a long and beautiful coastline, Virginia Beach offers numerous landmarks, including the first landing cross (where the first settlers touched the shores of the New World in 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock); The Adam Thoroughgood House, probably the oldest brick house in America, dating back to 1636; and Mount Trashmore, a project that turned a mountain of solid waste into an innovative recreational compound with bicycle trails, picnic areas, and soapbox derby and cross-country courses around two lakes used for a myriad of recreational water sports. The unique 17-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel links Virginia Beach with Virginia’s Eastern Shore and a national wildlife refuge. The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Children’s Museum are located in Portsmouth. Newport News has the Mariners’ Museum, which houses one of the world’s most extensive nautical collections, while Hampton is home of the Air and Space Museum. NSU is just off Interstate 264 within walking distance of downtown and other major area attractions, such as the Scope, Chrysler Hall and MacArthur Center Mall. Hampton Roads has three daily newspapers, one African-American weekly, three independent TV stations and more than 30 radio stations.

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ATHLETICS FOUNDATION

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Total Sports - 15 Women’s Sports Basketball Bowling Cross Country Indoor Track & Field Outdoor Track & Field Softball Tennis Volleyball

Men’s Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Indoor Track & Field Outdoor Track & Field Tennis ...........................................................................

Norfolk State University Athletics Foundation Board of Directors Fran Steward, President Mervin Pitchford, Vice President Phillip Brooks, Treasurer Craig Cotton, Executive Director Marty Miller, Athletics Director Robert Boyd Jacob L. Cheeks Harold Hagans John Hornbeck A. Graige Johnson Curtis Maddox* Langston Powell Zackery Rodgers James Satterfield* Donna Sample Smith John Warren

A BRIEF OVERVIEW Norfolk State University’s proud legacy of achievement in collegiate athletics began at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). NSU was one of the league’s most dominant programs, winning championships in every sport the school offered. In 1997, NSU joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), one of only two NCAA Division I conferences comprised of historically black colleges and universities. Other conference members include: Bethune-Cookman College, Coppin State College, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Savannah State University and South Carolina State University. NSU made an immediate impression in the conference in 2000-01, winning the Talmadge Hill Award – presented annually to the member whose men’s teams compile the most points based on team finishes in conference competition. The Spartans won the Talmadge Hill Award again each year from 2005-10. In all, NSU has won conference titles in men’s and women’s track, men’s and women’s cross country, and women’s basketball during its brief tenure in the MEAC.

Why Support Norfolk State University Athletics? • NSU competes at the nation’s highest level of intercollegiate athletics competition – National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I - and is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). • The need to increase funding for scholarships for deserving studentathletes motivated by achievement both in athletics and academics. • Improvements and maintenance of equipment and facilities that will enable NSU student-athletes to perform at their full potential. • A competitive athletics program of the highest quality is consistent with the institution’s emergence an the “Institution of Choice.” • A competitive athletics program contributes to the enjoyment of the student-athlete experience.

* - Emeritus

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING SAMPLE TEXT The NSU Strength and Conditioning Program is administered by Reese Bridgman, NSU’s strength and conditioning coach. Bridgman has 26 years of coaching experience in athletics at the high school, college and professional levels. His resume includes a seven-year stint as head strength and conditioning coach at Central Florida, where he worked with future professionals such as Daunte Culpepper, Asante Samuel and Brandon Marshall of the NFL and Mike Maroth of Major League Baseball. The NSU Strength and Conditioning Program exists to provide all 280+ NSU student-athletes with scientificallysound performance-enhancement programs in the areas of strength, speed, explosive power and sports nutrition. Programs are conducted in the NSU athletics weight room, a 2,000-square foot facility in Gill Gymnasium that houses the equipment and accessories needed to develop championship-level NCAA Division I athletes. The strength and conditioning program also uses the NSU athletics department’s game and practice fields. The program develops athletes by means of functional strength training for strength and power utilizing Olympic lifts, power lifts, plyometric drills and additional supplementary lifts, particularly dumbbell exercises. The program trains speed in both linear and change-of-direction movement. Athletes are taught recovery by developing good eating habits that are appropriate for athletes training at the Division I level and by emphasizing the correct amount of rest. Athletes are trained in a team setting as a part of a year-round program. Athletes train two times per week in season and three to four times per week during the remainder of the year with a break between semesters and at the end of their sport’s season. Their annual plan consists of in-season, offseason, preseason and holiday programs. All training schedules are administered within

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NCAA guidelines for contact time with athletes in both required programs and voluntary programs. Part of the emphasis within the NSU Strength and Conditioning Program is on the athlete developing lifetime character qualities of teamwork, discipline, dedication, determination, respect for others and respect for hard work. Athletes are also expected to develop an interest in lifetime fitness. “The Strength and Conditioning Program at NSU tries to remember that our athletes came to us to participate in and excel in their given sport, not to become weight lifters or body builders,” Bridgman says. “For this reason, we approach strength and conditioning as a means to an end, and we encourage our athletes to learn from and enjoy the journey.”

ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION CRAIG COTTON Craig Cotton is in his 10th year as associate athletics director for external operations. He is also in his sixth year as executive director of the NSU Athletics Foundation. Cotton joined the NSU athletics staff after serving as marketing manager at Howard University. Cotton’s primary duties at NSU include developing and managing marketing and public relations projects with particular focus on the “Team Spartan Corporate Partners Program,” a comprehensive sports marketing initiative designed to attract corporate sponsorship and funding for the athletics program. Previously, Cotton worked for seven years in the Delaware State University Public Relations Office. He arrived at the Dover, Del.-based institution in 1992 and served as sports information director for two years before his appointment as the university’s director of public relations and marketing in 1994. From 1988-1992, Cotton was associate director of sports information at Temple University. He worked for seven years (1981-1988) as sports information director and administrative assistant to the director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. Cotton was also a press operations manager for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Ga.; 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina; and the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Mo. Cotton is a native of Greensboro, N.C., and a 1980 graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English-mass communications. He received the M.Ed. degree at Temple University in 1995. Cotton and his wife, Cynthia, reside in Norfolk, Va. SHERIE CORNISH GORDON Sherie Cornish Gordon is in her fourth year on staff in the NSU athletics department. In May 2010, she was promoted to the position of associate athletics director for internal operations after holding that title in an interim capacity since February 2009. She also serves as the department’s senior woman administrator. At NSU, Cornish Gordon is responsible for the supervision of the department’s internal operations, including management of the department’s budget, oversight of game-day management, and supervision of equipment and facilities. In addition, she oversees the volleyball, softball, bowling, men’s tennis and women’s tennis programs. Cornish Gordon began her tenure at NSU in January 2006 as the assistant for business operations and was soon thereafter promoted to assistant athletics director for business operations. She came to Norfolk State University in 2005 after serving as a senior administrative assistant at American University. She also served as an athletics department intern at the University of Maryland in 2004-2005 and as an assistant women’s basketball coach at her alma mater, Morgan State University, during the 2003-2004 school year. Cornish Gordon is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Collegiate Athletics Business Management Association (CABMA) and the Minority Opportunities Athletics Association (MOAA). She serves on the program committee for CABMA. She is a 2006 graduate of NACWAA’s Institute for Administrative Advancement and a 2009 graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females. Cornish Gordon was an accomplished basketball player at Morgan State, where she scored more than 1,000 career points. She was a four-year letter winner and was a team captain her final three seasons. The former Sherie Cornish of Severna Park, Md., she earned her bachelor’s degree in sports administration from

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Morgan State in 2002 and her master’s in sports management from Temple in 2004. Cornish Gordon currently resides in Suffolk, Va., with her husband, Ross, and son, Ethan. KAREN HOLMES Karen Holmes is in her second year as associate athletics director for development at NSU. Holmes’ primary responsibilities are to plan, coordinate and implement all development and fundraising activities for the athletics department. The ultimate goal is to increase funding for athletic scholarships, capital projects and other athletic enhancements. Prior to NSU, Holmes has served as the foundation manager at the Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau since 2006. She was responsible for planning and directing the foundation’s operations to include fundraising, staffing, budgeting and research. Holmes has also held positions as a business account representative at Opportunity, Inc. and as a marketing consultant at LNC (local news on cable) channel 5 and the Hampton Roads Radio Group in the Southeastern Virginia area. Holmes is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD), Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and Hampton Roads Gift Planning Council. Holmes, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from NSU in 1998. ALISHA TUCKER Alisha Tucker is in her fifth year working in the Norfolk State University athletics department. She assumed the role of associate athletics director for student services for the 2010-11 academic year after serving as assistant athletic director for compliance for the previous four years. This year, Tucker also begins a four-year appointment to the NCAA’s Amateurism Fact-Finding Committee and will also serve as an NCAA Division I Certification Peer Reviewer. Before coming to Norfolk State, Tucker served as the athletics eligibility specialist and curriculum coordinator at Marshall University from 2005-06. Tucker began her career as an assistant compliance coordinator at Michigan State University from 2001-02, and then earned a promotion to compliance coordinator at MSU in 2003. Tucker also worked as director of compliance at Villanova from November 2003 to June 2004, then was assistant athletics director for compliance at the University of Richmond from June 2004-January 2005. Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and composition from the University of Virginia in 1996. She earned her master’s in sports management from Old Dominion University in 2001. A Hampton native, Tucker was a track and field athlete at Hampton High School. She was also a sprinter and hurdler on the U.Va. track team. Tucker was also the liaison between the student-government and the athletics department serving on various committees. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and currently resides in Hampton. JAMAR ROSS Jamar Ross is in his second year as NSU’s assistant athletics director for business operations. Ross served from July 2007 to April 2009 as associate sports information director at Old Dominion University. At ODU, he was the primary media contact for the Monarchs’ start-up football team.

Previously, Ross was the sports information director at Hampton University from 2002-07. While at Hampton, Ross served on the Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance Subcommittee for Hampton’s NCAA Recertification Self Study. Ross also served as Sports Information Director at Winston-Salem State University in 2001-02, was the assistant SID at Hampton 2000-01, and completed a postgraduate internship at Southern Illinois University in 2000. He also served as a press room attendant at NCAA men’s basketball tournaments in 1997 and 2000. Ross graduated cum laude from Winston-Salem State University with a bachelor’s degree in sports management in 1999. He received his master’s in sports management from ODU in 2008. Ross also completed the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females in 2008. REESE BRIDGMAN Reese Bridgman is in his third year as the Spartans’ assistant athletics director for strength and conditioning. Bridgman oversees the strength and conditioning efforts for all 15 of NSU’s sports programs. Bridgman previously served as the strength and conditioning coach for the Newport News Apprentice School’s football program from 2005-07. He was also the Builders defensive coordinator in 2007 after coaching the defensive line in 2005 and 2006. Before moving to the Hampton Roads area, Bridgman was the head strength and conditioning coach for the University of Central Florida from 1997-2003. Bridgman helped train 20 UCF football players who went on to make active NFL rosters, including the likes of Daunte Culpepper, Asante Samuel, Travis Fisher, Atari Bigby, Steve Edwards, Brandon Marshall and Rashad Jeanty. Other top-notch athletes he helped tutor at UCF include Major League pitcher Mike Maroth. Along with his strength and conditioning expertise, Bridgman has an extensive background as a football coach at the high school, college and professional levels. Bridgman coached two seasons in the Arena Football League. He coached linemen and was the strength coach for the Orlando Predators in their ArenaBowl runner-up season of 1995. The following year, he worked in the same capacity for the Milwaukee Mustangs (now defunct). Bridgman’s one stint as a head football coach came at East Central Community College in his home state of Mississippi from 1992-94. He has also worked as an assistant football coach at NAIA Georgia Southwestern College and at a pair of Division II schools, Southeast Oklahoma State and East Texas State (now known as Texas A&M-Commerce). He also was men’s track coach during his tenure at Southeastern Oklahoma State. Bridgman, a native of Tylertown, Miss., got his football coaching start at Hattiesburg (Miss.) Prep in 1983. Bridgman, 47, received his bachelor’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985. He earned his master’s in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology from East Texas State (Texas A&M-Commerce) in 1986. Bridgman is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, and the National Association of Speed and Explosion. He and his wife, Kelly, reside in Chesapeake. MEGHAN ANTINARELLI Meghan Antinarelli is in her first year as assistant athletics director for sports medicine at NSU. Previously, she served for eight years as an athletic trainer within the department. Antinarelli, who is originally from Wellesley, Mass., received her bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from the University of Massachusetts in 1998. She received her master’s degree in athletic training at Old Dominion University in 2001. She and her husband, Joseph, live in Suffolk and have one son, Nicholas.

