2012-13 NSU Men's Track Media Guide

2012-13 NSU TRACK TEAM

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

2012-13 NORFOLK STATE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD TEAM (From left-right): Assistant Coach Jerry Price, Robert Thrasher, Steve Coles, Kyle Green, Michael Mingo-Dabney, De’Von Booker, D’Sean Brown, Marcus Finney, Sammy Kiptoo, Marquis Worsley, Michael Smith, Kenneth Smith, Willard Ward, Quentin Parker, James Taylor, Kameron George, Keith Nkrumah, Jerome Scurry, Erick Green, Andre Pickett, Desmond Fogg, Damian Smith, Ian Copeland, Marcus Anderson, Stefan Battles, Josh Carino, Jamarian Bates, Justin Dozier, Tavaris Waddler, Kipchirchir Kiptoo, Johnathan Anderson, Amos Kipkosgei, Steven Daniels, Student Assistant Quinten Walker, Terrion Smith, Assistant Coach Serge Bengono, Head Coach Kenneth Giles

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NSU President ....................................................................... 4 NSU Athletics Director ...................................................... 5 About Norfolk State University.................................... 6 The Year of the Spartan .................................................... 8 NSU Athletics Highlights ...............................................10 About Hampton Roads ...................................................12 NSU Athletics Foundation ............................................14 Strength & Conditioning Program ...........................15 Athletics Administration ...............................................16 Coaching Staff Head Coach Kenneth Giles .........................................19 Assistant Coaches ..........................................................20 Meet the 2012-13 Spartans Roster .................................................................................21 Season Outlook ..............................................................22 Schedule ...........................................................................23 Returner Profiles.............................................................24 Newcomer Profiles ........................................................33 NSU 2011-12 Season In Review..................................38 NSU Track & Field Records ............................................39 NSU Track & Field Olympians ......................................40 The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference .....................41

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Norfolk State University 2012-13 Men’s Track

Quick Facts University Information Location ....................................................................Norfolk, Va. Founded ................................................................................1935 Enrollment ...........................................................................7,100 Mascot ............................................................................ Spartans School Colors ......................................................Green & Gold Affiliation ...................................................................... Division I Conference.....................Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference President.........................................................Dr. Tony Atwater 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 Email........................................................ mmichalec@nsu.edu Mailing Address .......... NSU Office of Sports Information 700 Park Ave., Norfolk, VA 23504 Website ..............................................www.nsuspartans.com

Coaching Staff Head Coach ................................. Kenneth Giles (10th year) Alma Mater ....................................................North Florida ‘87 Assistant Coaches................... Jerry Price, Serge Bengono Technical Coordinator.......................................Cletus Griffin Track Office .......................................................(757) 823-8169

Team Information 2011-12 MEAC Indoor Finish ..............................................1st 2011-12 MEAC Outdoor Finish ..........................................1st Letterwinners Returning/Lost.........................................19/9 Newcomers ................................................................................20

The 2012-13 NSU Men’s Track Media Guide was written, edited and produced by the NSU Sports Information Office, director Matt Michalec and assistant Mike Bello. Photography was provided by Jerry S. Altares, Mark’s Digital Photography, SWI Sports Images, Adam Streur Photography, the Detroit Lions, LG Studios and NSU Marketing Services. Special design assistance was provided by S_Gray Design.

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NSU PRESIDENT

Dr. Tony Atwater President Tony Atwater was appointed the fifth president of Norfolk State University on April 22, 2011. He previously served as a Senior Fellow of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, a leadership association serving more than 400 public colleges and universities nationwide.

Atwater served as president and chief executive officer at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), a comprehensive, doctoral/research university. It is the fifth largest university in Pennsylvania and

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE the largest within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. As president, he led a population of more than 14,600 students and nearly 1,700 employees; oversaw an annual university budget of $220 million; and supported six academic colleges and the School of Graduate Studies and Research. He also directed operations at three regional campuses.

the Board of Trustees of the Northwest Ohio Public Television Foundation; and the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the 2000-01 delegation of Leadership Cincinnati and the Advisory Board of KeyBank in the Northeast Ohio Region. Additionally, he was past president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Prior to serving as IUP president, he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Youngstown State University in Ohio. In this capacity, he oversaw academic programs, academic policy and academic assessment. He also provided leadership and strategic direction to approximately 750 faculty members, serving six academic colleges, the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and the library.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Atwater earned a Ph.D. in communication research from Michigan State University in 1983, where he was the recipient of a competitive doctoral fellowship. He completed post-doctoral studies in the Department of Communication at the University of Michigan in 1989. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in mass media arts from Hampton University in 1973. Additionally, he holds three graduate certificates in higher education administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Other administrative assignments have included serving as dean of the College of Professional Studies and Education at Northern Kentucky University; chairperson of the Rutgers University Department of Journalism and Mass Media; and special assistant to the provost at the University of Connecticut. He also served as associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of Toledo.

Throughout his career, Atwater has assumed significant community leadership roles. These efforts include serving on the Governor’s Task Force on Youth and Substance Abuse Prevention in Kentucky;

Atwater is a Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and is the author of approximately 30 refereed journal articles on news selection behavior in the mass media – the subject of his research interests.

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NSU SAMPLE ATHLETICS TEXT DIRECTOR 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 more than 40 years, providing NSU with stability in times of need.

His professional career at Norfolk State has included stints in the Marty Miller areas of financial aid, career services, Director of Athletics 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.

Another major challenge upon Miller’s appointment as Director of Athletics was that he inherited a deficit exceeding $1,100,000.

With his knowledge of financial planning and strong administrative skills, the deficit was eliminated in FY10 and the department ended the year with a positive fund balance of over $1,200,000.

The NSU athletics department has also made a number of major facilities improvements. 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 2008-09 basketball season. A new state-of-the-art track surface was completed in the summer of 2010.

The crown jewel of the facility upgrades made in Miller’s first seven years as athletics director is the purchase of two new Daktronics LED video display boards at William “Dick” Price Stadium.

The project is scheduled for completion during the summer of 2012.

Another highlight of his tenure as athletics director includes NSU capturing the last eight Talmadge Layman Hill awards, given annually to the top men’s sports program in the conference. NSU has received a total of $185,000 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 also presided over one of the more historic years in NSU lore in 2011-12. An NSU-record six Spartan teams won MEAC titles, which included the first-ever championships for the football, men’s basketball and women’s bowling teams during

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NORFOLK NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2012-13 2011-12 MEN’S MEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE

their Division I tenure. The men’s basketball team made its mark in NCAA Tournament history by scoring an upset of No. 2 seed Missouri in the second round of the NCAA West Region in March of 2012.

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 coach Bob Andrews. The next season, Miller inherited the head-coaching 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.

Miller was also inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also chosen to serve in March 2011 on the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame Committee and is also a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court. In October 2012, Miller was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.

Miller, a native of Danville, Va., is a current member and past president of the Norfolk Sports Club. He and his wife Liz have one son, Marty Eric, a former NSU outfielder.

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ABOUT NSU

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Norfolk State University was founded in 1935 as a beacon of hope to the region’s youth—especially within the African American community. Brought to life in the midst of the Great Depression, the university was named the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University at its founding and was one of the last historically black institutions established in the Commonwealth of Virginia. By 1969, Norfolk State University began its transformation into a vibrant, independent college and was bestowed university status in 1979.

More than 75 years later, the University remains a source of inspiration for those who aspire to fulfill their dreams. A four-year public institution, NSU is located in the dynamic Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is close to the Virginia Beach oceanfront and downtown Norfolk.

Additionally, NSU is one of the nation’s largest HBCUs with an enrollment of nearly 7,000 students and a faculty of nearly 300, with more than half holding terminal degrees.

The University offers a variety of academic programs within the following schools and colleges: College of Liberal Arts; the College of Science, Engineering and Technology; the Honors College; the School of Business; the School of Education; the Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work; the School of Extended Learning; and the Graduate School. NSU offers 32 undergraduate, 16 master’s and three doctoral degrees.

Expanding Learning Capacity Norfolk State University has been recognized as one of the top 25 producers of cyber security professionals, according to US Black Engineer and Information Technology Magazine. Additionally, the University has also been named in recent years as 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 on to earn Ph.D.s in science and engineering.

NSU’s Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS), established in 1985, is specifically geared toward increasing the number of Ph.D.s in science technology, engineering, and mathematics. More than 50 percent of DNIMAS scholars have earned advanced degrees.

Norfolk State University also has been named a “military friendly school,” which means that the university is successful at offering the necessary financial benefits, flexibility in scheduling and support programs to service members. Most recently, the university entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy to provide the bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies through the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership coordinated through the School of Extended Learning.

The Navy’s distance learning program is vital in providing sailors with the best possible options for obtaining higher educational degrees wherever they may be assigned. Now, sailors may apply to Norfolk State University to obtain a degree in interdisciplinary studies in an online environment.

Our School of Extended Learning expertly places the convenience of the digital age at the fingertips of learners. The School works with the academic and administrative units of the University by serving as an extension of the NSU campus. It offers coursework through distance education, continuing education and certificate programs. Additional degree programs include Master of Arts degrees in Pre-Elementary Education, Elementary Education (Pre-K-6), Pre-Elementary Early Education with an emphasis on Childhood Special Education and Urban Education, as well as graduate certificates in Transition Special Education and Bilingual Special Education.

Building for the Future The University is building for the future with the construction of a three-story, 132,000-square-foot library that houses library services, archives and a 24/7 Internet café, individual and group study rooms, a multimedia project room, virtual conference room, a 24-hour study area, exercise equipment, and an African art gallery. One of the new library’s distinguishing features is a 90-foot high glass atrium that provides areas

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to display current student and faculty artwork, and also serves as a gathering area for multi-purpose events. The new library provides the latest technology and create an exciting study and research environment for students. Upon completion in December 2011, the library has also reshaped the look of the campus. The old library was razed and a beautiful quadrangular pedestrian mall between the new library and the New Student Center was created.

From the days of the Great Depression to the Digital Age, Norfolk State University continues to achieve. Today, NSU remains an active and vital component of the Hampton Roads region, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. Our faculty researchers have forged partnerships that have created cutting-edge virtual learning environments and the world’s smallest laser - both of which will have an impact on our everyday lives. Our graduates establish and lead corporations, distinguish themselves in their industries and fields of study and provide humanitarian aid around the world.

Norfolk State University has played a vital role in our community in the past, is serving in a critical role today, and will continue to be an academic leader in the future.

Behold the Green and Gold!

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

QUICK FACTS Location: Extended Campus Center: History:

Enrollment: President: Faculty: Degree Offerings: Athletics:

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 7,100 Tony Atwater, Ph.D. 274 full-time equivalent 32 bachelor’s degrees; 16 master’s degrees; 3 doctoral degrees 15 intercollegiate teams (Division I; competing in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – MEAC)

Student

For more information on Norfolk State University, its academic programs and Organizations: 125 community service projects, research, campus facilities, and other amenities, Website: www.nsu.edu please call the Office of Communications and Marketing at (757) 823-8373.

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NSU TIMELINE

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Norfolk State University Timeline

1972

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Lyman Beecher Brooks Library erected

1974

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Technology Center opened

May 1975

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College granted its first master’s degree

June 1975

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President Lyman B. Brooks retired

July 1, 1975

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Harrison Benjamin Wilson became 2nd president

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

1977

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Samuel F. Scott men’s dormitory opened

1979

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Norfolk State became a University

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

Aug. 1979

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Academic programs re-organized into nine schools

1982

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Joseph G. Echols Hall erected

The City of Norfolk transferred the deed of the Memorial Park Golf Course to the college as a permanent site

1984

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Harrison B. Wilson administration building erected

1996

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L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center erected

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

July 1997

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Marie V. McDemmond became 3rd president

May 2000

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First independent doctoral degree awarded

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

2005

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Alvin J. Schexnider became interim president

July 2006

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Carolyn W. Meyers became 4th president

1960

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James D. Gill Gymnasium erected

2007

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The Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research dedicated

1969

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Mills Godwin Jr. Student Center opened 2010

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University celebrated its 75th anniversary

Feb. 1, 1969

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

April 22, 2011

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Tony Atwater became 5th president

Twin Towers dormitories erected

March 15, 2012 –

Sept. 7, 1935

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

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

April 25, 1951

Sept. 1955

Sept. 1956

1970

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Lyman Beecher Brooks became Director of Norfolk Unit of VUU

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New Lyman Beecher Brooks Library dedicated

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THE YEAR OF THE SPARTAN

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

NSU Athletics Director Marty L. Miller proclaimed that the 2011-12 school year would be “The Year of the Spartan” even before it began. His words proved to be prophetic as Spartan athletic teams brought home six (6) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles – the biggest yearly haul in school history.

The NSU men’s cross country and track and field programs captured a yearly sweep of the MEAC titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field for the fourth consecutive year. But that is nothing new – led by head coach Kenneth Giles, the Spartan men’s cross country and track programs have secured 25 MEAC championships in the last 13 years.

Meanwhile, the Spartan football team surprised the so-called experts by winning its first-ever MEAC title and reaching the Division I FCS playoffs for the first time. Coach Pete Adrian’s team finished 9-2 and reached as high as No. 19 in the national FCS rankings, the highest in the history of the program.

But the NSU men’s basketball team was the squad that left an indelible mark not only in school record books, but in NCAA lore. Coach Anthony Evans’ Spartans won their first-ever MEAC title in early March. One week later, NSU pulled one of the biggest stunners in modern day NCAA Tournament history by becoming just the fifth No. 15 seed to ever defeat a No. 2 seed, shocking Missouri 86-84 in a West Region second-round game. The Spartans finished the year with a school Division I-era record 26 victories.

Just two days after the Missouri upset, NSU secured yet another MEAC title as Wilhelmenia Harrison’s women’s bowling team also captured its first-ever crown.

Spartan athletes and coaches also had a banner year individually: • Seven athletes earned All-America honors • Three athletes won MEAC Player of the Year awards • Four athletes won MVP accolades at their respective MEAC championship events • Two coaches (Wilhelmenia Harrison, Pete Adrian) were named MEAC Coach of the Year • Three coaches (Harrison, Kenneth Giles, Anthony Evans) were named Most Outstanding Coach at their respective MEAC championship events • And two coaches (Adrian, Evans) earned national Coach of the Year honors by at least one organization Indeed, 2011-12 was definitely a year to “Behold!”

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ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Nor folk State University

Athletics Seven-Year Highlights (2005-Present) The Norfolk State University intercollegiate athletics program has experienced unprecedented success at the NCAA Division I level during the past seven years (2005-12). 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 and will continue to lead the Spartan athletic program for at least the next five years. 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 student-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. Head coaches have been hired in every sport since Miller took over, with great success across the board.

Pete Adrian has orchestrated the steady progress of the football team, which culminated in the program’s first-ever MEAC title and NCAA Division I playoff appearance in 2011. Men’s basketball coach Anthony Evans kept the banner year for NSU rolling after leading the Spartans to the MEAC championship in 2012 and perhaps the most defining moment in the history of NSU athletics: an upset of No. 2 seed and nationally-ranked No. 3 Missouri in the NCAA tournament second round.

Kenneth Giles’ cross country and track teams have dominated the MEAC, amassing 20 conference titles since 2005, while Wilhelmenia Harrison led NSU to its first-ever bowling championship in 2012.

