Women's Track & Field | 5/24/2018 8:14:00 PM

Charlotte, N.C.----The Wingate University women's 4x100 meter relay team shattered the school record Thursday, qualifying the Bulldog quartet for the finals at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships (live results; live video; meet schedule). Wingate ran a 45.30 Thursday, finishing second in its heat to national powerhouse Lincoln (Mo.) at the Irwin Belk Complex on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University.
 
Team members (in order of Thursday's appearance) are junior Ruva Mzinde (Mutare, Zimbabwe), freshman Rhyan Madden (Burlington, N.C.), junior Justice Reeves (Atlanta, Ga.) and freshman Tamerah Sebree (Fayetteville, N.C.). Senior relay alternate Katrice Tolbert (Atlanta, Ga.) is also representing the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs at the NCAA championships.
 
BULLDOG NOTES
 
-Wingate ran in lane five of the day's first 4x100 heat. Lincoln (Mo.) occupied lane eight. The Lincoln Blue Tigers posted a time of 44.86 Thursday.
 
-The top three teams in Saturday's final are Lincoln, Grand Valley State and Wingate. The GVSU Lakers ran in Thursday's second heat, finishing first with a time of 45.19.
 
-Reeves, Sebree, Madden and Mzinde won the South Atlantic Conference 4x100 meter relay on the same JCSU track Friday, April 20 with a (then) school-record time of 46.11.
 
-Wingate is the only Southeast Region relay team in either the 4x100 or the 4x400 in this year's NCAA outdoor meet.
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

Wingate head track and field coach Travis LeFlore: "This has been a special year for these women. They've bought into the training and the coaching. They believed that they belonged. Today they proved this on the biggest stage with odds stacked against them. I couldn't be more proud! I'm excited for Saturday."
 
Wingate assistant track and field coach Ahlivia Spencer: "I've never coached a group so deserving. From the freshmen to the graduated senior, everyone gave 100 percent the entire year. We talked about this meet the entire year. It's really surreal to see them get everything for which they've been working so hard. Saturday is going to be one for the history books."
 
ON THE HORIZON FOR WINGATE AT THE NCAAS…
 
Friday, May 25 (read Wingate NCAA preview)
 
3:30 p.m. – Men's High Jump (finals)
Wingate junior Isaiah Kyle (Morristown, Tenn.)
 
5:45 p.m. – Women's High Jump (finals)
Wingate junior Vanisha Wilshire (Louisburg, N.C.)
 
Saturday, May 26 (read Wingate NCAA preview)
 
12:45 p.m. – Men's Triple Jump (finals)
Wingate senior Nate Patterson (Mauldin, S.C.)
 
3:35 p.m. – Women's 4x100 meter relay (finals)
 
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 12 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 99 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 108 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.