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ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION SAMPLE TEXT JACQUELINE NICHOLSON Jacqueline Nicholson is in her third year working in the NSU athletics department. After serving as athletics academic coordinator the last two years, Nicholson was promoted to the position of assistant athletics director for academic support for the 2010-11 school year. Nicholson’s responsibilities include advising all NSU student-athletes on issues of NCAA eligibility requirements and monitoring progress toward their degrees. Nicholson is also in charge of coordinating the academic support efforts for each team along with the academic enhancement counselors. Previously, Nicholson worked as an academic coordinator intern at Virginia Tech during the 2007-08 school year, assisting with the Hokies football team. She also served as a graduate assistant in the university academic advising center at Virginia Tech from 2005-07. A native of Clayton, N.J., Nicholson was a four-year letterwinner for the Hokies track and field team as a sprinter and hurdler. She was a member of the Virginia Tech all-academic team and athletics director’s honor roll. She earned her bachelor’s degree in human development in 2005 and her master’s in educational leadership in 2007, both from Virginia Tech. SHERESE PARKER Sherese Parker was hired as the athletics academic coordinator at NSU in October 2010. Parker’s responsibilities include advising student-athletes on issues related to NSU and NCAA academic eligibility requirements and monitoring progress toward their degrees. Parker is also responsible for providing effective dissemination of campus information to faculty, staff, coaches and students. She coordinates the academic support efforts provided by the academic enhancement counselors. Parker is not new to the area of academic support services at NSU. Previously, Parker worked as an intrusive academic advisor in the Academy for Collegiate Excellence and Student Success (ACCESS), reporting the academic progress of all students experiencing academic difficulties. Parker has also previously served as an academic enhancement counselor for the athletics department. She came to NSU in 2006 as a trainer in assistive technology in the University’s disability services office. A native of Washington D.C, Parker is highly involved in the NSU campus community. She is a faculty/staff mentor for young ladies on campus (L.A.D.I.E.S), facilitates workshops and presentations for various student organizations and is a founding member of the NSU Chapter of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. Parker earned her bachelor’s degree from NSU in political science/pre-law in 2002 and has completed coursework toward her master’s degree in education at Cambridge College. MATT MICHALEC Matt Michalec is in his seventh full year as sports information director at NSU. He is in charge of coordinating media relations efforts for all 15 of NSU’s athletics programs. His duties include the production of press guides, serving as the media liaison for the athletics department, keeping statistics at all home athletic contests, and maintaining the university athletics web site. In 2006, he was named the Black College Baseball SID of the Year. Previously, Michalec worked for two years as a parttime sports reporter and editorial assistant at the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, Va. Michalec graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in communications from Old Dominion University in 2002. He served as sports editor for ODU’s student newspaper during his time there. He got his professional start by working for two years as a sportswriter at the York Town Crier and Poquoson Post newspapers in York County, Va.

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Michalec is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) and the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). Michalec and his wife, Annie, live in Newport News and have a son, Brandon, and a daughter, Alexis. MIKE BELLO Mike Bello was hired as the assistant sports information director in August of 2010. He came to NSU after a pair of internships at Division I institutions. At NSU, Bello will be the main contact for volleyball, women’s basketball, softball, tennis and bowling. Prior to arriving at NSU, Bello spent the previous year at the University of South Florida as a full-time intern, where he was the main contact for track and field and cross country as well as the secondary contact for men’s basketball and football. While at USF, Bello was part of a new initiative there that did away with traditional printed media guides and went to a new, interactive and online format that featured videos, photos and text all intermixed on a web-based platform. During the 2008-09 athletics season, Bello worked as an intern in the sports information office at Harvard. He also spent the 2007-08 season volunteering with the sports information office at Kent State University as part of his graduate work there. He has also volunteered with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League and the Boston Breakers of the Women’s Professional Soccer League. Bello earned a bachelor’s of arts degree from Penn State University in journalism in 2004, and a master of arts degree in recreation and sports management in 2009 from Kent State. JESSICA COLE Jessica Cole is in her second year as the head assistant athletic trainer at Norfolk State University. Previously, Cole served as the assistant athletic trainer at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va., for two years (200709). She also worked for two and a half years as the athletic trainer at Chelsea Community Hospital Outpatient Physical Therapy in her native Chelsea, Mich. Cole earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Florida Southern College in 2004. She completed her senior internship with the WNBA’s Detroit Shock in 2004, and earned her master’s degree in exercise physiology from Eastern Michigan in 2008. NICOLE DIETRICH Nicole Dietrich is in her first year as the assistant athletic trainer at Norfolk State University. Previously, Dietrich served as the assistant athletic trainer at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pa., for the past two and half years. A native of Lykens, Pa., Dietrich received her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Lock Haven University in 2004. She earned her master’s degree in psychology from Shippensburg University in 2007. Dietrich currently resides in Norfolk, Va. DERRICK COLES Derrick Coles is in his first year as the compliance coordinator at Norfolk State University. His duties consist of handling many of the day-to-day operations of Norfolk State University’s compliance office, specifically: monitoring playing/practice seasons, monitoring recruiting contacts/calls, overseeing the National Letter of Intent program, NCAA Special Assistance Fund and MEAC reports. In addition, Coles assists the associate athletics director with rules education for coaches and student-athletes and serves as a member of the eligibility certification team.

Before coming to Norfolk State, Coles was the assistant director of sports information at Hampton University. Derrick assisted with the day-to-day activities of the Office of Sports Information, as well as serving as the primary media contact for women’s basketball, volleyball, bowling and men’s and women’s tennis. He was also the secondary media contact for football. Before coming to Hampton, Coles spent six years as an assistant within the athletic department at Virginia Union University. His duties included assisting the sports information department with programs, media guides and game-day activities, as well as working with the compliance office in reviewing academic records, practice schedules and athlete eligibility matters. Coles received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Virginia Union in 2007 and his master’s in sports management from Virginia State University in 2009. Coles is a native of Richmond, Va. and his volunteer work includes the Special Olympics, the Rudy Johnson Foundation, the James Farrior Foundation, Richmond Sports Backers and Upward Sports Academy. SHIRLEY BROOKS Shirley Brooks is in her 11th year as the football administrative assistant for the NSU athletics department. Brooks oversees all administrative of the program, including coordinating special events, player files and maintaining the recruiting database. A native of Hertford, N.C., Brooks has three children: Derek, Dietrich and Verletita. She is currently working toward her degree in tourism and hospitality management at Norfolk State. WILLIAM WRIGHT William “Ray” Wright is in his eighth year as the head equipment manager at NSU. Previously, Wright worked as a parking supervisor in NSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation. He has also served as a security officer at NSU. A native of Portsmouth, Wright lettered in football and track at NSU in the early 1980s. He was a member of the 1984 CIAA championship football team. Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a minor in physical education in 1995. He is currently pursuing his master’s in administration. Wright has four daughters, Chiquita, Nikeya, Britney and Ashley; two granddaughters, Kyra and Destini, and one grandson, Michael. NATE BELL Nate Bell is in his 15th year as assistant equipment manager for the Norfolk State University athletics department. A native of Norfolk, Va., Bell is a 1994 graduate of Maury High School, were he lettered in football, and wrestling. Bell resides in Norfolk.

MICHELLE MacFARLANE Michelle MacFarlane joined the Norfolk State University athletics staff as an administrative specialist in Sept. 2010. She comes to NSU after spending six years at Eastern Virginia Medical School as an administrative assistant. While there, MacFarlane’s duties included composing correspondence, recording and distributed minutes of faculty meetings, handling travel and catering arrangements, organizing and creating flyers, and filing and organizing grades. During her time at EVMS, she also worked for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service as a tax preparer and instructor of basic tax course. MacFarlane completed classes at Old Dominion and Kee Business College, where she received her medical assistant diploma prior to working at EVMS.

ATHLETICS DIRECTORY

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... (Area Code 757)

Administration and Support Staff Director of Athletics: Marty L. Miller ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8152 Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Carray Banks ............................................................................................................................................................................................823-2421 Assoc. AD for Internal Operations/SWA: Sherie Cornish Gordon ..................................................................................................................................................................823-8404 Assoc. AD for External Operations/NSUAF Executive Director: Craig Cotton ...........................................................................................................................................823-2667 Assoc. AD for Development: Karen Holmes..........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8645 Assoc. AD for Student Services: Alisha Tucker .....................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2337 Asst. AD for Sports Medicine: Meghan Antinarelli .................................................................................................................................................................................823-9547/8997 Asst. AD for Business Operations: Jamar Ross......................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2105 Asst. AD for Strength and Conditioning: Reese Bridgman ..............................................................................................................................................................................823-2187 Asst. AD for Academic Support: Jacqueline Nicholson ....................................................................................................................................................................................823-8751 Athletics Academic Coordinator: Sherese Parker ...............................................................................................................................................................................................823-8170 Sports Information Director: Matt Michalec .........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2628 Asst. Sports Information Director: Mike Bello ......................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2628 Compliance Coordinator: Derrick Coles .................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2337 Head Assistant Athletic Trainer: Jessica Cole ............................................................................................................................................................................................823-9547/8997 Assistant Athletic Trainer: Nicole Dietrich .................................................................................................................................................................................................823-9547/8997 Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach: Brian Maurer ............................................................................................................................................................................823-2187 Administrative Specialist: Michelle MacFarlane ..................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8152 Equipment Manager: William Wright ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2022 Asst. Equipment Manager: Nate Bell .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2022 Cheerleading Coach: Carmen Harris .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8200 Administrative Specialist/Football: Shirley Brooks .............................................................................................................................................................................................823-8824 NSUAF Administrative Specialist: Chelsea Hall ....................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8692