Claudell Clark, meanwhile, helped guide the baseball team to a runner-up finish at the MEAC Championships in 2008 and 2011. Brandon Duvall was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2010 after guiding the volleyball team to its best overall and MEAC record in Division I. Heidi Cavallo led the Spartan softball team to just its second winning conference season during the MEAC era in 2012.

The accomplishments of NSU student-athletes in the classroom since 2005 have been equally impressive.

Kenneth Giles has led the men’s The number of student-athletes annutrack and field team to seven ally named to the MEAC Commissionstraight indoor/outdoor er’s All-Academic Team has steadily conference title sweeps increased the last several years, reaching a record 67 in 2011-12.

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Basketball player Rodney McCauley (left) and bowler Jessica Overton (right) were named the 2012 Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the Year, respectively, at the department’s endof-year awards ceremony.

McCauley and Overton were two of the record 67 student-athletes named to the MEAC All-Academic Team for 2011-12.

The following is a list of accomplishments and improvements the NSU athletics program has experienced since 2005.

Academics • Had 79 student-athletes earn a spot on the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (min. GPA: 3.0) in the spring of 2012 • Had record 67 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2011-12 • Increased student-athlete graduation success rate from 40% to 62% • Won the inaugural Division I Football Championship Subdivision Academic Progress Rate Award for having the MEAC’s highest cumulative APR for three straight years from 2008-09 to 2010-11 • 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) • Thea Aspiras named to the 2010-11 National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic First Team • Women’s tennis earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team Award in 2011 and ‘12 for having a team GPA of at least 3.20; 3 players each year named ITA Scholar-Athletes for having a GPA of 3.50 or better

Program Awards • Won the last eight MEAC men’s all-sports awards (Talmadge Layman Hill Award) and earned the NSU Athletics Department $185,000 from 2005-12 • Won both the football and men’s basketball MEAC Championships in 2011-12, just the second time in 20 years a MEAC school pulled off the feat • 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

Facilities • Added two new state-of-the-art Daktronics video boards to Dick Price Stadium (spring/summer 2012) • Resurfaced the NSU Tennis Complex and installed new nets (summer 2012) • Renovated and resurfaced the Dick Price Stadium track (summer 2010) • Renovated the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall basketball arena to add new chairback seating (August 2008 and 2009) • Completed refurbishing of women’s sports locker rooms in Gill Gymnasium (fall 2008) • 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) • Renovated weight room in Gill Gymnasium in 2005, increasing size of existing room and purchasing new equipment

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS Football • Won school’s first-ever MEAC title in 2011 and made first NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearance • Went 9-3 overall in 2011, the most wins in the D-I era and most for any Spartan football team since going 10-2 in 1984 • Offensive lineman Blake Matthews and kicker Ryan Estep named to Associated Press FCS All-America second team in 2011 • Quarterback Chris Walley named 2011 MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, NSU’s first ever; Matthews named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year • Won three different HBCU national titles in 2011 – the Boxtorow.com, HSRN and American Sports Wire Black College Football polls • Had three straight winning seasons in 2009 (74), 2010 (6-5) and 2011 (9-3) for first time since the mid-90s • A record 10 NSU players were named All-MEAC in both 2007 and 2011, and 38 overall named Defensive back Don Carey beAll-MEAC from 2007-11 came the first Spartan football • Pete Adrian named NSU’s first MEAC Football player to be drafted in 13 years Coach of the Year in 2007 and then again in when the Browns selected him 2011 in the 2009 draft.

• Adrian also named FCS Coach of the Year by College Sporting News in 2011 • Earned school’s first-ever national FCS national ranking in 2007 and reached as high as 18th in 2011 in the FCS Coaches Poll • Had its first NFL draftee since 1996 when Don Carey was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2009 draft

Cross Country • Won 11 of the last 12 MEAC men’s titles, including a conference-record seven straight from 2000-06 • Won the school’s first-ever MEAC women’s title in 2009 • 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) • Head coach Kenneth Giles named MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Coach for 11 of the past 12 seasons

Men’s Basketball • Won school’s first-ever MEAC Championship in 2012 and earned first NCAA Division I Tournament berth • As No. 15 seed, defeated No. 2 seed Missouri in NCAA second round, just the fifth time ever a 15th seed knocked off a 2nd seed in the NCAA Tournament • Finished the year with a 26-10 record, a Division I-era wins record and the most victories at NSU since 1994-95 • Kyle O’Quinn named MEAC Player of the Year, MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Performer and the Lou Henson Award winner (national mid-major player of the year) in 2012 • Head coach Anthony Evans named the Clarence “Big House” Gaines Award winner as top minority basketball coach in Division I • O’Quinn taken with the 49th overall pick in 2012 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, the first MEAC player drafted since 1998 and the first NSU player since 1988 • Nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Upset for the win over Missouri

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.

• Became first MEAC men’s track program to win both the indoor and outdoor conference championships for seven consecutive academic years (2006-12) • Sprinter Sean Holston placed sixth at the 2012 NCAA indoor championships, earning first-team All-America honors • Holston, Champagne Bell, Aramis Massenburg and Darris Shelton earned honorable mention All-America honors at the NCAA outdoor championship in 2011, while Keith Nkrumah did the same in 2012 • Won the school’s first MEAC women’s indoor championship in 10 years in 2010, and first outdoor title in 10 years in 2011 • 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 • Head coach Kenneth Giles named MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Coach 14 times

Bowling • • • •

Won school’s first-ever MEAC title in 2012 Wilhelmenia Harrison named MEAC Coach of the Year in both 2011 and 2012 Topped previous school record of 67 wins with a 91-40 campaign in 2011-12 Thea Aspiras named to the All-MEAC first team in both 2011 and 2012, a first for NSU, while Chelsea Krall earned second team honors in 2012 • Aspiras also named to the NTCA All-America second team and the MEAC Rookie of the Year in 2011, each a first for NSU • Reached as high as No. 10 in the national rankings in 2011-12, topping the previous best of 16th in 2010-11

Media Exposure • Made numerous appearances on national media outlets, including ESPN and CBS, as well as in national newspapers such as The New York Times following upset of Missouri in NCAA men’s basketball tournament • Received over 90,000 web site visits in March 2012, a record for a single month for www.nsuspartans.com • Averaged over 29,000 web site visits per month during the 2010-11 academic year, the best one-year period in school history • Conducted live video streaming for all basketball, football, baseball, softball and volleyball home games in 2011-12 for the first time ever • Redesigned www.nsuspartans.com in the summer of 2010 • Conducted live video streaming for the first time in 2009-10, broadcasting 16 athletic events on the department’s web site • Began airing a weekly radio show, Inside Spartan Sports, on Fox Sports affiliate WXTG 102.1 FM in January 2009 • Had five sporting events televised on ESPN networks (three football games, two men’s basketball) in 2008-09 • Hosted the school’s first two nationally-televised softball games in 2007 and 2008 • Had six sporting events televised on ESPN networks (three football games, two men’s basketball, one softball) in 2007-08, most in school history • Transitioned the department’s web site from the www.nsu.edu domain to the current www.nsuspartans.com domain in the fall of 2007

No. 15 seed NSU’s upset of No. 2 seed Missouri was (at the time) just the fifth all-time 15-over-2 upset in NCAA tournament history.

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HAMPTON ROADS

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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

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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 2012-13 MEN’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 Merv Pitchford, Vice President John Warren, Treasurer Craig Cotton, Executive Director Marty Miller, Athletics Director Michael K. Brown Curtis Maddox* Langston Powell Zackary Rogers James Satterfield* Donna Sample Smith Joel Wagner * - Emeritus

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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 University, Coppin State University, 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 Layman Hill Award – presented annually to the member whose men’s teams compile the most points based on team finishes in conference competition. The Spartans have won the Talmadge Layman Hill Award each year from 2005-12. In all, NSU has won men’s conference titles in basketball, cross country, football, and indoor and outdoor track. The NSU women have won MEAC championships in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, basketball and bowling during their tenure in the conference.

Why Support Norfolk State University Athletics?

• NSU competes at the nation’s highest level of intercollegiate athletics – 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 student-athletes motivated by achievement both in athletics and academics.

• Improvements and maintenance of equipment and facilities enable NSU student-athletes to perform at their full potential.

• A competitive athletics program contributes to the enjoyment of the collegiate experience.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING The NSU Strength and Conditioning Program is administered by Reese Bridgman, NSU’s assistant AD for strength and conditioning. Bridgman has 28 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 NSU student-athletes with scientifically-sound 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

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programs. All training schedules are administered within 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 student-athlete developing lifetime character qualities of teamwork, discipline, dedication, determination, respect for others and respect for hard work. Student-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.”

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ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION SHERIE CORNISH GORDON Sherie Cornish Gordon is entering her seventh year in athletics administration at Norfolk State for the 2012-13 school year, currently serving as the senior associate athletics director for administration and as the department’s senior woman administrator.

Gordon’s primary responsibilities are supervising five sports (bowling, volleyball, softball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis), managing the department’s budget, supervision of the equipment and facility operations, oversight of game-day management and providing strategic guidance for the department’s marketing, promotions and development initiatives.

Gordon came to NSU in 2005 after serving as a senior administrative assistant at American University. She also served as an athletics department intern at Maryland in 2004-05 and as an assistant women’s basketball coach at her alma mater, Morgan State, during the 2003-04 school year.

Gordon is currently a participant in the NCAA Pathways Program (formerly NCAA Fellows Program). She is a 2006 graduate of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators’ (NACWAA) Institute for Administrative Advancement, a 2009 graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females and a 2010 and 2011 participant in the NACDA Mentoring Institute.

In addition, Gordon is a member of 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 currently serves on the program committee for CABMA. Gordon was an accomplished basketball player at Morgan State, where she scored more than 1,000 career points. She was a four-year letterwinner and was a team captain her final three seasons.

A native of Severna Park., Md., Gordon earned her bachelor’s degree in sports administration from Morgan State in 2002 and her master’s in sports management from Temple in 2004.

Gordon currently resides in Suffolk, Va., with her husband, Ross, and son, Ethan.

CRAIG COTTON Craig Cotton enters his 12th year as associate athletics director for external operations in 2012-13 at Norfolk State. He is also in his seventh 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 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. He worked for seven years (1981-1988) as sports information director and administrative assistant to the director of intercollegiate athletics at Maryland Eastern Shore.

Cotton was also was 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.

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Mo. Cotton is a native of Greensboro, N.C., and a 1980 graduate of North Carolina A&T State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English-mass communications. He received the M.Ed. degree at Temple in 1995.

Cotton and his wife, Cynthia, reside in Norfolk, Va.

athlete at Hampton High School. She was also a sprinter and hurdler on the Virginia 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 Portsmouth, Va.

KAREN HOLMES Karen Holmes begins her fourth year on staff in the Norfolk State athletics department in 2012-13. As the associate athletics director for marketing and corporate development, her primary responsibilities are to plan, coordinate and execute athletic fundraising and outreach events and to recruit corporate sponsors for the department.

Prior to NSU, Holmes served as the foundation manager at the Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau. 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., in Norfolk and as a senior marketing consultant in television and radio. Holmes is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD), National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Holmes also serves as the MEAC’s NAADD representative.

Holmes, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from NSU in 1998. She is also a 2010 graduate of the NACWAA’s Institute for Administrative Advancement.

DR. CARRAY BANKS JR. Dr. Carray Banks Jr. is in his third year as Norfolk State’s faculty athletic representative in 2012-13.

In this capacity, he represents NSU and its faculty in relationships with the NCAA and MEAC. The faculty’s voice and influence regarding intercollegiate athletics are channeled primarily through the faculty athletic representative.

Banks, who is also the head of the Department of Technology in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at NSU, has lent his talents to many athletic endeavors at the University. He worked for six years as an academic enhancement counselor for the men’s basketball team. In addition, he has served on the NSU Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame selection committee as well as the chairman of the steering committee for NSU’s NCAA recertification in 2008.

He was also a staple at home athletic events, serving as member of the official game clock management team at Spartan basketball and football games for several years. Banks supervised the data generation and graphic media advertisements on the graphics display boards during football games at William “Dick” Price Stadium.

Banks received his bachelor’s degree in industrial arts education from Elizabeth City State, his master of arts degree from Ball State, and his doctor of philosophy degree in vocational and industrial education from Penn State.

Banks resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, Alesia, and daughter, Aliyah.

ALISHA TUCKER Alisha Tucker is entering her seventh year working in the Norfolk State athletics department during the 2012-13 season. She is in her third year as the associate athletics director for student services after serving as assistant athletic director for compliance for the previous four years. In her current role, she provides oversight for the compliance and athletics academic support offices.

In addition to her duties at NSU, Tucker is involved in administrative activities on the national level. Tucker was appointed to the NCAA’s Amateurism Fact-Finding Committee in 2010 and will serve on that committee until 2014. She also is a member of the NCAA Low Resource Institution working group and NCAA Academic Performance Program Users working group. In addition, Tucker serves as a peer reviewer for the NCAA’s Division I Athletics Certification program. She is also instrumental in working with the NCAA’s Supplemental Support Fund which provided monies to NSU in support of athletics academic initiatives.

In 2011, Tucker was selected to participate in the NACWAA (National Association for Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators) Institute for Administrative Advancement (West Class) as well as the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar Advanced Tract.

Before coming to Norfolk State, Tucker served as the athletics eligibility specialist and curriculum coordinator at Marshall. She began her career as an intern at Michigan State in 2001. She was promoted to assistant compliance coordinator and then earned a promotion to compliance coordinator at MSU in 2003. Tucker has also worked in compliance offices at Villanova and Richmond.

Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and composition from Virginia in 1996. She earned her master’s in sports management from Old Dominion in 2001.

A Hampton native, Tucker was a track and field

JACQUELINE NICHOLSON Jacqueline Nicholson will begin her fifth year working in the Norfolk State athletics department in 2012-13. She enters her third year as the assistant athletics director for academic support after serving as athletics academic coordinator for her first two years.

Nicholson oversees the operations of the Student-Athlete Academic Support Office, which includes a team of academic coordinators, interns and tutors. She also advises players on issues of NSU and NCAA eligibility requirements and monitors progress toward their degrees, with specific responsibilities toward the men’s basketball, football, men’s track and field and baseball teams.

Nicholson oversees the NCAA/CHAMPS Life Skills Program and the Spartan Youth Club and serves as the advisor for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Nicholson also assists with the submission of NCAA APR reports and APP reports.

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.

Nicholson is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), a certified member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). She serves on the awards committee for NACWAA and the membership committee for N4A. Nicholson is a 2011 graduate of NACWAA’s Institute for Administrative Advancement and a 2011 and ’09 graduate of the N4A Professional Development Institute.

A native of Clayton, N.J., Nicholson was a four-year

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ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION 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 and policy studies with a focus in higher education in 2007, both from Virginia Tech.

Nicholson and her daughter Kylie reside in Chesapeake, Va. REESE BRIDGMAN Reese Bridgman is in his fifth year as the Spartans’ strength and conditioning coach in 2012-13.

Bridgman oversees the strength and conditioning efforts for all 15 of Norfolk State’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 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.

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 is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), and the National Association of Speed and Explosion (NASE). He was recognized by the NSCA as a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCC*D) in 2011.

Bridgman received his bachelor’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from 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.

