Two Former Falcons Inducted In National Track and Field HOF

May 26, 2010

CHARLOTTE, NC - Former Saint Augustine’s College standouts Chris Coleman and Kia Davis were among six inducted into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame Wednesday evening by the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

The ceremony was part of the championship banquet preceding the first day of the 2010 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Johnson C. Smith University. The regional student-athletes and coaches of the year were also honored at the banquet.

L-R: Davis, Williams and Coleman

The other hall of fame inductees were Meredith Davis and A.G. Kruger of Morningside College, Janet Kogo of Harding, and Petra Juraskova of Cal State LA. Acclaimed head coach George Williams of Saint Augustine’s College says Coleman and Davis definitely belong with the others in the hall of fame.
“It is a no-brainer,” Williams said. “They both did well while at Saint Augustine’s College.”

Both Coleman and Davis are the latest Hall of Fame members to be inducted from Saint Augustine’s College. The Falcons now have 11 inductees in the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame.

Coleman was a three-time Division II triple jump champion and a 14-time All-American. A native of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Coleman helped the Falcons win six national championships from 1992 to 1995. After competing at Saint Augustine’s College, Coleman founded the Carolina All-Stars Youth Track & Field Team of which he is the coach.

“I am honored to be in the hall of fame,” Coleman said. “It is great to be recognized for my accomplishments in college.”

Davis claimed six national individual titles combined in the 200-meter dash and 4x100 meter relay despite competing only one season (2001) for the Falcons. She also was selected CIAA indoor track athlete of the year after winning for league titles in four events. After her collegiate career, Davis ran the 200 and 400 for Liberia in the 2008 Olympics and the 400 for Liberia in the 2009 World Championships. A Raleigh, N.C., resident, Davis currently holds Liberian national marks in six events.

“I didn’t see this coming in a million years,” Davis said. “I didn’t think I had done enough. It didn’t hit me until last week. It is one of my highest accomplishments.”

Both Coleman and Davis have followed in the coaching footsteps of  Williams, their head coach and mentor. Coleman is an assistant track and field coach at N.C. State University, and Davis is an assistant coach in track and field at St. Mary’s School. Both schools are located in Raleigh, N.C., which is also the home of Saint Augustine’s College.

“I hope I can be just as good a coach as he is,” said Coleman, referring to Coach Williams. “Coach Williams taught us a lot of stuff that helped us in life. I have been able to use a lot of it.”