Men’s Coaches Baseball: Claudell Clark, Head Coach ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8196 Asst. Coaches: A.J. Corbin .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-9533 Basketball: Anthony Evans, Head Coach ................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8934 Asst. Coaches: Robert Jones/Larry Vickers/Kelvin Hawkins ...........................................................................................................................................................823-9192/2840 Cross Country: Kenneth Giles, Head Coach ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8801 Asst. Coaches: Wycliffe Rotich/Harry Freeman ...............................................................................................................................................................................................823-8801 Football: Pete Adrian, Head Coach...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8824 Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Line: Rod Holder ................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8779 Asst. Coach/Defensive Coordinator: Mark DeBastiani .................................................................................................................................................................................823-2582 Asst. Coach/Interim Offensive Coordinator: Joe Blackwell ........................................................................................................................................................................823-8533 Asst. Coach/Defensive Line: Mark Thurston ....................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8758 Asst. Coach/Defensive Backs: Marco Butler .....................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2495 Asst. Coach/Quarterbacks: Steve Canter ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2570 Asst. Coach/Wide Receivers: Paul Macklin .......................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8824 Asst. Coach/Defensive Assistant: C.J. Fayton ...................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8824 Tennis: Matthew Halfpenny, Head Coach ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8821 Asst. Coach: Torrie Browning.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8821 Track and Field: Kenneth Giles, Head Coach.........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8169 Asst. Coaches: Harry Freeman/Brandon Tynes/Cletus Griffin....................................................................................................................................................................823-8169

Women’s Coaches Basketball: Debra Clark, Head Coach ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8441 Asst. Coaches: Lashondra Dixon-Gordon/Kenny Edwards .............................................................................................................................................................823-2132/8456 Bowling: Wilhelmenia Harrison, Head Coach .......................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8152 Asst. Coach: Aundray Darden ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8152 Cross Country: Ronda Berard, Head Coach ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2104 Asst. Coaches: Wycliffe Rotich/Harry Freeman ...............................................................................................................................................................................................823-2104 Softball: Heidi Cavallo, Interim Head Coach .........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8194 Asst. Coach: Amanda Haverman..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8343 Tennis: Matthew Halfpenny, Head Coach ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8821 Asst. Coach: Torrie Browning.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8821 Track and Field: Ronda Berard, Head Coach .........................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2104 Asst. Coaches: Serge Bengono/Dwayne Miller/Jerry Price ........................................................................................................................................................................823-2104 Volleyball: Brandon Duvall, Interim Head Coach ................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2804 Asst. Coach: Dave Albaugh ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2804

Miscellaneous Football Press Box ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-2628 Basketball Press Row .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8195 Softball Press Box ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-0056 Baseball Press Box ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-8196 Ticket Office ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................823-9009

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DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD SAMPLE TEXT Kenneth Giles is in his eighth year as the head men’s track and field coach at NSU and 12th as head men’s cross country coach. He is also in his second season as NSU’s director of track and field programs. In that capacity, he oversees the operations of both men’s and women’s track and cross country programs with an emphasis on recruiting, scheduling and home track meet operations. Kenneth Giles Giles led the NSU cross country Director of Programs Head Men’s Track Coach team to a record seven consecutive MEAC titles from 2000-06 and two more in 2008 and 2009. NSU also captured top-12 finishes at the NCAA Southeast Cross Country Regional in 2002 (12th) and 2005 (8th). In the only two seasons under Giles that the Spartans did not win the conference cross country title (1999 and 2007), they finished second.

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2010-2011 2010-2011 NORFOLK WOMEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE WOMEN’S

Giles coaches from his own running expertise. He was a standout 800-meter runner in college. In 1985, Giles earned Junior College All-American status by finishing eighth at the indoor national meet in the 800 for Hagerstown (Md.) Community College. He continued his success in that event at the University of North Florida, where he is still the 800-meter indoor recordholder. At one time, Giles was also the personal coach for Brown, a former Division I All-American sprinter at NSU. Brown, a three-time Olympian in 2000, 2004 and 2008 for his native Bahamas, won a silver medal in the 4x400 relay at the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008. Giles earned his bachelor’s degree from UNF in 1987. He is married to the former Dr. Jeterfonee Jones, and they have two children: Kenneth Jr. (14) and Ebone Kennya (11).

Giles has also guided the Spartans’ track team to five straight sweeps of the MEAC indoor and outdoor titles (2006-10). As an assistant track coach, he helped the Spartans to one MEAC indoor and one MEAC outdoor championship, both of which came in the 2000-01 school year. During his tenure at NSU, Giles’ Spartans have won five individual MEAC cross country championships and earned three NCAA All-Southeast Region honors. One of those, David Kemboi, became the first NSU and MEAC runner to qualify for the NCAA National Championship race. Since taking over as head coach, Giles’ athletes have won 60 individual conference championships and garnered more than 100 All-MEAC honors on the track. Twenty-five of his pupils have qualified for the NCAA Regionals and three (Dominic Luka, Marlon Woods and Raphael Hall) have advanced to the NCAA National Championship meet. Woods was named the 2008 NCAA Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year. During his tenure, Giles also tutored five All-Americans. Since Giles assumed head coaching duties, both Woods and Corey Vinston earned All-American honors in the long jump at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championship. While Giles served as an assistant, he worked with All-Americans Desmond Kapofu in the triple jump, Adrian Shears in the high jump and Olympian Christopher Brown in the 400 meters. For his success in cross country and track, Giles has been named MEAC Most Outstanding Coach 19 times.

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HEAD COACH RONDA BERARD Ronda Berard is in her sixth year as women’s track and field and cross country coach at NSU. She also serves as assistant director of track and field programs. In all, Berard is in her 16th year on the coaching staff in the NSU athletics department. In 2009, Berard helped the Spartan women’s cross country team win its firstever MEAC title. During track season, the Spartans won their first MEAC indoor title since 2000, and placed second at the conference outdoor championship. Ronda Berard Head Women’s Track Coach

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Berard earned her master’s degree in special education/severe disabilities rehabilitation counseling from NSU in 1997. She is also a 2008 graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy. Berard, a Louisiana native, is a Diamond Lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is an active member of the organization’s Chesapeake/ Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapter. She is married to Patrick Berard Sr. They have two children: Patrick Jr. and Aronji.

In her first year as head coach, Berard directed the Spartans to runner-up finishes in the 2005 MEAC Cross Country Championship and in the 2006 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship. Prior to taking over the reins of the program from long-time coach LaVerne Sweat in 2005-06, Berard served as an assistant coach for the Spartans for 10 seasons. Berard’s tenure as an assistant included two other MEAC championships, the 2000 indoor and 2001 outdoor titles. Berard has helped coach two Division I All-Americans during her time at NSU: reigning 400-meter world champion Debbie Dunn, who earned a pair of All-American honors in 2000, and long jumper Tianna Goldring (2004).

Berard and Giles with their 2010 MEAC Indoor Most Outstanding Coach awards.

Berard came to NSU from Granby High School, where she was the assistant track coach in 1994-95. Berard earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1990 from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette). She was a scholarship track athlete at USL, and also played on the women’s basketball team. Berard was a two-time Sun Belt Conference champion in the discus throw, and at one time held the school’s shot put and discus records.

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ASSISTANT COACHES Dwayne Miller joins the NSU women’s track and field coaching staff this season. He will coach the sprinters, jumpers and multi-event athletes. Miller has an extensive background in coaching at the high school, club, collegiate and professional level in the Hampton Roads area. Miller was an assistant coach at Christopher Newport University in Newport News during the 2009-10 school Dwayne Miller year and was a volunteer assistant at Assistant Coach Hampton University from 2000-03. Prior to his collegiate experience, Miller was the head track coach at Maury High School from 1996-99. Miller got his start in coaching in 1991 with the Norfolk Real Deal Track Club, which tutors youth track and field athletes in the Hampton Roads area. From 1991-2006, Miller helped coach 40 All-Americans and 20 national champions. His athletes went on to win five world championship medals, three world junior gold medals and three Olympic gold medals. Among the notable athletes he coached include LaShawn Merritt, 2008 Olympic and 2009 World Championship gold medalist in the 400 meters; LaTasha Colander Clark, 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 meter relay; and Rachelle Boone-Smith, 2005 World Championship silver medalist in the 200 meters. Miller was named the 2008 Nike Coach of the Year by USA Track & Field. He was also selected as the USOC Development Coach of the Year in 2004. Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from NSU in 1987. A sprinter and long jumper for the Spartans, Miller also competed professionally from 1988-94. He and his wife, Yolanda, have two sons, Duane and Marcus.

Serge Bengono is in his fifth season as an assistant track coach at Norfolk State University. He came to NSU from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he assisted during the 2005 outdoor season.

Serge Bengono Assistant Coach

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Bengono lettered three years at George Mason University and excelled in the short sprints (60, 100 and 200 meters) and on the 4x100 relay team. He won the IC4A title in the 100 meters as a sophomore in 2001. Bengono still owns school records in the 60 meters (6.74), 100 meters (10.25) and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team (39.65). Bengono transferred to George Mason from Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas, where he won multiple NAIA All-American honors and also played soccer as a freshman in 2000. Bengono earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from George Mason in 2003 and his master’s in education with a concentration in school counseling from Cambridge College in 2011. Jerry Price is in his first season as an assistant women’s track and field coach at NSU. He will work primarily with the sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers. Price brings 23 years of coaching experience to NSU. Most recently, Price was the head boys and girls track coach at Matoaca High School in Chesterfield, Va., from 1999-2009. His teams there won a total of eight district championships. Price coached numerous award-winning Jerry Price athletes at Matoaca. Among them Assistant Coach are current Spartans Shanneka Claiborne (sprints) and Aramis Massenburg (hurdles), who have both won MEAC championships in their respective events. Prior to Matoaca, Price was the head boys and girls track coach at James River High School, also in Chesterfield, from 1996-99. He got his start in coaching as an assistant at Leesville High School in Leesville, La., from 1988-90. Price has also served since 2006 as president and head coach of the Diamond Track & Field Club in Colonial Heights, Va. A standout football player and track athlete in high school, Price graduated from Alabama A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1984.

Bengono boasts a wealth of collegiate and international experience. He is a two-time Summer Olympian, having competed in the 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney) Games for his native Cameroon in the 100 meters and on the 4x100 relay team.

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2010-11 ROSTER Name Jonee’ Artis Champagne Bell Shanneka Claiborne Tierra Flowers Syeeda Gee Kaleena Gray Naomi Hargrove Alaina Hite Jamia Hutto Tanisha Jenkins Rayiana Johnson Ashleigh Joseph Wanetta Kirby Ashanti Matthews She’Anna Mitchell Teressa Nance Elaine Rhoades Kellen Rutto Dania Sanford Andrea Saunders Tyler Savage Ashley Sessoms Alicea Teamer Katie Wright

Ht. 5-6 5-6 5-4 5-6 5-1 5-9 5-5 5-6 5-7 5-6 5-7 5-4 5-11 5-8 5-8 5-6 5-6 5-7 5-6 5-6 5-7 5-6 4-11 5-6

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Cl. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr.

