Elicia Bryant was born May 9th, 2005, in Miami, FL. A single father raised her alongside her little brother and older sister. After seeing her succeed and then let go of track, Bryant thought, "Well, why not give it a try myself?" She couldn't even get through a full 400m, but that then sparked a sense of drive within her. To not just finish that race but become better than she ever imagined.

Starting wasn't easy. She took more losses than wins, but her greatest motivation was her father. Telling her to never give up and be better than he was. This didn't just encourage her as an athlete; it impacted the leader she became. Seven years later, she currently serves as the Captain of Winston-Salem State University's XC/Track Team.

What drew her to WSSU was the "sense of belonging" she felt. Coach Antonio Wells went all the way to Florida just to see her run before she was recruited. Making her feel like she was more than "just an athlete." So that, and the teammates she gained, became one of the most rewarding aspects for her.

Consistency was and still is her greatest challenge, but her ambitious, passion-fueled spirit is what keeps her going. Outside of Athletics, Bryant has held various organizational and leadership positions. Such as Campus Ambassador, Legacy Leader, CIAA Secretary, Tech Teacher, SAAC Vice President, and she recently founded a coding organization called "RAMScode."

She wishes to leave a legacy that glorifies the idea that student athletes are more than just student athletes. They can be Entrepreneurs, Computer Scientists, Nurses, etc. Encouraging people to look beyond their jerseys and walk confidently in them. Bryant's passion for track is no bigger than the one she has for mentoring others. And that in itself shows she's "more than an athlete." Elicia Bryant is a leader, mentor, and history in the making!

For more information on Winston-Salem State Athletics and its 12 varsity sports, visit wssurams.com.