Guilford College track team members hail from Forsyth County
Guilford College Senior and Winston-Salem native Trent Evans, right. races toward the fin-ish line in the 800 meter race dur-ing the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships.
Submitted photo
TIMOTHY RAMSEY
THE CHRONICLE
Josephus Mitchell, Trent Evans and Alex Martin of the Guilford College Track and Field team all performed admirably in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championships in late April. The trio not only run for the same team but also share roots in Forsyth County.
Mitchell was born in Monrovia, Liberia, and came to Winston-Salem in 2005. He is a graduate of R.J. Reynolds High School. The rising senior was a second team All-ODAC selection in the 100 and 200 meter dash with runner-up finishes in both events at the league championships. He was also part of the school record setting 4×100 meter relay team that set the mark at the Seahawk Invitational this past year with a time of 43.57 seconds.
Mitchell is majoring in Exercise Science and Health and Fitness and wants to pursue a career in that field upon graduation.
“I enjoy the feeling of moving fast, self-accomplishments, and the family that track surrounds you with,” said Mitchell. “It was a good feeling to be named to an All-ODAC team, but I really wanted to win my events. It was great to be a part of the record-setting 4×100 team, and I also know we will improve on it during the upcoming season as well. For me, I expect to improve in every aspect on the track which will lead me to winning.”
Evans, who is the only senior of the three and a Reynolds high graduate, also earned second team All-ODAC recognition for his second place finish in the 800 at the league championships. He also received NCAA Division III All South/Southeast recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association for his performance this past year as well. He holds the school record for the indoor 400 meter dash, which he set in February with a time of 51.76 seconds at the Vince Brown Invitational.
Evans graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Music. His goal is to join the Peace Corps in the next few years or pursue international programs involving community outreach. He also plans to make a career surrounding building up the community and cultural infusion.
“I spent a lot of my childhood playing sports, but I mostly enjoyed the running aspect of them,” Evans said. “I began running track when I was 7, but I really picked it up once I entered high school.
I enjoy track because it creates a mental and physical challenge to work toward and provides discipline that translates to so many components of my life. Being the indoor and outdoor 400 meter record holder produces the thought that I’m leaving my legacy behind for someone else to strive toward.”
Sophomore Martin, a product of Reagan High School in Pfafftown, is a sprinter and jumper for the Quakers. He placed fifth in the league championship finals with a time of 11.33 seconds. He also has the fourth longest long jump in school history with a length of 6.70 meters, which he set at the Seahawk Invitational.
Mitchell and Martin will return to the Quakers next season with hopes of improving even further on their stellar 2015-2016 seasons. The senior, Evans, says he will miss his team because they were his home away from home and running gave him a family-like bond with teammates t who have become life-long friends.