He and his wife, Kelly, reside in Chesapeake.

MEGHAN ANTINARELLI Meghan Antinarelli begins her third year in 2012-13 as assistant athletics director for sports medicine at NSU. Previously, she served for eight years as an athletic trainer within the department. In her current role, Antinarelli oversees the operations and policies of the sports medicine 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

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Old Dominion University in 2001. She and her husband, Joseph, live in Suffolk and have one son, Nicholas.

MATT MICHALEC Matt Michalec enters his 10th full year heading up the Norfolk State sports information department during the 2012-13 athletic campaign. After serving as sports information director for eight years, Michalec was promoted to assistant athletics director for communications in the spring of 2011.

Michalec 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 2012, Michalec earned the District 3 Fred Stabley Writing Award for event coverage from the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) for his recap of the NSU football team’s MEAC Championship-clinching win over Morgan State. 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 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. Michalec is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).

Michalec and his wife, Annie, live in Newport News and have a son, Brandon, and daughter, Alexis.

MIKE BELLO Mike Bello enters his third year as assistant sports information director at Norfolk State in 2012-13 after a pair of internships at Division I institutions. At NSU, he serves as the main contact for volleyball, men’s basketball, softball and bowling.

Prior to arriving at NSU, Bello spent the 2009-10 season 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 webbased platform.

His duties at USF also included the upkeep and expansion of records for men’s basketball and football, being in charge of the official stats at football games, assisting with several softball tournaments as well as regular season softball and volleyball games, and numerous multi-media initiatives.

During the 2008-09 athletics season, Bello worked as an intern in the sports information office at Harvard.

There, he was the main contact for men’s tennis and men’s volleyball while assisting with the promotion of all 41 sports, the most in Division I. One of his main duties at Harvard was running all multi-media initiatives, from streaming home football, basketball and hockey games to cutting up highlight clips following those contests.

He also spent the 2007-08 season volunteering with the sports information office at Kent State University as part of his graduate work there.

Bello has also volunteered with numerous league

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE and NCAA sporting events, including the 2009 Women’s Volleyball Final Four, the 2009 NCAA East Regional in men’s basketball, the 2009 Women’s Frozen Four, the 2009 NCAA Lacrosse Championships, the 2008 MAC Basketball Championships, as well as the 2010 BIG EAST Championships in baseball and men’s and women’s golf.

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 of arts degree from Penn State in journalism in 2004, and a master of arts degree in recreation and sports management in 2009 from Kent State.

DERRICK COLES Derrick Coles starts his third year as the compliance coordinator at Norfolk State in 2012-13. His duties consist of handling many of the day-to-day operations of NSU’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.

Coles 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. 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 in 2009. He 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.

Coles is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is also a member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC).

CHRISTINA RUFFIN The 2012-13 campaign will mark Christina Ruffin’s second year working in the Norfolk State athletics department as the athletics academic coordinator. Ruffin’s responsibilities include advising all NSU student-athletes on issues of NCAA eligibility requirements and monitoring progress toward their degrees.

Ruffin is also in charge of coordinating the academic support efforts for women’s basketball, women’s track and field, volleyball and bowling while assisting with football. She also oversees the tutoring and life skills program.

Ruffin came to Norfolk State from Georgia State, where she worked as a tutorial coordinator and football academic graduate assistant from January 2010 through June 2011. Before moving to Atlanta, Christina worked for North Carolina State as a 4-H agent in Hertford County, N.C. A native of Smithfield, Va., Ruffin was a four-year letterwinner for the North Carolina A&T women’s tennis team. She was a member of the MEAC and N.C. A&T

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ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION SAMPLE TEXT all-academic teams. Ruffin earned her bachelor’s degree in sport science and fitness management with a concentration in business administration from N.C. A&T in 2008 and her master’s in sport administration from Georgia State in 2011.

JESSICA COLE The 2012-13 season will mark Jessica Cole’s fourth year as the head assistant athletic trainer at Norfolk State. Previously, Cole served as the assistant athletic trainer at Virginia State in Petersburg, Va., for two years from 2007-09. 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 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 EMANATO Nicole Emanato begins her third year as the assistant athletic trainer at Norfolk State in 2012-13. Prior to coming to NSU, Emanato served as the assistant athletic trainer at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pa., for two and a half years.

A native of Lykens, Pa., Emanato received her bachelor’s degree in athletic training with a minor in recreation fitness management from Lock Haven in 2004. She earned her master’s degree in psychology at Shippensburg in 2007.

Emanato currently resides in Virginia Beach, Va. She and her husband, Filiberto, were married in May 2012.

A.J. CORBIN A.J. Corbin begins his first full year as Coordinator of Athletic Facilities and Operations at Norfolk State in 2012-13. His duties include operational and facility management, management of game day student and event staff, acting as a liaison with on-campus departments such as Parking, Campus Police, University Operations and Maintenance, and assisting with bid submission, planning and hosting of assigned NCAA, MEAC and other non-athletic events.

Prior to his appointment, Corbin served the previous eight seasons on the NSU baseball coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Spartan hitters earned 22 All-MEAC selections during Corbin’s time as an assistant coach. Three of those players, Ernie Banks, Juan Serrano and Brandon Hairston, reached the professional ranks.

In 2011, NSU batted .302 as a team, No. 2 in the MEAC. That marked the third straight year in which the team batting average was .300 or better. The 2009 Spartans hit .312 as a team, which ranked second in the MEAC and was the best team average NSU posted under Corbin’s guidance.

Corbin made a name for himself as a versatile player at NSU under former coach Marty Miller from 2001-04.

Corbin played every position but center field during his Spartan career, but saw most of his time on the mound and at first base. He ranks in the top 10 in school history in games played (185, fourth), at-bats (614, fifth), doubles (38, ninth), runs batted in (121, tied for ninth) and home runs (17, tied for eighth).

Corbin batted .279 for his career and logged a 4.12 ERA in 32 pitching appearances. He was named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team as a junior and senior, leading the Spartans in home runs in both seasons. He was also named to the first team Black College Baseball Elite

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squad as a relief pitcher his senior year.

A native of Gloucester, Va., Corbin earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from NSU in 2004.

He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. Corbin and his wife, Tilya, reside in Norfolk.

WILLIAM WRIGHT William Wright moves into his 10th year as the head equipment manager at Norfolk State for 201213. Previously, Wright worked as parking supervisor in NSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation. He also served as a security officer at NSU. A native of Portsmouth, Va., Wright is a Norcom High School graduate, where he lettered in football, basketball and track. He was a member of the 1984 NSU CIAA championship football team.

Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in physical education in 1995. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in administration.

Wright has four daughters, Chiquita, Nikieya, Britney and Ashley; three granddaughters and one grandson.

NATHANIEL BELL, SR. Nathaniel Bell, Sr., is in his 17th year as assistant equipment manager for the Norfolk State athletics department during the 2012-13 season. A native of Norfolk, Va., Bell is a 1994 graduate of Maury High School, were he lettered in football, and wrestling. Bell and his wife, Paulette, live in Norfolk with their daughter Maeva, and their son, Nathaniel Jr. JASMINE FRAZIER Jasmine Frazier was hired in January of 2013 to serve as the Travel Coordinator for the Norfolk State athletics department.

The former Spartan volleyball player is familiar with the inner workings of NSU athletics after having served as an intern for a semester with the department’s business office in the spring of 2012. During that time, Frazier helped prepare budget spreadsheets and purchase and travel requisitions for the athletic teams.

As an undergrad, Frazier also served as a tutor to fellow student-athletes for various business and finance courses. She was a member of the MEAC All-Academic Team during both of her two years at Norfolk State and finished in the top 5 in the NSU record book in single season blocks and in the top 10 in career blocks.

Frazier received her bachelor of science degree in finance from Norfolk State in May 2012. She was a member of the Dean’s List and was an Honor’s School Scholar while graduating with a 3.4 GPA.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE basic tax course.

MacFarlane completed classes at Old Dominion and Kee Business College, where she received her medical assistant diploma prior to working at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

SHIRLEY BROOKS Shirley Brooks is in her 13th year as the football administrative assistant for the Norfolk State athletics department for the 2012-13 season.

Brooks oversees all administrative aspects of the program, including coordinating special events, team travel, player files and day-to-day operations.

A native of Hertford, N.C., Brooks has three children: Derek, Dietrich and Verletita. She graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in tourism and hospitality management from NSU in 2010.

FRANK TYREE Frank Tyree enters his second year as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Norfolk State in 2012-13. Tyree’s responsibilities including designing and implementing workouts for men’s and women’s track & field and men’s and women’s basketball, as well as assisting with workouts for football and baseball.

Prior to coming to Norfolk State, Tyree spent three years as a sports performance coach at The Edge Sports Performance Center in Roanoke, Va., from 2008-11. There, Tyree trained middle school, high school, college and inspiring professional athletes in football, basketball, wrestling, baseball and soccer. He also worked with the Cave Spring High School football team that transitioned from 2-8 during his first year to 10-2 the following season, advancing to the Group AA semifinals. During the 2011 season, Tyree’s off-season training again helped the Knights advance to the Group AA semifinals.

Tyree also volunteered under Master Strength Coaches Bill Gillespie and Dave Williams at Liberty. While at Liberty, Tyree worked with the football, women’s basketball and volleyball programs. He also volunteered under Master Strength Coach Greg Werner while earning his bachelor’s of science in kinesiology at James Madison.

During his two years at JMU from 2005-06, Tyree assisted with men’s and women’s track and field, baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s swimming and diving.

Tyree is a native of Rocky Mount, Va., where he taught sixth grade social studies at Benjamin Franklin Middle School after graduating in 2003 from The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. While at BFMS, Tyree coached middle school track and field.

Tyree is certified through the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association and the National Strength & Conditioning Association. He currently resides in Virginia Beach.

MICHELLE MacFARLANE Michelle MacFarlane begins her third year in the Norfolk State athletics department in 2012-13 with the title of Administrative and Program Specialist III. She came 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

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HEAD COACH KENNETH GILES Kenneth Giles is in his 10th year as the head men’s track and field coach at NSU and 14th as head men’s cross country coach. He is also in his fourth 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 four more from 2008-11. 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.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

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 broke the school’s 800-meter indoor record.

At one time, Giles was also the personal coach for Brown, a former Division I All-American sprinter at NSU. Brown, a four-time for his native Bahamas, won a silver medal in the 4x400 relay at the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008 and a gold in the same event at the London Olympics in 2012.

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. (16) and Ebone Kennya (13).

Giles has also guided the Spartans’ track team to seven straight sweeps of the MEAC indoor and outdoor titles (2006-12). 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 six 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 track coach, Giles’ athletes have won 75 individual conference championships and garnered more than 150 All-MEAC honors on the track. More than 30 of his pupils have qualified for the NCAA Regionals and seven have advanced to the NCAA National Championship meet.

During his tenure as head coach, Giles has also tutored six athletes who have earned USTFCCCA All-America honors. Both Marlon Woods and Corey Vinston earned All-American honors in the long jump at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championship. The previous year, Woods was named the 2008 NCAA Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year. In the last two seasons, four Spartan men have earned honorable mention All-America status: sprinter Sean Holston, long jumper Darris Shelton and hurdlers Keith Nkrumah and Aramis Massenburg.

While Giles served as an assistant, he worked with three other Spartan 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 25 times.

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ASSISTANT COACHES Jerry Price is in his third season as an assistant track and field coach at NSU. He will work primarily with the hurdlers.

Jerry Price Assistant Coach

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 athletes at Matoaca. Among them are former Spartans Shanneka Claiborne (sprints) and Aramis Massenburg (hurdles), who

Serge Bengono is in his seventh season as an assistant track coach at Norfolk State University. He coaches NSU’s sprinters and relay teams.

Bengono came to NSU from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he assisted during the 2005 outdoor season.

Serge Bengono Assistant Coach

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.

Cletus Griffin is in his fourth year working with the men’s track and cross country staff at Norfolk State.

Griffin, a former Division II All-American, brings nearly 20 years of secondary and collegiate coaching experience to the program. Griffin was a standout long-distance runner at the University of Akron. He was an All-American in the 10,000 meters in 1972 and in cross country in 1973. Griffin also met the Olympic qualifying standards for the Cletus Griffin 10,000 meters in 1972 and for the Technical Coordinator marathon in 1976.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE 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 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. At one time Bengono owned school records in the 60 meters (6.74), 100 meters (10.25) and as part of the 4x100 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.

Griffin then embarked on a successful high school coaching career, first in Ohio and then in Virginia Beach. He was the head cross country and track coach at Green Run High School from 1984-89, winning four outdoor state championships. He then moved over to another Virginia Beach High School, Salem, from 1990-92, winning multiple district and regional titles. Griffin produced 25 high school All-Americans during his tenure at Green Run and Salem.

Griffin currently serves as an assistant principal at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach. He resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, Debra. The couple has one son, Jonathan, who completed his track and cross country career with the Spartans last year.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and history from Akron in 1974, Griffin earned a master’s in health and physical education from Akron in 1976. Griffin was also an assistant cross country and track coach for the Zips from 1974-77.

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2012-13 ROSTER Name Damtew Adnew Chad Allen Johnathan Anderson Marcus Anderson Jamarian Bates Stefan Battles De’Von Booker D’Sean Brown Vincent Brown Joshua Carino Steve Coles Ian Copeland Justin Dozier Aaron Dudley Marcus Finney Desmond Fogg Kameron George Erick Green Kyle Green John James Amos Kipkosgei Kipchirchir Kiptoo Sammy Kiptoo Nathnael Meseret Michael Mingo-Dabney Keith Nkrumah Quentin Parker Andre Pickett Johnathan Ross Jerome Scurry Jr. Damian Smith Kenneth Smith Michael Smith Terrion Smith James Taylor Robert Thrasher Tavaris Waddler Willard Ward Marquis Worsley

Ht. 5-8 5-9 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-8 6-3 6-1 5-6 6-3 6-3 5-8 5-9 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-5 5-8 5-10 5-6 5-8 6-3 5-8 6-1 6-2 5-9 5-10 5-7 5-9 5-10 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-2 5-10

Yr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Gr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Events Long Distance Hurdles Shot Put Hurdles Jumps Middle Distance Hurdles Jumps Middle Distance Long Distance Sprints Throws Pole Vault Long Distance Hurdles Distance Mid/Long Distance Sprints Sprints High Jump Mid/Long Distance Long Distance Mid/Long Distance Mid/Long Distance Throws Sprints/Hurdles Sprints/Hurdles Sprints Javelin Middle Distance Sprints Sprints Hurdles Jumps Sprints/Jumps High Jump Multi’s Pole Vault Middle Distance

Hometown/Previous School Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee HS Centreville, Va./Fairfax HS Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams HS Prince George’s Co., Md./Frederick Douglass HS

Ettrick, Va./Matoaca HS Hampton, Va./Hampton HS Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh HS Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette HS Tappahannock, Va./Essex HS Suffolk, Va./Kings Fork HS Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood HS Suffolk, Va./St. Augustine’s University Leesburg, Va./Heritage HS Newport News, Va./Warwick HS Brooklyn, N.Y./Transit Tech Norfolk, Va. /Maury HS Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS Eldoret, Kenya/New York Tech Ainabkoi, Kenya/Ole Miss Iten, Kenya/Tambach Boys HS Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee HS Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood HS Martinsville, Va. /Bassett HS Hampton, Va./Hampton HS Fairburn, Ga./Sandy Creek HS Bridgeton, N.J./Bridgeton HS Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run HS Newport News, Va./Woodside HS Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS Norfolk, Va./Booker T. Washington HS Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS Virginia Beach, Va./Cox HS Portsmouth, Va./Wilson HS Portsmouth, Va./Wilson HS Norfolk, Va./Norview HS

Head Coach: Kenneth Giles Assistant Coaches: Jerry Price, Serge Bengono Technical Coordinator: Cletus Griffin

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2012-13 OUTLOOK

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Spartans Young, But Talented Rivals of the seven-time defending MEAC champion Norfolk State men’s track and field team may be glad to hear that this year’s edition of the Spartans is one of the youngest, most inexperienced of coach Kenneth Giles’ tenure.