Event Jumps Sprints/Jumps Sprints Sprints Mid./Long Distance Throws Sprints Hurdles/Jumps/Multi Middle Distance Jumps/Multi Sprints Pole Vault Sprints/Jumps Hurdles/Jumps Jumps Sprints Hurdles/Jumps/Multi Mid./Long Distance Sprints Pole Vault Middle Distance Sprints Sprints Pole Vault

Hometown/Previous School Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek HS Norfolk, Va./Booker T. Washington HS Ettrick, Va./Matoaca HS Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville HS Philadelphia, Pa./Engineering & Science Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville HS Warfield, Va./Brunswick County HS Chesterfield, Va./Manchester HS Orlando, Fla./Oak Ridge GS Louisa, Va./Louisa County HS Chester, Pa./Chester HS Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS Norfolk, Va./Virginia State/Norview HS Newport News, Va./Heritage HS Temple Hills, Md./Forestville Military Academy Norfolk, Va./Bowie State/Booker T. Washington HS Eldoret, Kenya/Moi Siongioi Girls HS Marshall, Va./Fauquier HS Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS New Kent, Va./New Kent HS Hampton, Va./Hampton HS Waldorf, Md./McDonough HS Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne HS

Director of Track & Field Programs: Kenneth Giles Head Women’s Coach/Asst. Director of Track & Field Programs: Ronda Berard Assistant Coaches: Serge Bengono, Dwayne Miller, Jerry Price Volunteer Assistant: Cletus Griffin Pronunciations 1st Name John-AY tee-AIR-uh sigh-EED-uh Ray-AH-nuh Wah-NETT-uh Kellen Dah-KNEE-uh

Last Name Artis Flowers Gee (soft G sound) Johnson Kirby ROO-toe Sanford

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SEASON OUTLOOK

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Spartans Look to Continue Upward Trend Head women’s track coach Ronda Berard welcomes back 11 seniors from last year’s team that came within a few events of pulling off a yearly sweep of the three MEAC cross country and track championships. With depth in nearly every event, the Spartans enter the 2010-11 track season with hopes of pulling off the elusive sweep this time around. NSU boasts a wealth of talent and experience, perhaps in no area more so than the jumps. Seniors Wanetta Kirby, She’Anna Mitchell and Jonee’ Artis all have MEAC high jump titles on their resumes. Kirby – one of the top all-around athletes in the conference – swept the indoor and outdoor high jump titles last season. She, Mitchell and Artis finished first through third, respectively, at the MEAC outdoor meet. In the triple jump, senior Elaine Rhoades looks to build on a solid junior campaign in her final season of eligibility. The 2010 MEAC Indoor Most Outstanding Field Performer, Rhoades placed second in the triple jump and the pentathlon to help the Spartans capture the title. She also was the runner-up at the conference outdoor meet in the heptathlon. Senior Tanisha Jenkins and junior Alaina Hite add experience and depth behind Rhoades in the triple jump and in the multi’s. Kirby placed fifth at both MEAC championships last year in the long jump and will be joined by first-year sophomore Champagne Bell as NSU’s top threats in that event. Junior Katie Wright is also back as the conference’s premier pole vaulter. She has won three of the four conference titles in her first two years in an event that the Spartans have dominated as of late. NSU took first through fourth places at both

conference championship meets last season, and lose just one of those four athletes in graduated senior Candace Shoates. Senior Ashleigh Joseph and junior Andrea Saunders round out NSU’s returnees in the pole vault. Berard expects big things from sophomore Kaleena Gray in the throwing events. She placed fifth in the weight throw as a freshman at last year’s MEAC indoor championship, and Berard said Gray has shown steady improvement since last season. Gray is also the team’s top returning shot-putter. NSU is well-stocked in the short sprints and hurdles this indoor season with the return of seniors Kirby, Shanneka Claiborne, Tierra Flowers and Dania Sanford. Claiborne is the defending MEAC 60-meter champion and also finished fourth in the MEAC in the 200 meters at both conference meets last season. Flowers, who has one indoor season of eligibility remaining, is an experienced 60 and 200-meter runner. Kirby finished in the top four in the 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles last season and will be joined by vastly improved junior Ashanti Matthews as threats to score points in the hurdles for NSU. Sanford is a key member of the Spartan relay teams and also is the defending MEAC 400-meter indoor runner-up. Berard expects Bell to also be a force in the 400. NSU’s middle- and long-distance efforts will be led by its veteran cross country runners, paced by sophomore Kellen Rutto and juniors Jamia Hutto and Syeeda Gee.

Jonee’ Artis High Jump Shanneka Claiborne Sprints

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2010-11 SCHEDULE

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

INDOOR SEASON Date Site/Event Dec. 5 CNU Holiday Open Jan. 8 George Mason Father Diamond Invitational Jan. 15 Doug Raymond Invitational Jan. 21-22 Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational Jan. 28-29 Penn State Open CNU Captains Classic Feb. 5 CNU Vince Brown Invitational Feb. 17-19 MEAC Indoor Championships Feb. 26-27 USA Indoor Championships

Kent, Ohio Blacksburg, Va. University Park, Pa. Newport News, Va. Newport News, Va. Landover, Md. Albuquerque, N.M.

OUTDOOR SEASON March 19 Tribe Open March 25-26 Raleigh Relays April 1-2 Florida Relays April 9 Donald Webster Memorial Invitational April 14-16 Sea Ray Relays April 23 Morgan State Legacy Meet April 27-30 Penn Relays May 5-7 MEAC Outdoor Championships May 26-28 NCAA East Regional June 8-11 NCAA Outdoor Championships

Williamsburg, Va. Raleigh, N.C. Gainesville, Va. Baltimore, Md. Knoxville, Tenn. Baltimore, Md. Philadelphia, Pa. Greensboro, N.C. Bloomington, Ind. Des Moines, Iowa

Location Newport News, Va. Fairfax, Va.

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RETURNER PROFILES Jonee’ Artis 5-6 Senior High Jump Chesapeake, Va. Deep Creek HS 2009-10: Indoor: Placed sixth at the MEAC Indoor meet with a height of 5-5…also cleared 5-5 to take fourth at the CNU Holiday Open. Outdoor: Tied for second at the MEAC Outdoor meet (5-4)…cleared a season-best height of 5-7 at the Colonial Relays…won the high jump at the Colonial Relays, and the 5-7 mark tied for the best in the MEAC during outdoor season. 2008-09: Indoor: Cleared an indoor-season best mark of 5-6 at the CNU Holiday Open and the CNU Captains Invitational…finished fourth at the conference indoor meet with a height of 5-5. Outdoor: NCAA East Regional qualifier…finished ninth at the NCAA East Regional Championship after clearing 5-7…also had an outdoor mark of 5-7 at the Florida Relays…won the MEAC outdoor title with a jump of 5-5.

Shanneka Claiborne 5-4 Senior Sprints Ettrick, Va. Matoaca HS 2009-10: Indoor: MEAC champion in the 60 meters…ran a personalbest time of 7.45 seconds in the MEAC 60 finals…also placed fourth in the 200 at the conference indoor meet (25.03)…season-best 200-meter time was 24.84 at the Hokie Invitational. Outdoor: Ran a seasonbest time of 11.69 seconds in winning the 100 meters at the Colonial Relays…placed fourth at the MEAC Outdoor meet in the 100 meters (11.76).

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE 2007-08: Indoor: Sat out the indoor season. Outdoor: Posted a season-best 5-6 in the college section of the high jump at the Penn Relays…cleared 5-4.5 at the MEAC Outdoor Championship for a fourth-place finish…finished fifth with a jump of 5-3.75 at the Morgan State Legacy meet. 2006-07: Indoor: Tied for fourth at the conference indoor meet as a freshman (5-4). Outdoor: Qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the high jump after clearing 5-8.75 at the North Carolina Central Last Chance Meet…also turned in a top-five finish at the MEAC Outdoor Championship, after clearing 5-6. High School: Was named a high school All-American after placing second at the Nike Indoor Nationals in the high jump….won the 2006 Group AAA state outdoor title in the high jump, with a personal-best of 5-8. Personal: Jonee’ Odessa Artis…born on Feb. 22, 1988…daughter of Huther and Abrunder Artis…majoring in business…plans to attend graduate school. Personal Bests Indoor High Jump: 5-6 (Twice) Outdoor High Jump: 5-8.75 (2007 NCCU Last Chance)

(7.58)…became the first athlete in the region’s history to win four consecutive individual titles in the same event (55m)…set her personal record of 7.05 en route to the title in the 55 at the 2007 Group AAA Indoor State Championship…won the 2007 Group AAA Outdoor and Central Region outdoor 100m titles. Personal: Shanneka Lachae Claiborne…born on Jan. 20, 1988… daughter of Gloria Claiborne and James Harrison…majoring in exercise science. Personal Bests Indoor 60 Meters: 7.45 (2010 MEAC ID) 200 Meters: 24.79 (2009 Va. Tech) Outdoor 100 Meters: 11.62 (High School) 200 Meters: 24.38 (High School)

2008-09: Indoor: Ran the fastest indoor time on the team in the 200 meters (24.79) at the Virginia Tech Invitational. Outdoor: Finished sixth in the 100 in 11.63 at the MEAC Outdoor Championship, qualifying for the NCAA East Regional…ran a time of 11.81 at the East Regional…also ran a leg on the 4x100 relay team that came in second at the MEAC Outdoor Championship in 45.01 seconds, also qualifying for the East Regional. 2007-08: Sat out the season as a non-qualifier. High School: Earned Nike Indoor All-American honors in 2007 after winning the 200 meters in 24.65 and placing fourth in the 60 meters

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RETURNER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Championship in 45.01 and qualified for the NCAA East Regional.

Tierra Flowers 5-6 Senior Sprints Coatesville, Pa. Coatesville Area Senior HS 2009-10: Indoor: Finished fifth at the MEAC Indoor Championship in the 60 meters (season-best 7.56)…placed second in the 60 and 200 with the times of 7.67 and 26.15, respectively, at the Maryland Invitational. Outdoor: Took second place in the 100 meters at the Morgan State Legacy meet (11.69 seconds), which tied teammate Shanneka Claiborne for the No. 4 time in the MEAC in that event during outdoor season…came in fifth in the 100 in 11.80 at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…helped the Spartans’ 4x100 team place third at the conference outdoor meet (45.76)…ran a personal-best 200 time of 24.67 at the Sea Ray Relays. 2008-09: Indoor: Ran the fastest time on the team in the 60 meters (7.56) to finish fourth at the MEAC Indoor Championship…had a time of 7.20 in the 55 at the CNU Holiday Open. Outdoor: Posted a time of 11.96 in the 100 at the North Carolina A&T Aggie Last Chance Meet… was on the 4x100 team that came in second at the MEAC Outdoor

2007-08: Indoor: Sat out the season. Outdoor: Ran on the 4x100 team that finished third and posted the Spartans’ best time of the season (46.27) at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…ran a 12.80 in the 100 at the Tony Waldrop Invitational. 2006-07: Indoor: Earned a top-five finish at the University of Maryland Indoor Invitational, placing fourth in the 60 meters in 7.78…ran a 7.84 in the 60 at the UNC Fast Times meet. Outdoor: Ran on the Spartans’ 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams…finished sixth in the 100 meters in 12.21 at the Colonial Relays. High School: Advanced to the semifinals of the young women’s 100 meters at the 2006 AAU Junior Olympics after posting a time of 12.12…won the PIAA District 1AAA 100-meter title as a senior in 2006 while setting her personal-record of 11.89…also qualified for the 200 meter finals at the 2006 PIAA district meet in 25.53 (PR). Personal: Tierra M. Flowers…born on March 21, 1988…daughter of Jarrett Jackson and Donna Flowers…majoring in kinesiotherapy. Personal Bests Indoor 60 Meters: 7.56 (2010 MEAC ID) Outdoor 100 Meter Dash: 11.69 (2010 Morgan State) 200 Meter Dash 24.67 (2010 Sea Ray)

championship.

