LYNCHBURG, VA – The Winston-Salem State Rams and Lady Rams track & field teams will open the 2011-12 season when the teams head to Lynchburg, Va. to take part in the 2012 Liberty Kickoff. Both teams will head into the indoor track & field season looking to step up after a stellar effort last season.
With an early start to the season, the Rams and Lady Rams will look to get an early measurement of the team's efforts. "I wanted to start early, especially knowing that student-athletes will be going home for the Christmas break, soon. With our conference championships coming so close, I wanted to see where they are," WSSU head track & field coach Inez Turner said. "I want to make sure that we get as much experience in as we can, especially with our freshmen student-athletes."
The Rams and Lady Rams will open the season with some high expectations after the Lady Rams won the 2010-11 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Indoor Track & Field championship last season, while the Rams finished second. This season, both teams will look to take a step forward. Leading the way for the Lady Rams will be sophomore middle distance runner Brittany Killebrew, the two-time defending CIAA cross country champion will look keep her strong efforts going this winter during the indoor track & field season. "Winning never gets old," Killebrew said after winning the 2011 CIAA Cross Country Championship. "Now it's time to turn my efforts towards indoor track & field season." Also looking for another impressive performance will be redshirt-sophomore jumper Dedricka Thomas, who qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships last season. Also returning this season will be junior middle distance runner Andrew Chebii, last year's Mary Garber WSSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year, who qualified for the finals of the men's 800m run at last year's NCAA Division II National Championships.
The Rams and Lady Rams will get things going Friday, competing in the women's 4x800m relay, the pentathlon, and the men's 5K run. The two teams will return for a full day of action on Saturday. For more information on Rams and Lady Rams track & field, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