What they may not like to know is that it could also be one of Giles’ deepest and most talented, too.

The Spartans head into the season minus many of the familiar names from recent years. Mainstays like Josef Tessema, Sean Holston, Philemon Kimutai and Aramis Massenburg are gone. But Giles has plenty of firepower returning and a 17-member recruiting class that is full of potential.

Leading the way among the returners is 2012 NTFCCCA outdoor honorable mention All-American hurdler Keith Nkrumah and two-time MEAC sprint champion and East Preliminary Round qualifier James Taylor.

Nkrumah, now a senior, earned Co-Most Outstanding Runner honors at last year’s MEAC outdoor championship after sweeping the 110 and 400-meter hurdle titles. He placed seventh in the region in the 110 hurdles, earning him a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championship field.

“Keith is looking better than ever,” Giles said. “I expect more big things from him this year.”

Taylor had a strong year in 2011-12. During indoor season, he won the 60-meter dash at the MEAC Championship for his first individual conference gold medal. He also was part of the MEAC championship indoor 4x400 relay team. Outdoors, Taylor captured the MEAC 200-meter title and qualified for the East Preliminary Round. He was in position to join Nkrumah in qualifying for the national meet, but was disqualified for stepping outside of his lane. Taylor is a junior for indoor season, but is classified as a sophomore during outdoor season.

“James is a real leader for our team,” Giles said. “He’s like having another coach on the track and is a great example for our younger athletes.”

Nkrumah and Taylor will likely anchor NSU’s relays once again along with senior Kenneth Smith. Giles is also looking for Smith to make an impact in the open 200 and 400 meter events.

Amos Kipkosgei Senior Distance Runner Despite losing Tessema – a 2-time MEAC Most Outstanding Runner – and three-year All-MEAC performer Kimutai, the Spartans shouldn’t have a drop-off in the distance events. Senior Amos Kipkosgei is himself a former MEAC MVP and will anchor the team in the long distance races.

Meseret and fellow classmate Damtew Adnew are also strong in the 3,000 and 5,000 events, while Ole Miss transfer Kipchirchir Kiptoo earned All-MEAC cross country honors and will be an asset in the distance races as well.

The Spartans will feature just two seniors among their contingent of field athletes, javelin thrower Johnathan Ross and high jumper John James. James is the two-time defending MEAC outdoor high jump champion who advanced to the NCAA East Prelims last spring, while Ross is a veteran in his only discipline.

Despite the losses of Holston and Massenburg, Giles feels he has promising replacements in the form of freshmen Damian Smith and Marcus Finney. Smith was a standout sprinter at Virginia Beach’s Green Run High School and should be a MEAC contender in the short sprints. Finney was Virginia state Group AA champion in both the 110 and 300 hurdles last year.

Outside of those two, youth is the order of the day among the field athletes. Freshman Jamarian Bates is a former Virginia state champion in the long jump and an all-state triple jumper, as well. Taylor – who was a 25-foot long jumper in high school – will also long jump for NSU this season for the first time since his freshman year. Add sophomore D’Sean Brown, who placed third at the MEAC indoor meet in the long jump last year, and the Spartans have three standouts in that event.

Finney and Nkrumah will be joined by freshmen Michael Smith, Marcus Anderson and De’Von Booker to give the Spartans depth in the hurdles.

Brown and junior Robert Thrasher will team with James to give NSU depth in the high jump.

The Spartans should also be very deep and versatile in the middle distance events. Senior Vincent Brown was an NCAA East Preliminary Round qualifier in the 800 meters last year following a pair of fourth-place finishes in the same event at both conference meets. Junior Nathnael Meseret also returns following a rookie season where he won the MEAC 1,500-meter title (outdoors) and placed second in the conference in the mile.

Freshmen Willard Ward and Justin Dozier will be counted on to provide points in the pole vault. Junior Ian Copeland (discus/weight throw), sophomore Michael Mingo-Dabney (discus/weight throw) and freshman Jonathon Anderson (shot put) anchor the Spartans in the throws.

Freshman Tavaris Waddler will try to provide NSU with a presence in the multi-events that it has lacked recently.

Freshman Marquis Worsley and St. Augustine’s transfer Aaron Dudley should also have a big impact for the Spartans this season. Giles thinks Worsley could immediately be one of the MEAC’s top milers, while Dudley, last year’s CIAA Indoor MVP, is strong in the 800 and mile.

“This is definitely one of the deepest teams we’ve had,” Giles said. “We have 17 newcomers, and 13 of them could score in the MEAC (championships). I feel like we’re ready to bounce back strong from the second-place (MEAC) cross country finish and show that we are the best program in the conference.”

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2012-13 SCHEDULE

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

INDOOR SEASON Date Site/Event Dec. 8 CNU Holiday Open Jan. 5 Penn State Relays Jan. 19-20 CNU Captains Invitational Jan. 25-26 Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational Feb. 1-2 UNC Gene Anderson Invitational Feb. 14-16 MEAC Indoor Championships March 8-9 NCAA Indoor Championships

Location Newport News, Va. University Park, Pa. Newport News, Va. Blacksburg, Va. Chapel Hill, N.C. Landover, Md. Fayetteville, Ark.

OUTDOOR SEASON March 14-16 Shamrock Invitational March 22-23 William & Mary Tribe Invitational March 30 Virginia Invitational April 4-6 Florida Relays April 13 Norfolk State Relays April 19-20 Morgan State Legacy Meet April 25-27 Penn Relays May 2-4 MEAC Outdoor Championships May 23-25 NCAA East Preliminary Round June 5-8 NCAA Outdoor Championships

Myrtle Beach, S.C. Williamsburg, Va. Charlottesville, Va. Gainesville, Fla. Norfolk, Va. Baltimore, Md. Philadelphia, Pa. Greensboro, N.C. Greensboro, N.C. Eugene, Ore.

Home meet in bold is at William “Dick” Price Stadium

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RETURNER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE of 9:57.92 to take third in the steeplechase at the NSU Relays.

Damtew Adnew

2010-11: Sat out at NSU as a non-qualifier.

5-8 Junior Long Distance Springfield, Va. Robert E. Lee HS

High School: All-Northern Region and All-Patriot District as a senior during cross country season…during indoor season, placed seventh in the region in the 3,200 meters…during outdoor season, finished third in the region and ninth at the state meet in the 3,200m…personal-best high school times were 4:26 for the mile and 9:32 for two miles.

Personal: Damtew Adnew was born on June 2, 1991…son of Brhena Derbew and Yeshimebet Yemer…majoring in electronic engineering.

2011-12: Cross Country: Ran a season-best time of 25:45.50 to finish in sixth place at the UMES Cappy Anderson Invitational … earned All-MEAC recognition by placing 13th overall at the conference championship meet (27:07.19). Indoor: Placed fourth in two long-distance events at the MEAC Indoor Championship … was one of four runners who bettered the previous meet record in the 3,000 when he ran a time of 8:49.82 … ran a season-best time of 15:05.50 to place fourth in the 5,000. Outdoor: Finished fourth in the MEAC Outdoor meet in the 3,000m steeplechase (10:04.45) … placed seventh at the conference meet in the 5,000 (15:50.44) … ran a season-best 5,000m time of 14:57.95 to earn an 11th-place finish at the Florida Relays … ran a PR

Stefan Battles 6-1 Sophomore Middle Distance Hampton, Va. Hampton HS

Personal Records Cross Country 8,000 Meters: 25:45.50 (2011 UMES Cappy Anderson) Indoor 3,000 Meters: 8:49.82 (2012 MEAC Indoor) 5,000 Meters: 15:05.50 (2012 MEAC Indoor) Outdoor Mile: 4:06.61 (2012 Morgan State Legacy) 3,000 Meter Steeplechase: 9:57.92 (2012 NSU Relays) 5,000 Meters: 14:57.95 (2012 Florida Relays)

High School: Lettered two years on the track team at Hampton … finished fifth in the 800 meters as a senior, running a personal-best 2:03.43.

Personal: Stefan Alphonso Battles was born on Feb. 2, 1992 … son of Uvonder Colvin … majoring in sociology.

Personal Records Outdoor 800 Meters: 2:03.43 (High School)

2011-12: Indoor: Competed on NSU’s 4x400 relay team at the Coach O Invitational hosted by UMES (3:29.82). Outdoor: Participated in the 400 meters at the NSU Relays (52.92). the Shamrock Invitational in mid-March … placed ninth in the long jump in that meet (21-11.5).

D’Sean Brown 6-3 Sophomore Jumps Virginia Beach, Va. First Colonial HS

High School: Lettered four years in basketball and three in track at FC … was a state Group AAA outdoor qualifier in both the long and high jumps as a senior … tied for fourth in the state in the high jump (6-4) and finished 11th in the long jump (21-1.25) … won both the Beach District and Eastern Region titles in the high jump … high school PRs were 6-8 in the high jump and 23-3.5 in the long jump.

Personal: D’Sean A. Brown was born on Dec. 27, 1991 … son of Alexandra Mottey … majoring in accounting.

2011-12: Indoor: Finished third in the long jump at the MEAC Indoor Championship with a season-best jump of 22 feet, 6.25 inches …was also eighth in the high jump (6-3.25) at the conference meet … took third place in the long jump at the UMES Coach O Invitational (223.75). Outdoor: Competed in just one meet during outdoor season,

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Personal Records Long Jump: 23-3.5 (High School) High Jump: 6-8 (High School)

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RETURNER PROFILES Vincent Brown 6-1 Senior Middle Distance Peachtree City, Ga. McIntosh HS 2011-12: Cross Country: Placed 24th at the conference championship meet (28:06.72) … also earned top-15 finishes at the UMES Cappy Anderson Invitational (15th, 27:05.15) and the Great American Cross Country Festival (14th, 27:20.70). Indoor: Earned a fourth-place finish in the 800 at the MEAC Indoor championship (1:54.77) … ran the 800m leg on the MEAC championship distance medley relay team that finished in 10:04.79 … Ran a season-best 800m time of 1:53.87 at the Virginia Tech Final Qualifier. Outdoor: Bested his previous 800m PR of 1:52.74 heading into the season on five different occasions … duplicated his indoor season finish in the 800m at the MEAC Outdoor championship … broke his previous PR during both of his races at the conference meet … ran a qualifying time of 1:50.77 in the prelims, then posted a 1:50.09 in the finals … qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round for the first time in his career … finished 42nd in the regional in 1:53.08 … won the 800m at the NSU Relays (1:51.13).

2010-11: Cross Country: Ran a personal-best time of 27:28.60 to place 24th at the MEAC Championship…finished 16th overall at the 6K Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge at William & Mary (20:03). Indoor: Placed third in the 800 meters at the MEAC Indoor Championship, earning all-conference recognition…clocked a time of 1:54.85 at the

Ian Copeland 6-3 Junior Throws Suffolk, Va. King’s Fork HS 2011-12: Indoor: Came in third place at the MEAC Indoor Championship in the weight throw … topped his own school record at the conference meet, with a top toss of 52 feet, 11 inches (16.13m) … that was one of four times where he exceeded the 50-foot mark … was runner-up at the Coach O Invitational (51-11) and fourth at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational (51-11.75). Outdoor: Had the team’s top four discus throws of the season … threw a personal-best 146 feet to take seventh place in that event at the MEAC Outdoor Championship … came in third at the NSU Relays with a top effort of 142-9.

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2011-12 2011-12 NORFOLK MEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE MEN’S MEAC meet…ran a season-best time of 1:54.78 to finish as runner-up at the Doug Raymond Invitational at Kent State. Outdoor: Ran a new PR of 1:52.73 to place first in the 800 prelims at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…finished sixth in the 800 finals at the conference meet (1:56.78)…ran a time of 1:53.30 at the Florida Relays…finished fifth in 1:53.93 at Morgan State…placed seventh in the 1,500 at the Raleigh Relays (4:01.31).

2009-10: Cross Country: Ran a time of 28:39.60 at the MEAC Championship, placing 27th…his best performance came at the Great American Cross Country Festival, where he placed 14th in a season-best time of 27:46. Indoor: Ran an indoor season-best 800m time of 1:53.63, placing eighth at Penn State…that ranked as the fourth-fastest time in the MEAC during indoor season…came in fourth in the 800m at the MEAC Indoor Championship (1:55.63). Outdoor: Ran a season-best and finished 11th at the Sea Ray Relays in Tennessee (1:53.00)…brought home a fifth-place finish in the 800 at the Morgan State Legacy meet (1:55.20)…finished sixth at the MEAC Outdoor Championship (1:54.54).

High School: Ran track and cross country as a senior at McIntosh… best 5K time was 16:51…was Georgia AAAA outdoor state 800-meter champion in a personal-best 1:53.20…also won the AAU Junior Olympic 800-meter title (1:54.71).

Personal: Vincent Brown III was born on Dec. 27, 1990…son of Vincent Brown Jr. and Leslie Brown…majoring in mathematics.

Personal Records Indoor 800 Meters: 1:53.63 (2010 Penn State National) Outdoor 800 Meters: 1:50.09 (2012 MEAC Outdoor)

Championship in the discus throw with a toss of 132-1, his best of the season … also posted a throw of 131-10 at the Morgan State Legacy Meet, placing 15th.

High School: Won the Southeastern District Outdoor championship in the discus as a senior with a personal-best throw of 155-3 … placed ninth at the VHSL state outdoor meet in the discus … was third in the shot put at the district indoor meet as a senior … lettered two years in track & field and one in wrestling.

Personal: Ian E. Copeland was born on March 15, 1992 … son of Alvin and Jacqueline Copeland…majoring in biology.

Personal Records Indoor Weight Throw: 52-11 (2012 MEAC Indoor) Outdoor Shot Put: 43-0 (High School) Discus: 155-0 (High School)

2010-11: Indoor: Finished sixth at the MEAC Indoor Championship in the weight throw (43-6.5) … best throw of the season was 46-5.5 at Virginia Tech’s Hokie Invitational … also threw 46-2 at CNU’s Holiday Open, placing seventh. Outdoor: Placed eighth at the MEAC Outdoor

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RETURNER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Raleigh Relays, finishing in 26th place…came in eighth in the 1,500 at the MEAC Outdoor Championship, running a 4:07.76.