Syeeda Gee 5-1 Junior Middle Distance Philadelphia, Va. Engineering & Science HS

2009-10: Cross Country: Ran a time of 21:31.02 at the MEAC Championship…helped NSU win the team title at the Great American Cross Country Festival HBCU Challenge by finishing 11th in 20:37. Indoor: Helped the Spartans place fourth at the MEAC Indoor meet in the distance medley relay (12.36.79). Outdoor: Ran the 800 and 1,500 meters during outdoor season.

High School: Set her personal best in the 5K in 19:40 as a senior in 2007…finished fourth in the 800 in 2:17.79 (PR) at the 2007 PTFCA Indoor State Championship…ran a personal-best 5:10.94 in the mile at the 2007 PIAA Outdoor State Championship. Personal: Syeeda Yvette Gee…born on July 17, 1990…daughter of Jamila Cross and Chester Grahan…majoring in biology…wants to become a surgeon. Personal Bests Outdoor 1,500 Meters: 4:47 (High School)

2008-09: Cross Country: Ran a season-best 5K time of 19:47.47 at the UMES Cappy Anderson Invitational during the cross country season. Indoor: Was NSU’s second finisher in the 800 meters at the MEAC Indoor Championship, finishing the race in 2:30.75…finished 11th in the 3,000 (11:00.06) at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational. Outdoor: Came in seventh in the 1,500 (5:23.67) and ninth in the 800 (2:36.12) at the Hampton Relays…ran a 5:16.91 in the 1,500 at the outdoor

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RETURNER PROFILES Kaleena Gray 5-9 Sophomore Throws Coatesville, Pa. Coatesville HS 2009-10: Indoor: Placed fifth at the MEAC Indoor Championship in the weight throw with a school-record toss of 48-10.75…came in eighth in the conference in the shot put (40-4.25)…season-best shot

Alaina Hite 5-6 Junior Hurdles/Jumps/Multi’s Chesterfield, Va. Manchester HS 2009-10: Indoor: Jumped a season-best 37-11.5 in the triple jump at Virginia Tech…came in fifth in the triple jump at the MEAC Indoor Championship (37-6.75). Outdoor: Placed third in the triple jump at the MEAC with a personal-best effort of 39-1.25…also took a sixthplace finish in the heptathlon at the MEAC Outdoor meet, tallying 4,441 points…placed fourth in the triple jump at Morgan State (380)…took 14th place in the triple jump at the Raleigh Relays (38-4.25). 2008-09: Indoor: Finished sixth in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.09 at the Father Diamond Invitational…hit a mark of 38-2.75 in the triple jump

Jamia Hutto 5-7 Junior Middle/Long Distance Orlando, Fla. Oak Ridge HS

2009-10: Cross Country: Earned All-MEAC honors by finishing 15th in 19:52.55 at the MEAC Championship. Indoor: Ran a leg on NSU’s 4x800 relay team which posted the fourth-fastest time in the MEAC (12:35.71)…also ran a leg on the Spartans’ distance medley relay team which came in fourth at the MEAC Indoor Championship (12:36.79). Outdoor: Ran her season and college-best 5,000-meter time of 19:45.44 at the Colonial Relays…ran a season and college-best in the 1,500m (5:04.50) at the Sea Ray Relays…placed seventh at the MEAC Outdoor Championship in the 5,000 and ninth in the steeplechase.

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE put was 41-2.5 at CNU. Outdoor: Ranked sixth in the MEAC in the discus after her throw of 133-7 at Wake Forest…placed sixth at the MEAC outdoor meet in the discus (129-11) and 11th in the shot put. High School: Was a four-year member of the track and field team… set personal-bests of 44-6.5 in the shot put and 144-10 in the discus during her prep career. Personal: Kaleena Marie Gray…born on Feb. 17, 1989…daughter of Voncille Gray…majoring in kinesiotherapy. Personal Bests Outdoor Discus: 144-10 (High School) Shot Put: 44-6.5 (High School) at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational…ran a 9.88 in the 60 hurdles at the conferenc indoor championship. Outdoor: Jumped 37-9.25 in the triple jump at the Raleigh Relays…finished seventh in the triple jump at the MEAC outdoor meet with a jump of 38-4.75. High School: A multi-event athlete who, as a freshman in 2004, won the Dominion District outdoor title in the 100-meter hurdles and finished second in the 300 hurdles…set her personal record in the 100 hurdles (14.74) at the 2007 MileStat.com Elite Track Gala….took second at the 2007 Dominion District Indoor Championship in the 55 in 7.66…recorded personal best marks of 5-2 in the high jump, 16-6 in the long jump, and 37-11.75 in the triple jump. Personal: Alaina A. Hite…born on Dec. 29, 1988…daughter of Billy and LaAnja Hite…majoring in physical education. Personal Bests Indoor Triple Jump: 38-2.75 (2009 Virginia Tech Invitational) Outdoor 100mH: 14.48 (2010 MEAC OD) Triple Jump: 39-1.25 (2010 MEAC OD) 2008-09: Cross Country: Just missed All-MEAC honors at the MEAC Cross Country Championship when she finished 16th in 19:16. Indoor: Ran on the distance medley team that posted a season-best time of 12:31.28 and finished third at the MEAC Indoor Championship…finished 13th in the mile (5.25.45) and 10th in the 3,000 (11:06.06) at the MEAC Indoor Championship. Outdoor: Ran 20:46.90 in the 5,000 and 5:17.49 in the 1,500 at the outdoor championship. High School: Ran a personal-best time of 18:31.16 in the 5K…won the state title in the mile (4:56.96, PR) as a sophomore…had personalbests of 57.34 in the 400, 2:14.07 in the 800 and 10:39.11 in the 3K. Personal: Jamia Renae Hutto…born on Aug. 6, 1990…daughter of Cleo and Camille Hutto…majoring in graphic design. Personal Records Cross Country 5,000m: 18:31.16 (High School) Indoor Mile: 4:56.96 (High School) Outdoor 1,500m: 4:52.40 (High School) 3,000m SC: 13:06.35 (2010 MEAC OD) 5,000m: 19:45.44 (2010 Colonial Relays)

RETURNER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE points) and 10th in the triple jump (37-3.25) at the MEAC Outdoor Championship.

Tanisha Jenkins 5-6 Senior Multi’s/Jumps Louisa, Va. Louisa County HS 2009-10: Indoor: Took fourth place in the pentathlon at the MEAC Indoor Championship, scoring 3,283 points…earned sixth place in the triple jump (37-6)…season-best triple jump was a mark of 37-7.25 at George Mason…cleared 5-3 to tie for fourth place in the high jump at George Mason. Outdoor: Recorded 4,601 points in finishing third in the heptathlon at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…leapt 37-7.5 in the triple jump to earn sixth place…also came in 12th in the javelin throw. 2008-09: Indoor: Jumped 37-6.75 in the triple jump at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational…ran an 8.66 in the preliminaries of 55-meter hurdles and an 8.70 in the finals at the CNU Holiday Open…had an indoor-season best time of 9.32 in the 60 hurdles…finished fourth in the pentathlon (3,384 points) and eighth in the triple jump (37-5.25) at the MEAC Indoor Championship. Outdoor: Hit a mark of 38-2 at the Penn Relays in the College section of the triple jump…tied for second in the triple jump (38-7.5) and tied for 12th in the long jump (17-4.25) at the Morgan State Legacy meet…finished third in the heptathlon (4,563

2007-08: Indoor: Had the Spartans’ best mark in the triple jump (391.25)… ran a 9.11 in the 60-meter hurdles at the UNC Classic. Outdoor: Also posted the Spartans’ best triple jump mark during the outdoor season (38-7.5), when she took second place at the Morgan State Legacy meet…finished fourth in the heptathlon with 4,473 points and fifth in the high jump (5-2.5) at the MEAC Outdoor Championship. High School: Won three titles at the 2007 Jefferson District Meet, including the 100-meter hurdles (15.83), 300-meter hurdles (47.87), and the triple jump (37-5.25, PR)…also had three other top-four finishes at the district meet, finishing second in the long jump (17-9.25, PR), third in the high jump (5-0), and fourth in the shot put (33-8.5). Personal: Tanisha Lanora Jenkins…born on November 21, 1989… daughter of Charlene Jenkins…majoring in political science with a minor in sociology…plans to go to law school. Personal Bests Indoor Triple Jump: 39-1.25 (2008 Penn State National) Pentathlon: 3,384 points (2009 MEAC ID) Outdoor Triple Jump: 38-7.5 (2008 Morgan State) Heptathlon: 4,601 points (2010 MEAC OD)

Invitational after clearing 8-8.25…suffered a season-ending knee injury during the indoor season, causing her to miss the outdoor season.

Ashleigh Joseph 5-4 Senior Pole Vault Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith HS

2009-10: Indoor: Season-best height was a 9-0.25 at the Maryland Invitational…cleared 8-8.75 to tie for third place at the MEAC Indoor Championship with teammate Andrea Saunders. Outdoor: Came in fourth in the pole vault at the MEAC Outdoor Championship, clearing a height of 8-2.5.

