CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Winston-Salem State University women's outdoor track & field team officially opened its 2026 outdoor season at the Charlotte 49er Classic, competing March 20–21 at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center against a strong field of Division I and II programs.

Four Rams, Trinity Brooks, Malayasia Gabriel, Lanyjah Gunter and Kelis Miller competed in the 100m finishing with times of 12.29, 12.54, 13.19, and 13.60, respectively.

Briana Benloss (25.05), Charnessa Reid (26.51) and Layla Simpson (27.44) all ran in the 200m.

Asheika Smith, Simone Kelly and Leigh Wills ran in the 400m finishing with times of 57.53, 59.35, and 59.48, respectively.

In the 800m, Rainn Sheppard ran a personal-best time of 2:12.57 to finish in second place, while Elicia Bryant ran a time of 2:17.60, Ava Millner ran a time of 2:20.01 and Kayla Nobles ran a time of 2:28.78.

In the 100 hurdles, Charnessa Reid came in sixth place with a time of 14.36 and Jaynissa Cauthen finished with a time of 15.86.

Jaynissa Cauthen came in ninth place in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:04.85, Amiliana Simmons ran a time of 1:05.72 and Layla Simpson ran a time of 1:06.55.

The 4x800 relay team made up of Elicia Bryant, Kayla Nobles, Ava Millner and Rainn Sheppard, finished in second place with a time of 9:24.36.

In the long jump, Lanyjah Gunter finished seventh with a mark of 5.63m, Charnessa Reid had a mark of 5.40m and Trinity Brooks had a mark of 4.68m.

Trinity Brooks had a mark of 10.86m in the triple jump.

Leila Henderson had a mark of 13.50m in the shot put finishing in seventh place, while Maeghan Wallace had a mark of 11.09m, and Jazmin Terry had a mark of 10.98m.

Zion Cosby threw a mark of 36.68 to come in 10th place in the discus and Kaylee Thomas had a mark of 34.73m.

Alaina Moody had a mark of 37.77m in the hammer throw.

WSSU will be back in action March 27-28 at the Morehouse Relays in Atlanta, Georgia.