Kameron George 5-10 Senior Middle/Long Distance Brooklyn, N.Y. Transit Tech 2011-12: Cross Country: Finished 22nd overall at the MEAC Cross Country Championship, fifth-best among the Spartans … earned two top-20 finishes at regular-season meets, including a 10th-place effort at the Great American Cross Country Festival … ran a season-best 27:05.60 in that meet. Indoor: Ran a season-best 1-mile time of 4:21.31 at the Virginia Tech Final Qualifier … competed in the 3,000 meters at the George Mason Patriot Games … was 10th in the mile at the MEAC Indoor Meet (4:25.85). Outdoor: Ran a PR of 4:03.27 in the 1,500 meters at the Shamrock Invitational … placed 13th in the 1,500 meters at the MEAC Outdoor Championship.

2010-11: Cross Country: Earned All-MEAC honors with a 13th-place finish at the conference championship…covered the 8K course in a personal-best time of 26:13.40…finished 22nd at the U.Va. Lou Onesty Invitational (26:55.99)…finished 10th at the Great American Cross Country Invitational (26:38)…was 13th at the Colonial Inter-Region Challenge (19:47 for 6K). Indoor: Ran a season-best time of 4:28.10 in the mile run at the Hokie Invitational…clocked a 4:28.13 to place 10th at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational…crossed the finish line in eighth place in the 3,000 meters at Penn State in a season-best time of 9:00.46…finished 10th in the 3,000 at the MEAC Indoor Championship (9:11.50). Outdoor: Ran a season-best 1,500m time of 4:04.71 at the

Erick Green 6-5 Junior Sprints/Multi’s Norfolk, Va. Maury HS

2009-10: Cross Country: Ran a time of 28:01.93 at the MEAC Championship, placing 21st…placed 10th at the Great American Cross Country Festival with a season-best time of 26:50, the 12th-fastest time in the MEAC in 2009. Indoor: Placed fourth in the 3,000m at CNU (8:55.42)…ran a PR in the mile at Penn State (4:23.86) and finished 15th…bested that with a clocking of 4:21.87 to earn sixth place at the MEAC Indoor Championship…placed 11th in the 3,000m. Outdoor: Finished 15th while running his season-best 1,500m time of 4:03.41 at the Sea Ray Relays…placed ninth at the MEAC Outdoor Championship in the 1,500 and 13th in the 3,000m steeplechase.

High School: Lettered two years in track and one in cross country… was the New York Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) city cross country champion as a senior (16:30 for 5K)…also won both the mile (4:29) and two-mile (9:34) as a senior during indoor track season at the PSAL championships…PRs in those events are 4:24 and 9:30…won national titles in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters at the 2008 AAU Club Championships in Orlando, Fla. Personal: Kameron E. George was born on Sept. 22, 1991…son of Joseph and Pamela George…majoring in electronic engineering.

Personal Records Cross Country 8,000 Meters: 26:13.40 (2010 MEAC XC Championship) Indoor Mile: 4:21.87(2010 MEAC ID) 3,000 Meters: 8:55.42 (2010 CNU Vince Brown Invite) Outdoor 1,500 Meters: 4:03.27 (2012 Shamrock Invitational) 3,000 Meter Steeplechase: 10:49.51 (2010 MEAC OD)

ley team at Kent State. Outdoor: Ran a season-best 50.83 in the 400m at the Sea Ray Relays … also competed in the 400m at the Morgan State Legacy Meet and in the 400m hurdles at the Tribe Open.

High School: Lettered four years in track…also played football and basketball…Eastern District high jump champion as a senior…won district titles in the 200 and 400 meters while placing second in the discus and third in the shot put and high jump as a junior…named Maury’s track & field MVP his junior year.

Personal: Erick C. Green was born on Feb. 2, 1991…son of Richard and Rita Green…majoring in kinesiology.

2011-12: Indoor: Competed in the 200, 400 and on the 4x400 meter relay team during indoor season. Outdoor: Placed seventh in the decathlon at the MEAC Outdoor Championship after amassing 5,127 points.

Personal Records Outdoor 200 Meters: 22.02 (High School) 400 Meters: 49.77 (High School) Decathlon: 5,127 points (2012 MEAC Outdoor)

2010-11: Indoor: Season-best 400m time was 50.95, placing him 14th at Kent State …also ran the 400m leg on NSU’s winning distance med-

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RETURNER PROFILES John James 5-10 Senior High Jump Suffolk, Va. Nansemond River HS 2011-12: Indoor: Finished third at the MEAC Indoor Championship, matching his career-best height of 6 feet, 11 inches … also cleared 6-11 at the Tyson Invitational, finishing 10th … won the gold medal at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational (6-8.25) … was fourth at the Penn State National (6-10.75). Outdoor: MEAC Outdoor champion in the high jump for the second straight year … matched his career-best outdoor height of 7-0.25 … also won the high jump at the NSU Relays (6-10.75) and was runner-up at the Morgan State Legacy Meet (6-9.75).

2010-11: Indoor: Jumped an indoor personal-best height of 6-10.25 at the Hokie Invitational, good for a fourth-place tie … finished sixth at the Penn State National (6-8.75) … placed third at the MEAC Indoor Championship with a top height of 6-8.25. Outdoor: Jumped

Amos Kipkosgei 5-6 Senior Middle/Long Distance Eldoret, Kenya New York Tech/Tulon HS 2011-12: Cross Country: An All-MEAC runner for the third year in a row after placing eighth at the MEAC championship (26:32.47) … season-best 8K time was 25:52.48 at the UMES Cappy Anderson Invitational, where he finished eighth overall … placed sixth overall in 25:57 at the Great American Cross Country Festival. Indoor: Earned three top-six finishes at the MEAC Indoor Championship … was fifth in the 5,000 meters in 15:05.87 … finished sixth in both the mile (4:23.10) and the 3,000 meters (8:54.34) … placed 11th in the 5,000 at the Penn State National (15:18.61) …was fifth in the mile at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational (4:26.58). Outdoor: Again earned three top-six finishes at the MEAC Outdoor Championship, including fifthplace finishes in the 1,500 meters (4:01.01) and the 3,000 steeplechase (10:09.43) … also cross the line sixth in the 5,000 meters (15:42.99) … won the steeplechase at the NSU Relays (9:48.41) and was fourth in the 1,500 (4:03.61).

2010-11: Cross Country: Placed third overall and second among Spartan runners with a 25:43.68 at the UMES Lid-Lifter to begin the season…crossed the finish line third overall and third on the team with a 6K time of 18:34 at the Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge… was also third among the Spartans and third overall at the Great

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2011-12 NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE a personal-best 7-0.25 to win the MEAC outdoor high jump title, the first conference gold medal of his career … also cleared at least 6-8 in three other meets, the Florida Relays, Tribe Open and NCAA East Regional … the regional appearance was the first of his career.

2009-10: Indoor: Cleared 6-6.25, a season-best, at the CNU Captains Invitational…finished in a tie for fourth place at the MEAC Indoor meet (6-4.75)…placed sixth at the Maryland Invitational (6-4). Outdoor: MEAC Outdoor runner-up in the high jump with a season-best 6-9.75…tied with champion James Moore of UMES, but finished second based on more misses…placed eighth at the Sea Ray Relays with a top height of 6-8.75.

High School: Lettered four years in track, golf and soccer…finished third at the state outdoor meet in the high jump as a senior (6-6)…finished second in the state indoor meet in the high jump as a junior… was a first-team all-district soccer pick as a senior.

Personal: John E. James was born on Feb. 11, 1991…son of John and Denise James…majoring in electrical engineering.

Personal Records Indoor High Jump: 6-11 (2x, most recent: 2012 MEAC Indoor) Outdoor High Jump: 7-0.25 (2x, most recent: 2012 MEAC OD)

American Invitational (25:06.1)…earned All-MEAC honors for the second consecutive year with a personal-best 8K time of 24:58.90, good enough for third place at the conference championship. Indoor: Registered top-five finishes in all three distance races at the MEAC Indoor Championship…ran a PR of 15:04.66 to finish second to teammate Josef Tessema in the 5,000 meters…also finished third in the 3,000m (8:55.14) and was fifth in the mile (4:28.91)…in addition, ran the anchor leg to help the distance medley relay team win the MEAC title in that event (10:17.17)…posted a season-best time of 4:24.81 in the mile to take 10th place at Penn State…ran a season-best time of 8:48.59 in the 3,000 meters at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational, finishing as runner-up. Outdoor: Was MEAC runner-up in three events to help the Spartans to the team title…ran a PR of 9:25.32 to take second place in the 3,000m steeplechase…posted a time of 14:46.38 to finish second in the 5,000m, and clocked a 3:56.81 to take runner-up in the 1,500m…took 14th place in the 5,000 meters at the Penn Relays in a season-best time of 14:46.34.

2009-10: Cross Country: Placed fourth overall at the MEAC Championship with a time of 26:02…earned All-MEAC honors…ran a time of season-best time of 25:11 to finish third overall at the Great American Cross Country Festival…the 25:11 was the third-fastest time of the year in the MEAC. Indoor: MEAC Indoor champion in the 5,000m (15:18)…took third place in the 5,000 at Virginia Tech (15:04.83)… came in fourth in the 3,000m at Penn State and posted the MEAC’s second-fastest time of the indoor season (8:32.31)…placed fourth in that event at the conference indoor meet (8:53.43)…was MEAC runner-up, behind teammate Philemon Kimutai, in the mile run (4:17.86).

Outdoor: Named Most Outstanding Performer at the conference outdoor meet…won the 5,000m to complete a personal indoor-outdoor sweep of that event (14:58.23)…MEAC outdoor runner-up in the 1,500m (season-best 3:53.60) and the 3,000m steeplechase (9:34.82)… placed fourth in the 1,500 at Wake Forest (3:54.93)…was 10th in the 5,000 at the Raleigh Relays…ran the MEAC’s fastest 5,000m time and

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RETURNER PROFILES established his own PR with a time of 14:29.83 at the Sea Ray Relays, where he finished fifth…also finished eighth in the collegiate section of the 5,000m at the Penn Relays (14:32.19).

At New York Tech: 2008 East Coast Conference Cross Country champion…finished the 8K course in 26:47.63…named ECC Runner of the Year Award and named to the all-conference first team…ran a season-best time of 25:41 to finish fifth at the Paul Short Invitational… did not run track at New York Tech, but has run a top 1,500-meter time of 3:51.37.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Personal Records Cross Country 8,000 Meters: 24:58.90 (2010 MEAC XC Championship) Indoor Mile: 4:17.86 (2010 MEAC ID) 3,000 Meters: 8:32.31 (2010 Penn State National) 5,000 Meters: 15:04.66 (2011 MEAC ID) Outdoor 1,500 Meters: 3:51.37 (pre-college) 3,000 Meter SC: 9:25.32 (2011 MEAC OD) 5,000 Meters: 14:29.83 (2010 Sea Ray Relays)

Personal: Amos Kipkosgei was born on June 3, 1984…son of Isaack and Milka Sitienei…majoring in nursing.

2010-11: Sat out at NSU as a non-qualifier.

Nathnael Meseret 5-8 Junior Middle/Long Distance Dumfries, Va. Robert E. Lee HS 2011-12: Cross Country: Finished fifth at the MEAC Championship, running a time of 26:22.49 to earn All-MEAC honors … ran a personal best of 25:41.80 to finish third overall at the Great American Cross Country Festival. Indoor: Ran the anchor leg of the gold medal-winning distance medley relay team at the MEAC Indoor Championship … was conference runner-up (4:19.25), finishing second only to teammate Josef Tessema … also placed fifth at the conference indoor meet in the 3,000m (8:53.54) and seventh in the 5,000 (season-best 15:08.62) … ran an indoor PR of 8:29.29 in the 3,000m at the CNU Holiday Open, where he finished second … was 10th in the same event at the Penn State National (8:39.95). Outdoor: Was MEAC Outdoor champion in the 1,500 meters, finishing in a personal-best of 3:53.62 … placed fourth at the MEAC outdoor meet in the 5,000 (15:29.07) … posted a PR of 14:52.82 in the 5,000 at the Raleigh Relays … finished second in the 1,500 at both the Morgan State Legacy Meet (3:55.28) and the NSU Relays (3:57.73).

High School: All-district, all-region and all-state performer as a senior at Robert E. Lee…Patriot District cross country champion as both a junior and senior…placed fifth at the Northern Region cross country championship and 16th at the state meet as a senior…during indoor track season, won both the 1,600 (4:23) and 3,200 (9:29) championships at the Northern Region meet…also took third place at the state indoor meet in the 3,200 (9:24)…his personal-best time of 9:18 in the 3,200m earned him ninth place at the Nike Indoor Nationals and ranked him among the top 20 fastest times in the nation…was Northern Region outdoor champion in the 1,600 (4:19)…at the state outdoor meet, placed ninth in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200.

Personal: Nathnael Degu Meseret was born on June 24, 1991 … son of Degu Meseret and Burtecane Reta … majoring in electronic engineering.

Personal Records Indoor Mile: 4:19.25 (2012 MEAC Indoor) 3,000 Meters: 8:29.29 (2011 CNU Holiday Open) 5,000 Meters: 15:08.62 (2012 MEAC Indoor) Outdoor 1,500 Meters: 3:53.62 (2012 MEAC Outdoor) 5,000 Meters: 14:52.82 (2012 Raleigh Relays)

fourth place at the NSU Relays (137-01).

Michael Mingo-Dabney 6-1 Sophomore Throws Virginia Beach, Va. Bayside HS 2011-12: Indoor: Placed seventh in the weight throw at the MEAC Indoor Championship with a season-best throw of 45-11.25 … was also seventh in the same event at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational (44-11.50). Outdoor: Came in 10th place at the MEAC Outdoor Championship in the discus with a season-best distance (138-01) … took

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High School: Lettered four years in track and one each in wrestling, volleyball, football and swimming … finished third in the Beach District outdoor meet in the discus throw … placed eighth in the Eastern Region in the same event … high school PRs were 142-7.5 in the discus, 45-11.25 in the weight throw and 43-10 in the shot put.

Personal: Michael Alexander Mingo-Dabney was born on Aug. 6, 1993 … son of Marie Mingo … majoring in accounting.

Personal Records Indoor Weight Throw: 45-11.25 (Most recent: 2012 MEAC Indoor) Outdoor Discus: 142-7.5 (High school) Shot Put: 43-10 (High school)

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RETURNER PROFILES Keith Nkrumah 6-2 RS-Senior Sprints/Hurdles Brooklyn, N.Y. Midwood HS 2011-12: Indoor: Equaled or bettered the previous 60-meter hurdles school record of 7.87 on seven occasions during the season … posted a season-best time of 7.77 seconds twice – in the semifinals at the Tyson Invitational and at the Virginia Tech final qualifier … the 7.77 time was tied for the 16th fastest in the nation during the 2012 indoor season, leaving Nkrumah just a tenth out of the running for a spot at the indoor nationals … tied the MEAC Indoor Championship record of 7.86 seconds in the semifinals, but did not finish his race in the finals … won the 60m hurdles at the Hokie Invitational with a time of 7.84 … ran a leg on the MEAC championship 4x400 meter indoor relay team which set a new meet record of 3:14.24 … also a part of the 4x400 team that ran a 3:10.66 at the Tyson Invitational, which placed second in that meet … earned MEAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honors for his performance at the Tyson Invitational. Outdoor: A two-time MEAC outdoor champion and 2012 USTFCCCA honorable mention All-America performer … ran a sub-14.00 110 hurdles on nine occasions during the outdoor season … finished second overall and first among collegians with his time of 13.69 seconds in the 110 hurdles at the Morgan State Legacy Meet … posted personal bests in sweeping the 110 and 400 meter hurdles events at the MEAC Outdoor Championships … ran a time of 13.68 in the finals of the 110 hurdles and 50.40 to win the 400 hurdles, earning him Co-Most Outstanding Runner honors at the conference championship … placed seventh out of 27 competitors in the final round of the 110 hurdles at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, earning him a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Nationals … ran a time of 14.17 at nationals, placing 24th in the nation to earn honorable mention All-America recognition.