High School: Claimed the 2006 Southeastern District outdoor title in the pole vault as a junior, setting a personal record of 10-6…repeated the feat at the Eastern Region Championship where she was the runner-up…also cleared 10-6 at the 2007 Regional Indoor Championship and the 2007 Group AAA Indoor State Championship, finishing second and sixth, respectively…also competed in the 100 meters and the triple jump, posting personal bests of 13.05 in the 100 and 26-3 in the triple jump. Personal: Ashleigh Lakia Joseph…born on Feb. 6, 1989…daughter of Llewelynn and Regina Joseph…majoring in biology...wants to become an obstetrician. Personal Bests Outdoor Pole Vault: 10-6 (High School)

2008-09: Indoor: Finished fourth in the pole vault at the MEAC Indoor Championship after clearing 8-2.75. Outdoor: Also finished fourth at the MEAC Outdoor Championship after clearing 8-8.75…cleared 8-11.75 to finish eighth at the Morgan State Legacy. 2007-08: Indoor: Cleared 9-1.75 in the pole vault at the Christopher Newport Captains Invitational…placed third at the Father Diamond

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RETURNER PROFILES Wanetta Kirby 5-11 Senior Multi’s/Hurdles/Jumps Richmond, Va. Huguenot HS 2009-10: Indoor: Jumped a season-best 19-1.5 in the long jump at the Virginia Tech Invitational, placing fourth…took second place in the long jump at the George Mason Father Diamond Invitational…earned three top-five finishes at the MEAC Indoor Championship, helping the Spartans capture the team title…leapt 18-1.75 to take fifth in the long jump…placed third in the 60-meter hurdles in a season-best time of 8.58 seconds…won the MEAC title in the high jump with a personalbest height of 5-7, tying for the top mark in the conference during indoor season and matching her personal best. Outdoor: Completed the yearly sweep of the MEAC high jump title, clearing 5-6.25 at the MEAC Outdoor meet to win the gold…took another fifth-place finish in the long jump at the outdoor meet, with a top mark of 19-1.25… placed fourth in the 100m hurdles, running 13.97 in the finals after a personal-best 13.80 in the prelims…also placed seventh in the 200 meters…outdoor season-best long jump was 19-3.5, which earned her sixth place at the Sea Ray Relays. 2008-09: Indoor: Third-place finisher in the long jump at the MEAC Indoor Championship (19-0)…the 19-0 was the top long jump of the season for any Spartans…ran on the indoor 4x400 team that posted a season-best time of 3:51.98 that finished fifth at the MEAC Indoor Championship…ran a 9.00 in the preliminaries of the 60-meter hurdles at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational. Outdoor: Also finished third in the long jump at the MEAC Outdoor Championship with a PR of 19-

Ashanti Matthews 5-8 Junior Jumps/Hurdles/Multi’s Norfolk, Va. Norview HS

2009-10: Indoor: Placed eighth at the MEAC Indoor meet in the 60-meter hurdles (8.78)…ran a season-best time of 8.68 in the prelims…finished 10th in the pentathlon (2,867 points)…earned seventh place in the long jump (17-9)…posted a season-best effort in the long jump at George Mason (18-4.75), where she finished third. Outdoor: Finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles at the Raleigh Relays in a season-best time of 14.07 seconds…earned three top-10 finishes at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…placed seventh in the 100m hurdles (14.52)…was eighth in the long jump (18-1)…placed ninth in the javelin (88-11.75).

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE 4…ran on the 4x100 team that came in second in 45.10 at the outdoor championship and qualified for the NCAA East Regional…ran the anchor leg on the 4x400 team that finished third in 3:43.00 (seasonbest time) at the conference outdoor meet…competed in the Eastern section of the long jump and ran on the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 teams at the Penn Relays. 2007-08: Indoor: Ran on the 4x400 teams that had the best indoor (3:54.26) of the season. Outdoor: Ran a leg on the 4x100 relay team that ran a season-best time of 46.27 and finished third at the MEAC Championship…posted the best outdoor long-jump mark on the team (19-1.5), that coming at the Wake Forest Open…finished sixth in the heptathlon at the outdoor meet after scoring 4,089 points. High School: Received the Elitest of the Elite award at the 2007 MileStat.Com Elite Track Gala after setting three personal records and taking first in the long jump (19-3.75), 100 hurdles (14.44), and 200 (24.69)…. broke 57 seconds for the first time in her career in the 400 finishing fifth in 56.50 (PR) at the 2007 Group AAA Outdoor State Championship…also set personal records of 31-5 in the triple jump, 5-7 in the high jump, 8.90 in the 60 hurdles, and 47.39 in the 300 hurdles during her prep career. Personal: Wanetta I. Kirby…born on Oct. 13, 1989…daughter of Virginia Smith and Wayne Kirby…majoring in physical education with a minor in graphic design…wants to coach track and field and become an interior designer. Personal Bests Indoor 60m Hurdles: 8.58 (2010 MEAC ID) Long Jump: 19-1.5 (2010 Hokie Invitational) High Jump: 5-7 (2010 MEAC ID) Outdoor 100m Hurdles: 13.80 (2010 MEAC OD) Long Jump: 19-4 (2009 MEAC OD) High Jump: 5-6.25 (2010 MEAC OD) 2008-09: Indoor: Had an indoor season-best jump of 17-9 in the long jump Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational…finished eighth in the triple jump (35-1.75) at the CNU Captains Invitational…posted a 60-meter hurdles time of 9.24 at the Father Diamond Invitational. Outdoor: Finished fourth in the heptathlon with 4,290 points at the MEAC Outdoor Championship. High School: Won the VHSL Group AAA state title in the long jump (18-5) as a junior in 2005…won the 100-meter hurdles title in 15.24 (PR) at the 2004 Eastern District Outdoor Championship…set personal records of 7.38 in the 55 meters, 8.56 in the 55 hurdles, 14.84 in the 100 hurdles, 5-2 in the high jump and 38-9.25 in the triple jump. Personal: Ashanti Deshawn Matthews…born on Dec. 26, 1987… daughter of Joseph and Theresa Bailey…majoring in sociology with a minor in criminal justice…wants to become an FBI agent. Personal Bests Indoor 60m Hurdles: 8.68 (2010 MEAC ID) Long Jump: 18-4.75 (2010 George Mason Father Diamond) Outdoor 100m Hurdles: 14.07 (2010 Raleigh Relays) Long Jump: 18-5 (High School)

RETURNER PROFILES She’Anna Mitchell 5-8 Senior High Jump Newport News, Va. Heritage HS 2009-10: Indoor: Indoor season-best in the high jump was a mark of 5-5 at George Mason…was second in the high jump at the Maryland Invitational (5-4.25)…matched her season-best mark at the MEAC Indoor Championship, where she finished second. Outdoor: Took second place in the high jump at the Colonial Relays with a best effort of 5-7…jumped 5-6 to tie for ninth in the college section of the Penn Relays…tied with teammate Jonee Artis for second at the MEAC Outdoor Championship (5-4.25).

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE 5-6 at the VHSL State Group AAA meet…also garnered a second place finish in the long jump at the Eastern Region meet, jumping a distance of 17-8…set her personal record in the long jump (17-9) as a junior in 2006 at the Peninsula District Outdoor Championship…also competed in the 100, 200, 400 and 500 for Heritage. Personal: She’Anna La’tricia Mitchell…born on Dec. 14, 1988…daughter of Rick and Patricia Mitchell…majoring in optical engineering. Personal Bests Indoor High Jump: 5-6 (several times) Outdoor High Jump: 5-8 (High School)

2008-09: Indoor: Finished fourth in the high jump at the MEAC Indoor Championship after clearing 5-5…jumped 5-6 at the UNC Classic, CNU Holiday Open and CNU Captains Invitational during the indoor season. Outdoor: Tied for eighth at the conference outdoor meet with a jump of 5-3…cleared 5-5 at the Florida Relays and 5-4.5 in the college section of the high jump at the Penn Relays. 2007-08: Indoor: Had the Spartans’ best high jump of the indoor season (5-4.5) at the Virginia Tech Invitational…tied for sixth place in the high jump at the MEAC Indoor Championship after clearing 5-2.5. Outdoor: Won the high jump title at the MEAC Outdoor Championship with a jump of 5-7.75, qualifying for the NCAA East Regional…was the Spartans’ top finisher in the high jump at each meet she competed in during the outdoor season. High School: Finished second in the high jump at the 2007 Eastern Region Outdoor Championships with a jump of 5-8, a personal best and a state meet-qualifying mark…placed fifth with a best jump of

Teressa Nance 5-6 Sophomore Sprints Temple Hills, Md. Forestville Military Academy

2009-10: Indoor: Did not compete in any meets during indoor season. Outdoor: Placed sixth in the 400 meters at the Colonial Relays (1:02.32).

High School: Placed sixth at the Prince George’s County meet and seventh at the Maryland State IA Outdoor Championship as a senior…helped the 4x200 relay team to a third-place finish at the state outdoor meet. Personal: Teressa L. Nance was born on Oct. 3, 1990…daughter of James and Bernice Nance…academic major is chemistry/food science nutrition. Personal Bests Indoor 300 Meters: 46.44 (High School) Outdoor 400 Meters: 1:01.07 (High School)

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RETURNER PROFILES Elaine Rhoades 5-6 Senior Hurdles/Jumps/Multi’s Norfolk, Va. Bowie State University Booker T. Washington HS 2009-10: Indoor: Named the MEAC Indoor Most Outstanding Female Field Performer after tallying 17 points for NSU en route to the team title…at the conference meet, placed second in both the triple jump (39-6) and pentathlon (3,394 points) and took eighth in the long jump (17-5.75)…took seventh place in the triple jump at the Virginia Tech Invitational in a season-best effort of 39-8…that was the second-longest triple jump in the MEAC during indoor season. Outdoor: MEAC Outdoor runner-up in the heptathlon (4,620 points)…placed ninth in the 400-meter hurdles and 11th in the triple jump…also ran a leg on the Spartans’ eighth-place 4x400 relay team, which ran a season-best of 3:53.40 at the conference outdoor meet…ran a season-best 400m hurdle time at Wake Forest (1:02.22), good for sixth place.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championship to earn AllAmerican honors…earned the Most Valuable Performer award in the women’s field events at the 2009 CIAA Outdoor Championship…won the long (18-3.25) and triple (40-9.75) jumps and was second in the high jump (5-4) at the 2009 conference outdoor meet…was 2008 CIAA Outdoor high jump champion (5-4.25). High School: Posted season-best times of 43.82 in the 300-meter hurdles, 1:03.14 in the 400 hurdles and jumped 38-10 as a senior at Booker T. Washington…set the school records in the 60 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 400 hurdles and the pole vault. Personal: Elaine Teresa Rhoades…born on May 31, 1989…daughter of Eileen Rhoades…majoring in sociology with a minor in criminal justice. Personal Bests Indoor Triple Jump: 39-8 (2010 MEAC ID) Long Jump: 18-2.5 (2009 CIAA ID) Pentathlon: 3,394 points (2010 MEAC ID) Outdoor Triple Jump: 40-9.75 (2009 CIAA OD) Long Jump: 18-3.25 (2009 CIAA OD) Heptathlon: 4,620 points (2010 MEAC OD)

At Bowie State: Finished sixth in the triple jump (40-1.25) at the 2009

Kellen Rutto 5-6 Sophomore Middle/Long Distance Eldoret, Kenya Moi Siongiroi Girls HS

Personal Bests Cross Country 5,000 Meters: 18:31.50 (2010 MEAC XC Champ.) Indoor Mile: 5:26.63 (2010 Va. Tech Invitational) 3,000 Meters: 10:39.46 (2010 MEAC ID) Outdoor 1,500 Meters: 4:47 (High School) 3,000m Steeplechase: 11:34.54 (2010 MEAC OD) 5,000 Meters: 18:28.89 (2010 Wake Forest Open)

2009-10: Cross Country: Finished sixth at the MEAC Cross Country Championship in 19:00.57 to help the Spartans to their first-ever conference title…earned All-MEAC honors at the cross country championship…paced the Spartans at the NCAA Southeast Regional by finishing the 6K course in 22:44.56. Indoor: Finished third in the 3,000 meters at the MEAC Indoor Championship in a season-best time of 10:39.46. Outdoor: Ran a season-best 5,000-meter time of 18:28.89 at Wake Forest…placed third in the 3,000m steeplechase at the MEAC Outdoor Championship (11:34.54)…was fourth in the 5,000 meters (18:55.55). High School: Posted career-best times of 22:41 in the 6K and 4:47 in the 1,500. Personal: Kellen Cherotich Rutto…born on Dec. 29, 1987…daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Rutto…majoring nursing…wants to become a nurse.

