Jamaican athlete Leford Inexperienced shall be inducted into the Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Athletics Corridor of Fame this September, celebrating a exceptional collegiate profession and excellent contributions to the college’s observe and area program.
Inexperienced, a former student-athlete who excelled each on the observe and within the classroom, expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the glory.
“I’m overwhelmed. Now we have been working laborious through the years. Now we have accomplished rather a lot with regard to Johnson C. Smith and the observe and area program. As a matter of truth, I used to be Coach [Lennox] Graham’s first recruit, so it’s simply overwhelming that I’m being acknowledged for all of the efforts and the achievements,” Inexperienced shared.
A stellar collegiate profession
Presently a Unit Supervisor at Piedmont Airways, Inexperienced’s journey at JCSU started in 2008, the place he shortly made a reputation for himself. In his sophomore 12 months, he was named the 2008-09 CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the 12 months, setting the stage for an illustrious collegiate profession.
He turned the NCAA defending indoor 400m nationwide champion in 2008 and led the JCSU males’s observe group with standout performances throughout a number of occasions. Notably, he set a brand new Clemson College facility file of 1:03.52 within the 500m throughout the 2009 indoor season.
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Born within the parish of St Mary however raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Inexperienced earned his second All-American honors for his indoor efficiency and set a private greatest within the 200m with a time of 20.41 seconds, the quickest collegiate time within the nation that 12 months. His prowess prolonged to the out of doors observe as properly, the place he secured computerized qualifying instances for the 2009 NCAA Outside Championships in each the 200m and 400m.
Inexperienced’s dominance continued on the CIAA Outside Championships, the place he was named MVP after successful the 200m, 400m hurdles, and inserting second within the 400m. His exceptional athletic achievements had been matched by his educational excellence, as he maintained a 4.0 GPA in info programs engineering. Inexperienced additionally obtained the Pettis Norman Award on the JCSU Annual Athletic Banquet, recognizing him as Pupil-Athlete of the 12 months.
Pinnacle of collegiate success
The top of Inexperienced’s collegiate profession got here in 2011 when he was named NCAA Division II Outside Monitor and Discipline Athlete of the 12 months. That 12 months, he completed the season undefeated and received the NCAA title within the 400m with a time of 45.74 seconds, outpacing the closest competitor by a full second. He additionally received the 400m hurdles on the NCAA meet in 2010 and contributed to JCSU’s successful 4x400m relay group and fifth-place 4x100m squad.
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Inexperienced’s influence prolonged past his particular person accolades. At his convention meet, he earned 2011 CIAA Male Athlete of the Meet honors after successful the 400m and 400m hurdles, ending second within the 200m, and working a leg on the Golden Bulls’ second-place 4x400m relay group. His efforts earned him the title of Division II Male Monitor Athlete of the 12 months in 2010.
Reflecting on his time at JCSU, Inexperienced highlighted his freshman 12 months as particularly memorable. “My freshman 12 months. It was a transitional interval for me and Coach Graham. Freshman 12 months, just about received indoors, new to all that stuff and got here out nationwide champion within the 400m was distinctive for me so it simply confirmed I might overcome and carry on going additional and additional.”
Worldwide achievements
Inexperienced’s achievements prolonged to the worldwide stage, the place he represented Jamaica on the 2012 London Olympics, ending seventh within the 400m hurdles ultimate. He additionally competed on the World Athletics Championships in 2011, 2013, and 2015. Moreover, Inexperienced received gold within the 400m hurdles for Jamaica on the 2010 and 2011 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Video games in Puerto Rico. After graduating, Leford Inexperienced continued to contribute to JCSU as an assistant coach, mentoring the subsequent technology of athletes.
Leford Inexperienced’s induction into the Johnson C. Smith College Athletics Corridor of Fame is a testomony to his dedication, resilience, and excellence each on and off the observe. His legacy will undoubtedly encourage future generations of student-athletes to attempt for greatness.