Quentin Parker 5-9 Junior Sprints/Hurdles Martinsville, Va. Bassett HS 2011-12: Indoor: Competed in three meets during indoor season, at CNU, George Mason and UMES … ran the 400 meters at all three events with a top time of 51.94 at CNU … also ran on the 4x400 team which placed fourth at CNU. Outdoor: Ran a career-best 400 hurdles time of 53.85 seconds, placing ninth out of 16 runners at the MEAC Outdoor Championship … posted a time of 54.34 seconds to earn fourth place at the Morgan State Legacy Meet.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2011-12 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE 2010-11: Indoor: Ran a leg on NSU’s fourth-place 4x400 meter relay team at the Tyson Invitational, where the Spartans ran a time of 3:09.40 …ran a season-best 60m hurdles time of 7.98 seconds in the prelims at the Penn State National … finished third in the MEAC in the 60 hurdles with time of 7.99 seconds (prelims) and 8.00 (finals).

Outdoor: NCAA East Regional qualifier in the 110 hurdles, but did not compete there … ran a season-best time of 13.72 seconds in the MEAC Outdoor Championship prelims … ran a leg on NSU’s thirdplace 4x100 meter relay team at the conference meet (40.19 seconds) … was also sixth at the MEAC meet in the 200 meters (21.18 prelims, 21.24 finals) … ran a leg on NSU’s 4x400 relay team which ran a 3:10.06 to place 13th at the Florida Relays.

2009-10: Redshirted.

2008-09: Indoor: Ran a leg on NSU’s seventh-place 4x400 team at the conference indoor meet. Outdoor: Outdoor season-best times were 14.62 in the 110 hurdles at the Sea Ray Relays and 52.87 in the 400 hurdles at the Penn Relays…ran a leg on NSU’s eighth-place 4x400 finishers at the outdoor meet.

High School: Lettered three years in track and one each in football and cross country… won the New York state outdoor title in the 200 meters and the 4x200 meters as a senior…also won district titles in the 100 and 200…personal-best high school times were 10.62 in the 100 meters and 21.30 in the 200…school record-holder in the 200.

Personal: Keith Kweku Nkrumah was born on Nov. 28, 1990…son of Alex and Dorothy Nkrumah…majoring in mass communications.

Personal Records Indoor 60 Meter Hurdles: 7.77* (Twice, last at 2012 Va. Tech Final Qualifier) Outdoor 100 Meters: 10.62 (High School) 110 Meter Hurdles: 13.68 (2012 MEAC Outdoor) 400 Meter Hurdles: 50.40 (2012 MEAC Outdoor) * School record

vitational and the Father Diamond Invitational … also ran a leg on the winning 4x400 relay team at the Vince Brown Invitational. Outdoor: Ran the 400 meter hurdles for the Spartans during outdoor season … ran a personal-best time of 56.89 seconds to earn an eighth-place finish at the Donald Webster Invitational at Coppin State.

High School: Lettered four years in track and one in football…was district champion in the 200 meters as a senior…placed second in the region in both the 200 and 400…placed second in the state indoor meet in the 500.

Personal: Quentin Jamal Parker was born on July 10, 1992…son of Willie Parker and Pamela Strickland…majoring in exercise science.

Personal Records Indoor 500 Meter Dash: 1:07 (High School) Outdoor 400 Meter Dash: 49.5 (High School) 400 Meter Hurdles: 53.85 (2012 MEAC Outdoor)

2010-11: Indoor: Competed in the 400m at the CNU Vince Brown In-

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RETURNER PROFILES Andre Pickett 5-9 Sophomore Sprints Hampton, Va. Hampton HS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE High School: Two-year letterwinner in track and field … helped Hampton’s 4x400 relay team win the Peninsula District title and place third Personal: Andre D. Pickett was born on March 21, 1992 … son of Sandra Pickett and Jessie Tucker … majoring in building construction technology.

Personal Records Outdoor 200 Meters: 23.50 (High School) 400 Meters: 50.98 (High School)

2011-12: Indoor: Competed at the CNU and George Mason meets … ran a 200m time of 23.34 at George Mason … participated in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay at the CNU Holiday Open. Outdoor: Competed in one meet, running the 400 meters at the NSU Relays (52.15).

Vincent Rono 5-7 Senior Long Distance Bomet, Kenya Mogotio Secondary

2011-12: Cross Country: Captured his third consecutive All-MEAC award by finishing sixth at the conference championship meet in 26:25.75 … season-best 8K time was a 25:46.10 at the Great American Cross Country Festival, where he finished fourth overall. Indoor: Placed eighth at the MEAC Indoor Championship in the 5,000 meters (15:29.72) … ran a season-best 3,000m time of 9:14.13 at the CNU Holiday Open. Outdoor: Earned two top-five finishes at the MEAC Outdoor Championship … crossed the line third in the 3,000m steeplechase (9:55.98) … finished fifth in the 5,000m (15:36.06) … won the steeplechase at the NSU Relays in 9:54.68.

2010-11: Cross Country: Finished as the MEAC runner-up at the conference cross country championship in a personal-best 8K time of 24:40.90…won the individual title and earned MEAC Runner of the Week accolades after running a time of 25:30.19 at the UMES Lid-Lifter to open the season…clocked a 25:24.91 to finish fifth overall and second on the squad the following week at U.Va…placed second on the 6K course at the Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge (18:33)…broke 25 minutes on an 8K course for the first time in his career with a time of 24:59.5 to place second overall at Great American…led NSU runners with a 40th-place finish at the 10K NCA Southeast Regional (31:50.50).

Indoor: Finished top-five in the both the 3,000m (fifth, 8:59.81) and the 5,000m (fourth, 15:28.40) at the MEAC Indoor Championship… finished seventh in the 3,000 at Virginia Tech’s Hokie Invitational in an indoor PR of 8:54.71. Outdoor: Placed sixth in both the 3,000m steeplechase (9:45.42) and the 5,000 meters (15:13.15) at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…ran a season-best 5,000m time of 15:10.68 at the Raleigh Relays, finishing 21st.

at the conference championship in a time of 26:30…season-best time was 25:40.70, which earned him 11th place at the Lou Onesty Invitational. Indoor: Redshirted. Outdoor: Ran a season-best 5,000m time of 14:43.29 in finishing 10th at the Sea Ray Relays…took third place at the MEAC Outdoor Championship in 15:12.29.

2008-09: Indoor: Ran an indoor school-record time of 14:33.15 to win the 5,000 meters at the Hampton Invitational in his collegiate debut… named the MEAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week for that performance…at the MEAC Indoor Championship, placed fifth in the 5,000 and seventh in the 3,000. Outdoor: Season-best outdoor time in the 5,000 meters was 15:50.81 at the Wake Forest Open.

Before NSU: Top time in the 5,000 was 14:43…has run a personal-best of 30:16 in the 10,000 meters.

Personal: Vincent Kipkemoi Rono was born on June 22, 1986…son of Daniel and Selina Chepckwony…majoring in physics.

Personal Records Cross Country 8,000 Meters: 24:40.90 (2010 MEAC XC Championship) Indoor 3,000 Meters: 8:54.71 (2011 Hokie Invite) 5,000 Meters: 14:33.15 (2009 Hampton Invite) Outdoor 3,000m SC: 9:45.42 (2011 MEAC OD) 5,000 Meters: 14:43.29 (2010 Sea Ray Relays)

2009-10: Cross Country: Earned All-MEAC honors by placing seventh

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RETURNER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2011-12 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE Sea Ray Relays … finished ninth at the MEAC meet with a top throw of 139-7.

Johnathan Ross

2009-10: Outdoor: Posted a distance of 133-10 at Wake Forest.

5-7 Senior Javelin Fairburn, Ga. Sandy Creek HS

High School: A four-year letterwinner in track…also lettered three years in football…personal-best throw was 149-11 in the javelin…ran on the AAA state championship 4x100 relay team his junior year, when he helped Sandy Creek win the state team title…also ran on the state champion 4x100 relay team as a sophomore.

2011-12: Outdoor: Competed in three meets, the Shamrock Invitational, the Raleigh Relays and the MEAC Outdoor Championship … posted a personal-best throw of 157-6 at the MEAC Outdoor Championship, finishing eighth … was 21st at the Raleigh Relays (145-3) and 36th at the Shamrock Invitational (148-5).

Personal: Johnathan P. Ross was born on May 24, 1991…son of John and Patricia Ross…majoring in business.

Personal Records Outdoor Javelin: 157-06 (2012 MEAC Outdoor)

2010-11: Outdoor: Threw a season-best 147-7 in the javelin at the

Kenneth Smith 6-0 Senior Sprints Newport News, Va. Woodside HS

2011-12: Indoor: Ran a season-best 400-meter time of 49.55 seconds to place eighth at the Hokie Invitational … also a staple of NSU’s 4x400 relay team … helped the Spartans clock a season-best relay time of 3:10.66 for a second-place finish at the Tyson Invitational … helped NSU win the 4x400 relay at Penn State (3:11.84) … ran the third leg on the MEAC Indoor Championship meet-record setting team that captured a gold medal (3:14.24). Outdoor: Ran a 200-meter PR of 21.24 seconds to take sixth place at the NSU relays … also placed fourth in the 400 meters at the same event (49.31) … clocked a 21.34 at the MEAC Outdoor Championships, good for 14th place out of 22 competitors … part of NSU’s 4x400 relay team which ran a Division I school record of 3:06.87 to place fifth at the Florida Relays and qualified for the East Preliminary Round.

2010-11: Indoor: Season-best 400 time was 48.97 at Kent State’s Doug Raymond Invitational, where he finished in fourth place … ran the 400m leg on NSU’s first-place MEAC Indoor Championship distance medley relay team (10:17.17) … also helped the DMR place eighth at Penn State in a season-best time of 10:02.52 … also ran a leg on NSU’s fourth-place 4x400 relay team which placed fourth at the Tyson

Invitational. Outdoor: Helped the 4x400 relay team to a season-best time of 3:10.06, good for 13th at the Florida Relays … best 400m time was 49.49 at Sea Ray Relays.

2009-10: Indoor: Won the 400 at Maryland (50.43)…ran in indoor season-best of 48.79 at Penn State, placing sixth…also the Spartans anchor on the 4x400 relay, Smith helped the team finish third at Penn State in a season-best time of 3:10.86…also ran on the fourth place 4x400 team at the MEAC Championship (3:18.71)…placed eighth in the individual 400m at the MEAC indoor meet (49.41). Outdoor: Helped the Spartans to a second-place finish in the 4x400 at the Sea Ray Relays (season-best 3:08.99)…Smith also ran a time of 48.46 in the 400 to take 12th place at the same meet...ran a season-best time of 48.42 to place 11th at the MEAC Outdoor Championship…ran the anchor on both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams at the conference outdoor meet.

High School: Played two years of football and one of soccer…did not run track until his senior season…was a first-team Daily Press All-Star in the 4x400 relay during indoor and outdoor seasons…second-team Daily Press All-Star in the 300 (indoor) and 400 (outdoor)…finished second in the district and was a state qualifier in the 400 meters.

Personal: Kenneth Dewayne Smith was born on April 24, 1991…son of Kenneth and Camilla Smith…majoring in computer science.

Personal Records Indoor 400 Meters: 48.79 (2010 Penn State National) Outdoor 200 Meters: 21.24 (2012 NSU Relays) 400 Meters: 48.42 (2010 MEAC OD)

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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RETURNER PROFILES James Taylor 6-3 Junior Sprints Suffolk, Va. Nansemond River HS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE a 6.69 in the prelims … clocked a personal-best indoor 200m time of 21.08 seconds, good for a second-place finish, at the Hokie Invitational … that was the fastest time of the season for any Spartan in the 200m … also at the Hokie Invitational, Taylor ran a 6.72 in both the prelims and finals of the 60 meters, placing third … named MEAC Track Athlete of the Week for his performances at Virginia Tech … placed third in the 200 at the MEAC Championship (21.70) … was second to teammate Sean Holston in both the 60 (6.81) and 200 (21.65) at Kent State’s Doug Raymond Invitational … also ran a leg on NSU’s fourth-place 4x400 meter relay team at the Tyson Invitational (3:09.40). Outdoor: Did not run compete due to an injury.

2009-10: Sat out the year as a non-qualifier.

2011-12: Indoor: Ran a season-best 60-meter dash time of 6.74 seconds in winning his first-ever MEAC individual event title at the conference indoor championship … that was one of five sub 6.8 times that Taylor ran on the year … placed second in the 60m at the Hokie Invitational, clocking a 6.78 in the finals … also ran a 6.77 in the MEAC 60m prelims … also placed fifth in the 200 meters at the Hokie Invitational in 21.62 seconds, his second-best 200m time of the year … finished ninth in a stacked 200m field at the Tyson Invitational, but clocked a season-best time of 21.31 … also was part of NSU’s 4x400 relay team which clocked a season-best time of 3:10.66 in a second-place finish at the Tyson Invitational, and a meet-record 3:14.24 in winning the gold medal at the MEAC Indoor Championship. Outdoor: Won his first-ever MEAC outdoor event title in the 200 meters … clocked a PR of 20.71 seconds in the MEAC 200m prelims and ran a 20.74 in the finals … qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the 200m and as part of the 4x400 relay … ran a time of 20.75 in the first round of the NCAA East 200 meters which would have advanced him to the national quarterfinals, but he was later disqualified for running out of his lane … named MEAC Track Athlete of the Week following a stellar performance at the Florida relays in early April … ran what was then a PR of 20.78 seconds to place 15th in the 200 meters, then ran a leg on the fifth-place 4x400 team that ran a school Division I record time of 3:06.87 … earlier in the year, placed second in the 200 meters at the Raleigh Relays (21.18) … season-best 400m time was 48.06 at the Shamrock Invitational and finished second in 48.29 at the NSU Relays.

2010-11: Indoor: MEAC Indoor runner-up in the 60 meters after clocking a time of 6.76 seconds in the finals … ran a personal-best time of 6.66 seconds to place second at the Penn State National … also ran

Robert Thrasher 5-11 Junior Jumps Virginia Beach, Va. Cox HS 2011-12: Indoor: Jumped an indoor PR of 6-8.25 to tie teammate John James for second place at the Coach O Invitational at UMES … placed seventh at the MEAC Indoor meet with a top height of 6-7 … cleared 6-6.25 to finish in seventh at the Hokie Invitational. Outdoor: Cleared a season-best 6-6.75 in taking fifth place at the NSU Relays … posted a top leap of 6-4 to take sixth at the Morgan State Legacy Meet … tied for sixth place at the MEAC Outdoor Championship (6-3.25).