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RETURNER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE a 24.41 in the 200 to place seventh at the conference meet in the 200 after running her PR of 23.99 in the prelims.

Dania Sanford 5-2 Senior Sprints Warrenton, Va. Fauquier HS

2007-08: Indoor: Had a very productive freshman season, as she recorded the Spartans’ top times in four events…during the indoor season, she posted times of 7.66 in the 60, 25.25 in the 200, and 57.22 in the 400, all of which were top performances for NSU. Outdoor: Led the team in the 100 (11.84), 200 (24.33), and 400 (57.75) during the outdoor season…ran on the 4x400 teams that posted the best indoor (3:54.26) and outdoor (3:52.50) times of the season…was also on the 4x100 outdoor team that ran a season-best 46.27 and finished third at the MEAC Championship.

2009-10: Indoor: MEAC Indoor Championship runner-up in the 400 meters (56.51, PR)…posted her fastest 200-meter time of the season at Virginia Tech, clocking a 24.90 for the seventh-fastest time in the conference during indoor season…placed sixth at the conference meet in the 200 (25.26). Outdoor: Ran a season-best 24.59 in the 200 at Wake Forest…clocked a season-best 56.52 in the 400 at the Sea Ray Relays…ran a leg on NSU’s first-place 4x100 relay team at Wake Forest, which registered the school’s fastest time of the season (45.67)…also ran a leg on the third-place 4x100 team at the MEAC Outdoor Championship (45.96)…also participated on NSU’s 4x400 relay team that came in eighth at the conference meet.

High School: Posted the 12th-fastest time in the country in Feb. 2007 when she won the 300 meters in 39.52 (PR) at the Virginia Tech Invitational…as a junior in 2006, she finished second in both the 100 (12.19) and the 400 (55.19) at the Northwest Region Outdoor Championship, besting the meet record of 55.52…took second place in the 400 (55.77) and fifth in the 100 (12.40) at the 2006 Group AAA Outdoor State Championship.

2008-09: Indoor: Had the Spartans’ fastest indoor time in the 400 (58.15)…ran on the indoor 4x400 team that posted a season-best time of 3:51.98 to finish fifth at the MEAC Indoor Championship… finished 12th in the 200 (25.50) at the conference indoor meet. Outdoor: Tallied NSU’s season-best times in the 200 (23.99, PR) and 400 (56.62)…ran a leg on the 4x400 relay team that finished third in 3:43.00 (season-best time) at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…ran

Personal Bests Indoor 200 Meters: 24.90 (2010 Va. Tech Invitational) 400 Meters: 56.51 (2010 MEAC ID) Outdoor 200 Meters: 23:99 (2009 MEAC OD) 400 Meters: 55:19 (High School)

Andrea Saunders 5-6 Junior Pole Vault Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith HS

Personal: Dania Chanese Sanford…born on July 18, 1989…daughter of Karen Moore and Thomas Sanford…majoring in physical education…wants to be a physical education teacher.

clearing 8-8.75…cleared 8-9 at the Father Diamond Invitational to finish fourth. Outdoor: Again placed third at the conference championship during outdoor season, clearing 8-8.75…won the title at the Morgan State Legacy after clearing 8-5. High School: Cleared 9 feet (PR) to finish ninth at the 2006 Eastern Region Outdoor Championship…also posted a mark of 9-0 at the 2006 Southeastern District Outdoor Championship, finishing second behind teammate and fellow NSU teammate, Ashleigh Joseph. Personal: Andrea Latrice Saunders…born on Jan. 27, 1989…daughter of John and Vivian Saunders…majoring in biology…wants to become an obstetrician.

2009-10: Indoor: Posted the fourth-highest mark in the MEAC in the pole vault, clearing 8-8.75…tied for third place with teammate Ashleigh Joseph at the MEAC meet…the 8-8.75 was also a season-high for Saunders. Outdoor: Cleared 8-8.25 to earn third place at the MEAC Outdoor Championship.

Personal Bests Indoor Pole Vault: 8-9 (2009 George Mason Father Diamond) Outdoor Pole Vault: 9-0 (High School)

2008-09: Indoor: Finished third the MEAC Indoor Championship after

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RETURNER PROFILES Alicea Teamer 4-11 Sophomore Sprints Waldorf, Md. McDonough HS

2009-10: Indoor: Ran a season-best 60-meter time of 8.28 seconds at the Maryland Invitational. Outdoor: Clocked a season-best 100-meter time of 12.99 seconds at Wake Forest.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE years…was first-team all-county in track and second-team all-county in basketball as a junior…posted times of 7.61 in the 55 meters and 46.37 in the 300 at the 2008 SMAC Indoor Track Championships…was named to the SMAC All-Academic second team as a senior. Personal: Alicea S. Teamer…born on Feb. 14, 1991…majoring in exercise science…wants to become an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Personal Bests Indoor 60 Meters: 8.28 (2010 Maryland Invitational) Outdoor 100 Meters: 12.99 (2010 Wake Forest Open)

High School: Was a two-sport athlete at McDonough, participating on the basketball and track and field teams…earned second-team allcounty honors in basketball and track her freshman and sophomore

Katie Wright 5-6 Junior Pole Vault Virginia Beach, Va. Princess Anne HS

Personal Bests Indoor Pole Vault: 11-0.25 (2009 MEAC ID) Outdoor Pole Vault: 10-11.75 (2009 Morgan State)

2009-10: Indoor: Wright had the highest mark in the conference during the indoor season when she cleared 10-2.5 to win the MEAC title for the second year in a row…cleared 9-6.25 to take first place at the Maryland Invitational. Outdoor: Cleared 9-8.25 to take second place at the MEAC Outdoor meet…season best was a 10-0 mark at Wake Forest, where she finished fourth. 2008-09: Indoor: Claimed the MEAC Indoor title in the pole vault…set a new MEAC Indoor Championship record when she cleared 110.25…hit a mark of 10-10.25 at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational, good for third place…cleared 10-8 at the UNC Classic to take second place…posted a top mark of 10-6 at the CNU Holiday Open, good for sixth place. Outdoor: Vaulted 10-8.25 for the outdoor title, qualifying for the NCAA East Regional…finished second at the Morgan State Legacy meet after clearing a season-best 10-11.75. High School: As a senior in 2007, Wright won the pole vault titles at the indoor and outdoor Eastern Region meets after clearing 10-6… won the 2007 Beach District indoor title after clearing 10-0….was also a member of the basketball, volleyball, and softball teams at Princess Anne. Personal: Katie Marie Wright…born on November 13, 1987…daughter of Tami Burandt and Timothy Wright…majoring in business.

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NEWCOMER PROFILES Champagne Bell 5-6 Sophomore Sprints/Jumps Norfolk, Va. Booker T. Washington HS 2009-10: Sat out the 2009-10 season as a non-qualifier.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE man, junior and senior seasons…a Nike Indoor All-American as part of Booker T. Washington’s 4x400, 4x200 and sprint medley relays during her senior season…was state runner-up in the outdoor 400 meters (55.65)…her PR in the 400 was 55.47…also placed fifth at the VHSL Group AAA state outdoor meet in the long jump with a PR of 19 feet... was runner-up in the long jump at the 2009 AAU Junior Olympics. Personal: Champagne Tsai Bell was born on Jan. 3, 1991…daughter of Wanda Bell…majoring in sociology. Personal Records Outdoor 400 Meters: 55.47 (High School) Long Jump: 19-0 (High School)

High School: Four-year letterwinner…named team MVP her fresh-

Naomi Hargrove 5-6 Freshman Sprints Warfield, Va. Brunswick County HS High School: Was the VHSL Outdoor State Group AA runner-up in the 100 meters her freshman and senior seasons…also earned all-state accolades after placing sixth in the long jump, seventh in the 200, and

Rayiana Johnson 5-7 Freshman Sprints Chester, Pa. Chester HS High School: Four-year letterwinner in track and cross country…AllDelco selection all four years…indoor state champion in the 200 meters as a senior…was the Delco 100 and 200 champion during outdoor season…ran a meet record and personal-best time of 11.69 in the 100 meters at the Delco championship…also won the District I-AAA title

running a leg on Brunswick’s eighth-place 4x100 relay team…was district 100 and 200 champion as a senior…also earned All-Region I honors in the 100 and long jump…earned all-state honors in the 4x100 as a sophomore and junior, and in the 100 meters her junior season…high school bests were 12.41 in the 100, 25.37 in the 200, and 17-6 in the long jump. Personal: Naomi Beatrice Hargrove was born on Aug. 5, 1991… daughter of Ivan and Donna Hargrove…majoring in sociology. Personal Records Outdoor 100 Meters: 12.41 (High School) 200 Meters: 25.75 (High School)

in the 200…as a junior, Johnson won state indoor titles in the 60 and 200, and outdoor titles in the 100 and 200…ran a meet-record and PR of 24.04 in the 200 meters at the state indoor championship…ran a PR of 7.45 seconds in the 60 meters, which was the fourth-fastest high school time in the nation in 2009. Personal: Rayiana Alayiha Johnson was born on Oct. 6, 1991…daughter of Reginald and Crystal Johnson…plans to major in physical therapy. Personal Records Indoor 60 Meters: 7.45 (High School) Outdoor 100 Meters: 11.69 (High School) 200 Meters: 24.04 (High School)

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NEWCOMER PROFILES Tyler Savage 5-7 Freshman Middle Distance New Kent, Va. New Kent HS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE High School: Lettered three years in track and two in basketball… state meet qualifier in the 4x100, 4x800 and 800 meters…member of the 4x800 relay team which set a school record of 10:00…finished eighth at the state outdoor meet in the 800 as a senior…helped the 4x100 and 4x800 relay teams place eighth in the state during her junior season…state qualifier in the 4x400 as a sophomore. Personal: Tyler Leigh Savage was born on Nov. 19, 1991…daughter of Leroy Savage III and Sybil Savage…plans to major in psychology. Personal Bests Outdoor 800 Meters: 2:22.19 (High School)

Ashley Sessoms 5-6 Freshman Sprints Hampton, Va. Hampton HS

High School: Lettered four years in track and two in cross country… finished second in the Peninsula District in the 400 meters (outdoor) and 500 meters (indoor) during her senior year…placed eighth in

the 500 at the state meet…first-team Daily Press All-Star as well as an all-state performer in the 500…placed second in the 400 meters at the district outdoor meet her junior year…ran a leg on the school recordsetting 4x800 meter relay team as a sophomore. Personal: Ashley Desiree Sessoms was born on Dec. 27, 1992… daughter of Eric and Vicki Sessoms…major in fashion merchandising. Personal Records Indoor 300 Meters: 40.81 (High School) 500 Meters: 1:17.32 (High School) Personal 200 Meters: 25.67 (High School) 400 Meters: 57.19 (High School)

For the latest in Norfolk State University athletics, including news, schedules, statistics, player biographies, video features and more, visit www.nsuspartans.com.