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High School: The first athlete in Virginia history to win four gold medals at a state indoor track meet…Taylor took first place in the 50, 300 and 500 meters as well as the long jump his senior year at the 2009 VHSL State Group AAA indoor meet…ranked among the top five high schoolers in the nation in all four events…earned first place in the 200 at the 2009 National Scholastic Indoor Championship…during outdoor season, won state titles in the 200 (21.68) and 400 (47.12, PR) meters as a senior, while placing second in the long jump (25-0, PR) and 100 meters…ran a personal-best time of 21.15 in the 200 meters in the prelims of the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals, where he eventually placed third…took second in the long jump at the same meet… achieved his PR in the 100 meters his senior year at the NSU Invitational (10.61)…as a junior, was state indoor champion in the long jump and on Nansemond River’s 4x200 relay team…also won the long jump at the Penn Relays his junior season.

Personal: James Lorenzo Taylor was born on June 30, 1990…son of James and Claudette Taylor…majoring in sociology.

Personal Records Indoor 60 Meter Dash: 6.66 (2011 Penn State National) 200 Meters: 21.08 (2011 Hokie Invitational) 400 Meter Dash: 47.12 (High School) Long Jump: 24-8 (High School) Outdoor 100 Meter Dash: 10.61 (High School) 200 Meter Dash: 20.71 (2012 MEAC Outdoor) Long Jump: 25-0 (High School) 2010-11: Indoor: Finished sixth at the MEAC Indoor Championship with a season-best 6-6.25 clearance … cleared 6-6 to earn fifth place at the CNU Vince Brown Invitational. Outdoor: Season-best high jump height was 6-4.75, which he cleared at both the Sea Ray Relays (11th place) and MEAC Outdoor Championship meet (seventh place).

High School: VHSL Group AAA state outdoor qualifier in the high jump as a senior, placing sixth with a height of 6-5…personal-best high school jump was 6-6…lettered three years in football, basketball and track…as a senior, was an honorable mention all-district pick in both football and basketball while serving as a team captain in both.

Personal: Robert Lee Thrasher was born on Sept. 17, 1991…son of Robert and Debbie Thrasher…majoring in psychology.

Personal Records Indoor High Jump: 6-8.25 (2012 Coach O Invitational) Outdoor High Jump: 6-6 (High school)

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NEWCOMER PROFILES Chad Allen 5-9 Sophomore Hurdles Centreville, Va. Fairfax HS

Johnathan Anderson 6-1 Freshman Throws Alexandria, Va. T.C. Williams HS

Marcus Anderson 6-0 Freshman Hurdles Prince George’s County, Md. Frederick Douglass HS High School: A versatile runner who ran both short and intermediate hurdles distances in addition to relay events … placed third at the Maryland 2A state outdoor meet in both the 110 and 300 meter hur-

Jamarian Bates 6-0 Freshman Jumps Ettrick, Va. Matoaca HS High School: Was state Group AAA indoor long jump champion and a New Balance All-American as a senior … set a new PR of 23 feet, 11.25 inches in winning the state indoor long jump title … leapt 23-4 to place fourth at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, earning All-American recognition … named the Richmond Times Dispatch’s Metro Track Athlete of the Year in the spring … was Central District outdoor

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE High School: Lettered four years in track and two in football … was track team MVP as a senior, when he set the school record in the 300 hurdles (38.5) … state qualifier as a senior in the 300 hurdles, finishing ninth at the state Group AAA outdoor meet … helped the 4x100 relay team place in the top 25 at the Penn Relays during his junior year.

Personal: Chad Ulysses Allen was born on Jan. 5, 1993 … son of Bill and Lisa Allen … majoring in building construction technology.

Personal Records Outdoor 110 Hurdles: 14.5 (High School) High School: Lettered three years in both track and football … earned all-state honors as a senior when he placed third at the VHSL Group AAA state meet in the shot put with a mark of 53 feet, 1 inch … had personal bests of 54-6.5 in the shot put and 135-8 in the discus.

Personal: Johnathan Robert Anderson was born on Feb. 19, 1993 … son of Robin Denise Anderson … majoring in business management.

Personal Records Shot Put: 54-6.5 (High School) Discus: 135-8 (High School) dles as a senior … ran anchor leg on the state runner-up 4x400 relay team and the lead-off leg on the fourth-place 4x200 relay squad … named track team MVP for indoor season, when he helped Frederick Douglass to the state 1A/2A state title … ran on the state championship 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams and placed fourth in the 55 meter hurdles.

Personal: Marcus Aaron Anderson was born on April 15, 1994 … son of Ernest and Mildred Anderson … majoring in computer science.

Personal Records Outdoor 110 Meter Hurdles: 14.29 (High School) 400 Meter Hurdles: 59.24 (High School)

champion in the 100, 200, long jump and on the 4x100 relay team … Central Region long jump and triple jump champion … qualified for the state outdoor meet in both jumping events, earning all-state honors by placing fourth in the triple jump (PR of 47-3.5) … was also state outdoor long jump champion as a junior … has run a PR of 10.81 seconds in the 100 meters … in addition to lettering four years in track, also played two years of basketball.

Personal: Jamarian De’Marco Bates was born on Jan. 12, 1994 … son of Corey and Angela Scott … undecided on a major.

Personal Records Indoor Long Jump: 23-11.25 (High School) Outdoor 100 Meters: 10.81 (High School) Long Jump: 23-8 (High School) Triple Jump: 47-3.5 (High School)

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NEWCOMER PROFILES De’Von Booker 5-8 Freshman Hurdles Portsmouth, Va. Churchland HS

Joshua Carino 5-6 Freshman Long Distance Williamsburg, Va. Lafayette HS

Steve Coles 6-3 Freshman Sprints Tappahannock, Va. Essex HS

Justin Dozier 5-8 Freshman Pole Vault Virginia Beach, Va. Tallwood HS 2011-12: Sat out as a non-qualifier.

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE High School: Competed in cross country and track and field …

Eastern District champion in the 55 hurdles (indoors) and Eastern Region champ in the 300 hurdles (outdoors) as a senior … was also a state qualifier in the 300 meter hurdles.

Personal: Full name is De’Von Marquis Booker … born on Jan. 24, 1994 … son of Christina and Cedric McCrary … majoring in electronic engineering.

Personal Records Outdoor 400 Meter Hurdles: 54.86 (High School)

High School: Three-time letterwinner in cross country and track and field … earned All-Bay Rivers District cross country honors during his junior and senior year … ran a 5K personal best time of 16:54 as a senior … helped Lafayette place third at the VHSL state Group AA cross country and outdoor track championships.

Personal: Full name is Joshua Carino … born on Jan. 7, 1994 … son of Beverly and Alfredo Carino … majoring in information systems.

Personal Records 5,000 Meters: 16.54 (High School)

High School: Played two years of football and lettered one year in track … was state Group A champion in the 400 meters as a senior in a personal-best time of 48.75 seconds … was also district and Region A champion in both the 200 meters and 400 meters … was a two-time first-team all-region performer in football.

Personal: Steve E. Coles was born on Aug. 19, 1993 … son of Steve and Shelia Coles … majoring in psychology.

Personal Records Outdoor 400 Meters: 48.75 (High School)

High School: Three-year letterwinner in both cross country and track and field … placed fifth in the Beach District meet in the pole vault as a senior … cleared a personal-best 11-6 to place ninth at the Eastern Region outdoor championship.

Personal: Justin L. Dozier was born on Oct. 25, 1992 … son of Walter and Lillian Dozier … majoring in computer science.

Personal Records Indoor Pole Vault: 11-0 (High School) Outdoor Pole Vault: 11-6 (High School)

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NEWCOMER PROFILES RETURNER PROFILES Marcus Finney 6-1 Freshman Hurdles Leesburg, Va. Heritage HS High School: State Group AA outdoor champion in both the 110 and 300 meter hurdles as a senior … established new PRs in both events at the state meet, clocking a 14.10 in the 110 hurdles and

Desmond Fogg 6-1 Freshman Long Distance Newport News, Va. Warwick HS High School: Competed in cross country and track … helped

Kyle Green 5-8 Freshman Sprints Suffolk, Va. Nansemond River HS

Kipchirchir Kiptoo 5-8 Junior Long Distance Ainabkoi, Kenya Ole Miss At Ole Miss: SEC All-Freshman honoree after placing 25th at the SEC Championships as a freshman in 2011 … helped team

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NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2011-12 2011-12 NORFOLK MEN’STRACK TRACK&&FIELD FIELDMEDIA MEDIAGUIDE GUIDE MEN’S 38.53 in the 300 hurdles … was Dulles District champion in the 110 hurdles, runner-up in the 100 meters and top five in both the high and long jumps … also Region II champ at 110 hurdles and runner-up in the 300 hurdles … as a junior, when his team competed in Group AAA, was third at the state outdoor meet in the 110 hurdles … lettered all four years in football and track and one in basketball.

Personal: Marcus Xavier Finney was born on Oct. 17, 1993 … son of John and Ginger Finney … plans to major in physical education.

Personal Records Outdoor 100 Meters: 10.91 (High School) 110 Meter Hurdles: 14.10 (High School) lead Warwick’s 4x800 relay team to a fifth-place finish at the state Group AAA outdoor track meet … state outdoor meet qualifier and placed third in the Eastern Region in the mile … Peninsula District mile and two-mile champion during outdoor season, and doubled as two-mile champion during indoor season … Peninsula District runner-up and state meet qualifier during cross country season.

Personal: Full name is Desmond Dion Fogg … born on April 11, 1994 … son of Gloria and Dana Fogg … majoring in interdisciplinary studies.

Personal Records Mile: 4:23.25 (High School) 5,000 Meters: 16:37.20 (High School) High School: Lettered four years in track and two in football … was track team MVP during indoor season and won the Coaches Award during outdoor season his senior year … helped his 4x400 meter relay team qualify for the state outdoor meet as a senior … was fourth at the state Group AAA indoor meet in the 300 meters (35.42) … also won the Coaches Award as a sophomore and junior.

Personal: Kyle V. Green was born on March 20, 1994 … son of Richard and Maria Green … majoring in electronic engineering.

Personal Records Outdoor 200 Meters: 22.90 (High School) 400 Meters: 49.68 (High School) to a fifth-place finish at the conference meet … as a sophomore in 2011-12, ran a season-best 8K time of 25:16.72 at the Greater Louisville Classic … competed in the 10,000 m at the SEC Outdoor Championship, running a season-best time of 33:16.15.

High School: Attended Simotwo High School in Ainabkoi, Kenya ... recipient of the District Athletic Certificate and Provincial Athletic Certificate in the 5K ... ran the 10K at the Tambach Training Teachers College meet.

Personal: Kipchirchir Kiptoo was born on Oct. 10, 1988 … son of Samuel and Linaa Kiptoo… majoring in biology.

Personal Records 5,000 Meters: 25:03.66 (2010 SEC XC Championship)

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NEWCOMER PROFILES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE High School: Ran PRs of 24:50 for 8,000 meters, 14:50 for 5,000 meters and 8:50 for 3,000 meters.

Sammy Kiptoo 6-2 Freshman Middle/Long Distance Iten, Kenya Tambach Boys HS

Jerome Scurry Jr. 5-9 Freshman Middle Distance Bridgeton, N.J. Bridgeton HS

Damian Smith 5-10 Freshman Sprints Virginia Beach, Va. Green Run HS High School: Two-year letterwinner in track and field … was a three-time Beach District indoor champion as a senior, winning gold in the 55 and 300 meters and with the 4x400 relay team …

Michael Smith 6-3 Freshman Hurdles Virginia Beach, Va. Salem HS

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Personal: Sammy Kimutai Kiptoo was born on Jan. 8, 1992 ... son of Luka Kimengich and Milka Kimoi ... majoring in biology.

Personal Records 5,000 Meters: 14:50 (High School) 8,000 Meters: 24:50 (High School)

High School: Competed in football and track all four years of high school … helped lead track team to its fourth straight conference championship as a senior … finished 2nd in the 800m at the New Jersey State Indoor Championship … earned all-conference honors in the 800, 400 hurdles, and 4x400 relay as a senior … team captain.

Personal: Jerome Scurry Jr. was born on Jan. 24, 1994 … son of Tonia Thompson and Jerome Scurry Sr. … majoring in sociology.

Personal Records 800 Meters: 1:55.49 (High School)

placed third at the state Group AAA indoor meet in the 300 meters as a senior … during outdoor season, was Beach District runner-up in the 100 and 200 meters and long jump … placed third in the 100 and second in the 200 (21.88 seconds) at the Eastern Region outdoor meet … ran PRs of 10.91 in the 100 and 21.69 in the 200 as a senior … was all-state in the 55 and 200 as a junior …was a second-team all-district receiver and kick returner as a senior for the GRHS football team.

Personal: Damian G. Smith was born on Oct. 8, 1993 … son of Damian Smith and Angela Henderson … majoring in business.

Personal Records Outdoor 100 Meters: 10.91 (High School) 200 Meters: 21.69 (High School)

High School: Four-year letterwinner in track … was Beach District outdoor champion in the 110 hurdles as a senior … placed third in the Eastern Region and qualified for the state meet … was also district champion in the 55 hurdles and also an all-region and all-state performer as a sophomore and junior … also ran on the district championship 4x200 relay team as a junior.

Personal: Michael Leon Smith was born on April 1, 1994 … son of Mike and Alana Smith … majoring in mass communications.

Personal Records Outdoor 110 Meter Hurdles: 14.96 (High School)

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NEWCOMER PROFILES Terrion Smith 5-11 Freshman Jumps Norfolk, Va. Booker T. Washington HS

Tavaris Waddler 6-0 Freshman Multi’s Portsmouth, Va. Wilson HS

Willard Ward 6-2 Freshman Pole Vault Portsmouth, Va. Wilson HS High School: A two-year letterwinner for Wilson’s track and field

Marquis Worsley 5-10 Freshman Middle Distance Norfolk, Va. Norview HS High School: Competed in both track and cross country… as a senior, became the first Norview athlete to advance to the state cross

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE High School: Lettered two years as a sprinter and jumper on the Booker T. Washington track and field team … placed third in the Eastern District outdoor meet in the triple jump … posted a PR of 44 feet, 1.5 inches at the NSU Relays.

Personal: Terrion Demetrius Smith was born on Dec. 31, 1993 … grandparents are Edgar and Dondrell Smith … majoring in sociology.

Personal Records Outdoor Triple Jump: 44-1.5 (High School)

High School: Played three years of football and also competed two years for the Wilson track team … in track, was team MVP as a junior … competed in both the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, all three jumping events and the pole vault for Wilson … was a second-team all-district football player as a senior and was honorable mention as a junior … did not compete in track as a senior.

Personal: Tavaris Lamont Waddler was born on Jan. 31, 1993 … son of LaTaysha Hayes … majoring in business management.

Personal Records Heptathlon: 3,870 points (High School)

team … was Eastern District indoor champion in the pole vault as a senior … also placed fifth in the Eastern Region indoor meet with a new PR of 12 feet … qualified for the state indoor championships … during outdoor season, was district runner-up in the pole vault (11-6) … was track team indoor MVP as a senior … as a junior, was district outdoor champ and a regional qualifier … a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Willard Roosevelt Ward was born on March 6, 1994 … son of Samantha Ward … majoring in business.

Personal Records Pole Vault: 13-1.75 (High School)

country meet in 12 years … earned All-Eastern District honors his last three years … was a three-time Scholar Athlete award winner … earned All-Eastern Region honors his junior and senior years … ran a season-best 5K time of 15:53 … won district indoor titles in the 1,000 meters and mile as a senior … placed fifth in the 1,000 at the state Group AAA indoor meet … district outdoor champ in the mile.

Personal: Marquis O’Neil Worsley was born May 26, 1994 … son of Cheryl and Henry Worsley … majoring in kinesiology.

Personal Records Mile: 4:29.14 (High School) 5,000 Meters: 15:53 (High School)

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2011-12 IN REVIEW

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

2012 NSU MEN’S TRACK & FIELD INDOOR PERFORMANCE LIST Event 60m 200m 400m 800m Mile Run 3,000m 5,000m 60mH

Time/Mark 6.69 20.68!c 46.54!

1:53.82 4:07.82!

8:16.10!

14:47.74 7.77!

Athlete/Event Sean Holston/Va. Tech Final Qualifier Sean Holston/MEAC Indoor Champ.

Sean Holston/Tyson Invitational Josef Tessema/Vince Brown Invite Josef Tessema/Va. Tech Final Qualifier Josef Tessema/Tyson Invitational Josef Tessema/MEAC Indoor Champ.

Keith Nkrumah/Tyson Invitational Keith Nkrumah/Va. Tech Final Qualifier Nkrumah, Taylor, Smith, Holston/ Tyson Invitational Tessema, Smith, Brown Meseret/ MEAC Indoor Championship D’Sean Brown/MEAC Indoor Champ.

John James/Tyson Invitational

4x400

3:10.66

DMR

10:04.79

LJ HJ TJ PV SP Weight Hept.

6.86m/22-06.25 2.11m/6-11.00 N/A N/A 15.62m/51-03.00 Theo Duncan/Dick Taylor Invitational 16.13m/52-11.00! Ian Copeland/MEAC Indoor Champ.

N/A

! School record c Converted from a flat track time

2012 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship Feb. 16-18, 2012 Landover, Md. Final Team Results 1) Norfolk State 161.5 2) UMES 93.5 3) North Carolina A&T 69 4) South Carolina State 58 5) Hampton 46 6) Florida A&M/Morgan State 44 8) Bethune-Cookman 43 9) Coppin State 29 10) North Carolina Central 23 11) Howard 16 12) Savannah State 13 13) Delaware State 10 NSU’s 2012 MEAC Indoor Champions Sean Holston - 200m, 400m James Taylor - 60m Josef Tessema - Mile, 3000m, 5000m (MVP) 4x400m Relay - Nkrumah, Taylor, Smith, Holston Distance Medley Relay - Tessema, Smith, Brown, Meseret

Note: Distances are listed in feet and inches

2012 NSU MEN’S TRACK & FIELD OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE LIST Event 100m 200m 400m 800m 1,500m 3,kSC 5,000m 110mH 400mH 4x100 4x400 LJ HJ TJ PV Shot Discus Javelin

Time/Mark 11.12 20.71 46.01 1:50.09 3:50.46 9:48.41 14:29.35 13.64 50.40 40.25

Athlete/Event Quinten Walker/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

James Taylor/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

Sean Holston/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

Vincent Brown/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

Josef Tessema/NSU Relays Amos Kipkosgei/NSU Relays Josef Tessema/Raleigh Relays Aramis Massenburg/Raleigh Relays Keith Nkrumah/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

Walker, Taylor, Holston, Smith/ MEAC Outdoor Champ.

3:06.87 Nkrumah, Taylor, smith, Holston Florida Relays 7.61m/24-11.75 Rashad Cannon/NSU Relays 2.14m/7-00.25 John James/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

12.80m/42-00.00 Robert Thrasher/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

N/A 16.31m/53-06.25 Theo Duncan/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

44.51m/146-00 Ian Copeland/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

48.00m/157-06 Johnathan Ross/MEAC Outdoor Champ.

2012 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship May 3-5, 2012 Greensboro, N.C. Final Team Results 1) Norfolk State 2) North Carolina A&T 3) Bethune-Cookman 4) UMES 5) Hampton 6) Florida A&M 7) Morgan State 8) South Carolina State 9) Delaware State 10) North Carolina Central 11) Howard 12) Savannah State 13) Coppin State

145.5 95 78 73 59 52 50 47.5 45 30 21 20 19

NSU’s 2012 MEAC Outdoor Champions Theo Duncan - Shot put Sean Holston - 400 meters John James - High jump Aramis Massenburg - 100 meter hurdles Nathnael Meseret - 1,500 meters Keith Nkrumah - 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles (co-MVP) James Taylor - 200 meters NCAA East Regional Participants Vincent Brown - 800 meters (42nd/prelimm) Rashad Cannon - Long jump (29th/prelim.)

John James - High jump (30th/prelim.)

Aramis Massenburg - 110 meter hurdles (10th) Keith Nkrumah - 110 hurdles (7th in qrts.), 400 hurdles (37th in prelim.)

James Taylor - 200 meters (DQ in prelim) Brown, Taylor, Nkrumah, Smith - 4x400 relay (23rd in prelim.)

NCAA National Championship Qualifiers Keith Nkrumah - 110 meter hurdles (24th; HM USTFCCCA All-America) Note: Distances are listed in feet and inches

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NSU TRACK RECORDS SCHOOL RECORDS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

NSU MEN’S TRACK & FIELD INDOOR SCHOOL RECORDS

NSU MEN’S TRACK & FIELD OUTDOOR SCHOOL RECORDS

Event Athlete 55m Tim Montgomery 60m Tim Montgomery 60h Keith Nkrumah 200m Sean Holston 300m Sean Holston 400m Sean Holston 500m Christopher Brown 800m Wycliffe Rotich 1000m Keenan Harris Mile Josef Tessema 3000m Josef Tessema 5000m David Kemboi

Date/Location 1996/Gainesville, Fla. 1996/Johnson City, Tenn.

2012/Blacksburg, Va. 2012/Landover, Md. 2010/Blacksburg, Va. 2012/Fayetteville, Ark. 2001/Fairfax, Va. 2002/Johnson City, Tenn.

2007/Blacksburg, Va. 2012/Blacksburg, Va. 2012/Fayetteville, Ark. 2006/Landover, Md.

Time/Mark 6.21 6.65 7.77 20.68 (c) 33.36 46.54 1:03.25 1:51.82 2:33.39 4:07.82 8:16.10 14:21.81

4x400 Relay

Coffield Samuels Donavan Housen Christopher Brown Joel Mascoll

1999/Indianapolis, Ind.

3:07.80

Kirwayne Holford Duncan Bitok Joseph Terer William Keown

2002/University Park, Pa. 7:35.37

4x800 Relay

Distance Hillary Cheruiyot Medley Troy Wilkerson Relay Dominic Luka David Kemboi

2006/Landover, Md.

HJ Marlon Woods LJ Corey Vinston TJ Allen Mortimer PV Brett Dodd SP Theo Duncan Weight Ian Copeland Heptath. Darris Shelton

2008/Landover, Md. 2009/Landover, Md. 1997/Richmond, Va. 2010/Landover, Md. 2010/Landover, Md. 2012/Landover, Md. 2009/Landover, Md.

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

Athlete Steven Riddick Aramis Massenburg Ramon Clay Christopher Brown Wayne Whyte Dominic Luka Junior Mitchell David Kemboi David Kemboi

Date/Event 1972/Ill.-NCAA 2011/Greensboro, N.C. 1996/Atlanta, Ga. 2001/Durham, N.C. 1995/Kingston, Jamaica 2006/Greensboro, N.C. 1997/Gainesville, Fla. 2006/Durham, N.C. 2006/Raleigh, N.C.

Time/Mark 10.00 13.63 20.10 45.08 49.08 1:48.12 3:45.91 9:01.15 13:58.51

4x100 Relay

Malcolm Watts Ramon Clay Brian Lewis Tim Montgomery

1996/Philadelphia, Pa.

39.20

4x200 Relay

Malcolm Watts 1996/Philadelphia, Pa. Christopher Duncan Brian Lewis Tim Montgomery

1:21.80

4x400 Relay

Lawrance Davis Gus Coleman William Nealy Robert Colbert

1971/Philadelphia, Pa.

3:05.89

4x800 Relay

Ephantus Limo Kirwayne Holford Hubert Morgan Wycliffe Rotich

2000/Philadelphia, Pa.

7:28.60

Sprint Christopher Brown Medley Michael Temple Relay Donte Lucas Wycliffe Rotich

2001/Raleigh, N.C.

3:19.71

HJ LJ TJ PV SP Discus Javelin Decath.

2001/Tallahassee, Fla. 1974/Ill.-NCAA 1996/Gainesville, Fla. 1981/Carolina Relays 1964/CIAA Champs.

1964/CIAA Champs.

1973/Ind.-NCAA 2008/Baltimore, Md.

7-5 26-2 54-4 16-0 54-10 148-1 258-7 5924 points

9:40.44

7-2 ½ 25-9 ½ 51-9 15-7 52-7.5 52-11 4,408 points

Note: Distances are listed in feet and inches (c) Converted from a flat track time

Adrian Shears Aaron Heard Allen Mortimer Barry Pryor Ocie Parson Ocie Parson Anthony Hall Meredith Whitties

Note: Distances are listed in feet and inches

Norfolk State University NCAA Division I Track & Field All-Americans Name Malcolm Watts/ Christian Williams/ Claude Toukene/ Joel Mascoll

Year 1998

Event Place 4x100m Relay 7th

In./Out. Outdoor

Name Sean Holston (HM) Ara. Massenburg (HM) Darris Shelton (HM) Keith Nkrumah

Christopher Brown Adrian Shears Christopher Brown Desmond Kapofu Marlon Woods Corey Vinston

2000 2001 2001 2003 2009 2009

400m High Jump 400m Triple Jump Long Jump Long Jump

Outdoor Indoor Outdoor Outdoor Indoor Indoor

Note: Beginning in 2011, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) began distinguishing between first team, second team and honorable mention All-America. The top eight finishers in each event are considered first-team All-America, places 9-16 are considered second team, and the rest are considered honorable mention.

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3rd T-7th 4th 6th 7th 8th

Year 2011 2011 2011 2012

Event 400m 110mH Long Jump 110mH

Place 19th 21st 23rd 24th

Indoor/ Outdoor Outdoor Outdoor Outdoor

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NSU’S TRACK OLYMPIANS

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

Norfolk State University track and field boasts six former athletes who have competed in the Summer Olympic Games. They have combined for a total of seven Olympic medals. A former Spartan has competed at every Summer Olympic Games since 1996. Chris Brown (far right in above photo) has competed in the last four Olympic Games for his native Bahamas, and won a gold medal with the 4x400 meter relay team at London in 2012.

Norfolk State University Track & Field Olympians Men Anthony Hall Steve Riddick Tim Montgomery Brian Lewis Chris Brown

Year-Location 1976-Montreal 1976-Montreal 2000-Sydney 2000-Sydney 2000-Sydney 2004-Athens 2008-Beijing 2012-London

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Event Javelin 4x100 relay 4x100 relay 4x100 relay 400m 4x400 relay 400m 400m 4x400 relay 400m 4x400 relay

Result 15th Gold medal Gold medal Gold Medal 1st Round 4th place Semis 4th place Silver medal 4th place Gold medal

Women Chandra Sturrup

Year-Location 1996-Atlanta 2000-Sydney 2004-Athens 2008-Beijing 2012-London

Event 100m 4x100 relay 100m 4x100 relay 100m 4x100 relay 100m 4x100 relay

Result 4th place Silver medal 6th place Gold medal 1st Round 1st Round Semis 1st Round

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SAMPLETHE TEXT ABOUT MEAC THE MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) begins its 43rd year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2012-13 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., 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.

The MEAC sponsors 15 Division I (FCS) sports with automatic qualifying bids for NCAA postseason competition in baseball, bowling, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, softball and volleyball.

MEAC student-athletes excel on and off the field and several have been recognized on ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America and All-District teams. The MEAC awards two post-graduate scholarships of $5,000 each annually to one male and one female student-athlete who have excelled academically and athletically and are in their final season of intercollegiate athletics eligibility and competition under MEAC and NCAA regulations.

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. From these discussions, they formed a steering and planning committee to fully investigate the idea, present a detailed report with recommendations to interested collegiate institutions and construct a workshop to outline proposals.

After selecting a proposal and 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. Their major objective was to establish, organize and supervise an intercollegiate athletic program among a compact group of educational institutions of high academic standards 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, the MEAC reached a milestone when it 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 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 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 1990s with the inclusion of Hampton University (1995) and Norfolk State University (1997). The conference expanded once again in 2007, adding Winston-Salem State University. Following the 2009-10 academic/athletic season, however, Winston-Salem State withdrew from the conference and returned to Division II. On July 1, 2010, the MEAC made its most recent 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 NCAA. Prior to that year, the conference operated as a Division II conference. The month after it achieved Division I status, 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’s 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.

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. 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.

NORFOLKSTATE STATEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY2012-13 2012-13 NORFOLK MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE to participate in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) in 1974. 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. That same year, Morgan State won the NCAA College Division II National Championship and junior center 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, Hampton and Norfolk State made history in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament by accounting for half of the six No. 15 seed over No. 2 seed upsets in tourney annals. Coppin State defeated South Carolina in 1997, Hampton defeated Iowa State in 2001 and NSU ousted Missouri in 2012. ESPN’s SportsCenter ranked the CSU and Hampton wins among the Top 10 greatest tournament upsets of all time, while NSU’s win over Missouri was nominated for the Best Upset ESPY in 2012.

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. SCSU 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.

In 2010, The North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies defeated Wake Forest and Charlotte before falling to Miami in the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

North Carolina A&T became the first MEAC team and historically black college/university to win two consecutive basketball games in a national postseason tournament.

The No. 13 Hampton Lady Pirates faced No. 4 Kentucky in the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. The 13th seed was the highest seed earned by a MEAC women’s basketball program since the inception of the 64-team bracket in 1994.

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. The Bulldogs were also named co-champions along with Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M in 2010.

On the track, Hampton’s Francena McCorory set an American record in the 400m dash with a time of 50.54 and defended her national indoor title at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. McCorory, a two-time All-American and three-time MEAC indoor champion in the 400m dash, became the first back-to-back NCAA indoor 400m champion since Suziann Reid of Texas (1998 and 1999). McCorory was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I National Athlete of the Year for the 2010 Indoor Track and Field season.

In outdoor track and field, North Carolina Central won the first three MEAC titles. The quartet of Melvin Bassett, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang and Larry Black set the world record in the sprint medley relay with a time of 38.19 in the 1972 Olympics. 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 more than 27 athletes in the Olympics. Among them, 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 poll, reaching No. 72.

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 an NCAA Division I Softball Regional. Bethune-Cookman ended the 2005 season with the conference’s first-ever rankings in the final softball polls, reaching as high as No. 18.

Florida A&M was the first MEAC baseball team to advance to NCAA postseason play in 1994, falling to Southeastern Louisiana in a best-of-three series. During the 2002 campaign, Bethune-Cookman 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.

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. The Lady Hawks repeated the feat in 2011 and 2012. Also during 2011, UMES won the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC), becoming the first team to win two national championships during the same season.

In men’s basketball, UMES became the first historically black college/university (HBCU)

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