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2009-10 IN REVIEW

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

2010 NSU WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD INDOOR PERFORMANCE LIST

2010 NSU WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE LIST

Event 60m 200m 400m 800m Mile 3,000m 60mH

Athlete Shanneka Claiborne Shanneka Claiborne Dania Sanford Jennifer Chichester Jennifer Chichester Jennifer Chichester Wanetta Kirby

Date/Event 2-12/MEAC Championship 1-22/Hokie Invitational 2-12/MEAC Championship 2-11/MEAC Championship 1-29/Penn State National 1-16/Terrapin Invitational 2-12/MEAC Championship

Time/Mark 7.45 24.84 56.51 2:14.73 5:00.64 10:32.35 8.58

4x400 Relay

Kirby/Pickett Rhoades/Sanford

1-22/Hokie National

3:52.46

Distance Rutto/Gee Medley Hutto/Chichester

1-30/Penn State National 12:25.56

LJ HJ TJ SP PV WT Pentath.

1-22/Hokie Invitational 2-12/MEAC Championship 1-22/Hokie Invitational 12-5/CNU Holiday Open 2-12/MEAC Championship 2-11/MEAC Championship 2-12/MEAC Championship

Wanetta Kirby Wanetta Kirby Elaine Rhoades Kaleena Gray Katie Wright Kaleena Gray Elaine Rhoades

2010 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship Feb. 11-13, 2010 Landover, Md. Final Team Results 1) Norfolk State 159 2) Hampton 122.5 3) Maryland Eastern Shore 102 4) South Carolina State 65 5) North Carolina A&T 57 6) Howard 41.25 7) Delaware State 25.5 8) Morgan State 22 9) Bethune-Cookman 18 10) Coppin State 9.5 11) Florida A&M 0.25 NSU’s 2010 MEAC Indoor Champions Shanneka Claiborne – 60 Meters Wanetta Kirby – High Jump Katie Wright – Pole Vault

19-1.5 5-7 39-8 41-2.5 10-2.5 48-10.5 3,394 pts.

Event 100m 200m 400m 800m 1,500m 3kSC 5,000m 110mH 400mH

Athlete Shanneka Claiborne Wanetta Kirby Dania Sanford Syeeda Gee Jennifer Chichester Jennifer Chichester Jennifer Chichester Wanetta Kirby Elaine Rhoades

Date/Event 4-3/Colonial Relays 4-10/Sea Ray Relays 4-10/Sea Ray Relays 3-20/Wake Forest Open 4-3/Colonial Relays 5-8/MEAC Championship 4-10/Sea Ray Relays 4-17/Friend. & Free. Gms. 3-20/Wake Forest Open

Time/Mark 11.69 24.46 56.62 2:29.87 4:42.35 11:32.82 18:04.52 13.91 1:02.22

4x100 Relay

Flowers/Kirby Sanford/Claiborne

3-20/Wake Forest Open

45.67

4x400 Relay

Kirby/Pickett Rhoades/Sanford

5-8/MEAC Championship 3:53.40

LJ HJ TJ SP PV Javelin Discus Heptath.

Wanetta Kirby Artis/Mitchell Alaina Hite Kaleena Gray Katie Wright Tiphani Harris Kaleena Gray Elaine Rhoades

4-10/Sea Ray Relays 4-3/Colonial Relays 5-8/MEAC Championship 3-20/Wake Forest Open 3-20/Wake Forest Open 5-8/MEAC Championship 3-20/Wake Forest Open 5-8/MEAC Championship

19-3.5 5-7 38-4.25 38-10.5 10-0 97-2 133-7 4,620 pts.

2010 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship May 6-8, 2010 Greensboro, N.C. Final Team Results 1) Hampton 168.5 2) Norfolk State 149.666 3) South Carolina State 108 4) North Carolina A&T 87 5) Maryland Eastern Shore 61 6) Morgan State 36 7) Howard 33 8) Coppin State 28 9) Bethune-Cookman 27 10) Florida A&M 25.3333 11) Delaware State 16.5 NSU’s 2010 MEAC Outdoor Champions Wanetta Kirby – High Jump Candace Shoates – Pole Vault

Note: Distances are listed in feet and inches. Note: Distances are listed in feet and inches.

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ABOUT THE MEAC The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 41st year of operation in the 2010-11 academic school year. The MEAC is made up of 13 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Savannah State University and South Carolina State University.

HISTORY In 1969, a bold ad hoc group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athletics met in Durham, N.C., to discuss the feasibility of organizing a new conference. Dissected from these discussions, a steering and planning committee was formed to fully investigate the idea, present a detailed report with recommendations to interested collegiate institutions, and then construct a workshop to outline proposals. After adopting a program, seven institutions (Delaware State College, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State College) agreed to become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Its major objective was to establish, organize and supervise an intercollegiate athletic program among a compact group of educational institutions of high academic standards and with a sound philosophy of co-curricular activities. The conference agreed to seek Division I status for its sports. The conference was confirmed in 1970, kicking off its first season of competition in football in 1971. In 1978, a milestone was reached when the MEAC selected Kenneth A. Free to be its first full-time commissioner. Free served the conference for 18 years before stepping down in May of 1996. In July of 1996, Charles S. Harris was named commissioner and served in the capacity until April 2002. On September 1, 2002, Dr. Dennis E. Thomas was named the commissioner and has served in the position for nine years. The conference’s first expansion occurred in October 1979 when Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University were voted into the MEAC as new members. Original members Morgan State, North Carolina Central and Maryland Eastern Shore withdrew from the conference at the end of the 1979-80 fiscal year. Maryland Eastern Shore was readmitted in 1981 and Morgan State returned in 1984. Florida A&M opted to resign in 1984 but rejoined the conference in 1986. Coppin State College was granted admittance in 1985, becoming the ninth member institution. The MEAC expanded again in the 1990’s with the inclusion of Hampton University (1995) and Norfolk State University (1997). The conference expanded in 2007 adding Winston-Salem State University. Following the 2009-10 academic/athletic season Winston-Salem State withdrew from the conference and returned to Division II. On July 1, 2010 the MEAC made its final expansion with the admittance of North Carolina Central and Savannah State University. On June 8, 1980, the MEAC was classified as a Division I conference by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Prior to that year the conference operated as a Division II conference. The following month the MEAC received an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Currently, the conference has automatic qualifying bids for NCAA postseason play in baseball (since 1994), men’s basketball (since 1981), women’s basketball (since 1982), football (since 1996), softball (since 1995), men and women’s tennis (since 1998), and volleyball (since 1994). The MEAC initiated cross country in 1980 and North Carolina A&T earned the inaugural men’s crown. The first women’s cross country championship took place a year later with Howard winning the first of its seven titles. Indoor Track and Field was also added in 1981 with South Carolina State capturing the men’s title and Howard winning the women’s crown. Tennis and golf returned as MEAC governed sports in 1981, after a five-year hiatus. South Carolina State won all seven of the conference’s golf championships from 19721983 before the sport was discontinued after the 1983 championship. Morgan State dominated the conference in wrestling winning 13 of 24 conference championships during the sports tenure (1972-1995). Baseball, which began in 1972, was discontinued following the 1977 season. It was brought back as a MEAC governed sport along with women’s volleyball in 1983. Women’s softball became a MEAC sanctioned sport in 1992. Bowling was officially sanctioned as a MEAC sport in 1999. Before that season, the MEAC was the first conference to secure NCAA sanctioning for women’s bowling by adopting the club sport prior to the 1996-97 school year.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2010-2011 WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE That same year, Morgan State won the NCAA College Division II National Championship and junior Marvin “The Human Eraser” Webster was named the Division II Player of the Year. The 1981 tournament champion Howard Bison became the first MEAC team to play in the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship. Coppin State and Hampton made history in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament with first-round victories. The No. 15 seeded Coppin State defeated No. 2 South Carolina in 1997 and No. 15 seeded Hampton defeated No. 2 Iowa State in 2001. Both victories ranked among the Top 10 greatest tournament upsets of all-time by ESPN’s SportsCenter. In women’s basketball, South Carolina State won the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Division II National Championship in 1979. In 1982, Howard became the first MEAC women’s team to participate in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. South Carolina State earned the conference’s bid in 1983 and became the first MEAC team, men or women, to win an opening-round game in the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. The No. 14 North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies faced No.3 Florida State in the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. The 14th seed was the highest seed earned by a MEAC women’s basketball program since the inception of the 64-team bracket in 1994. The Lady Aggies defeated Wake Forest and Charlotte before falling to Miami in the third round of the 2010 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). North Carolina A&T became the first MEAC team and historical black college/university to win two consecutive basketball games in a national postseason tournament. In football, the MEAC was instrumental in constructing the Freedom Bowl All-Star Classic, the Heritage Bowl, and the Gold Bowl. Prior to Division I competition, the MEAC competed in the Gold Bowl held in Richmond, Va., which matched the MEAC champion against the champion of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). South Carolina State represented the MEAC in 1976 and 1979, winning both outings over Winston-Salem State and Norfolk State respectively. In addition to the 1976 and 1979 crowns, South Carolina State won MEAC football titles in 1974-78, 1980-83, 1994, 2004, 2008 and 2009. During the 1981 and 1982 seasons they reached the second round of the I-AA championships. In outdoor track and field, North Carolina Central won the first three MEAC outdoor titles and finished fourth in the 1974 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. NCCU’s Larry Black was a member of the 1972 Olympic 400-meter relay team that won the gold medal. He won the silver medal in the 200-meter dash. MEAC women began outdoor track and field conference competition in 1980. In 1982, South Carolina State won the AIAW Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championship. The MEAC has showcased over 27 athletes in the Olympics and 11 have earned medals during the Summer Games. In 2003, Florida A&M became the first MEAC school to win a volleyball match in the NCAA Championship, with a first-round win over Winthrop. In 2004, the Lady Rattlers became the first historically black college/university to rank in the Top 25 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll. South Carolina State’s women’s tennis team earned the conference’s first Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ranking in a 2005 final poll reaching a No. 72 ranking. In softball, Bethune-Cookman earned the conference’s first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Softball Championship in 2005. The Lady Wildcats defeated Florida, Central Florida and South Florida in the Florida Regional to become the first MEAC school to win a NCAA Division I Softball Regional. Bethune-Cookman ended the 2005 season with the conferences’ first-ever rankings in the final softball polls, reaching No. 18 in the NFCA/ USA Today Coaches poll and No. 23 in the USA Softball/ESPN.com Poll. Florida A&M was the first MEAC baseball team to advance to NCAA postseason play in 1994. The Rattlers took on Southeastern Louisiana in a best of three play-in series, falling after two games, 11-10 and 8-7. During the 2002 campaign, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats advanced to the Gainesville Regional and became the first MEAC team to win in the NCAA Tournament with a 7-4 victory over Florida International. The Wildcats had previously lost to Florida in their first game 13-1 and were eliminated from the regional with a 21-10 loss in their second matchup against the Gators.

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS The MEAC has enjoyed tremendous athletic success over the years. In 2008, Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) defeated Arkansas State 4-2 to win the NCAA Women’s Bowling National Championship, a first for the conference and institution. With the victory, Lady Hawks’ head coach Sharon Brummell became the first female head coach to win a NCAA bowling title. In men’s basketball, UMES became the first historical black college/university to participate in the 1974 National Invitational Tournament (NIT). The Hawks defeated Manhattan, 84-81, in the first round before falling to Jacksonville by two points in the second round. Before the Jacksonville loss UMES had the best record in the nation at 27-1.

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