Three Track and Field Paris Olympic Competitors with UNCF Connections to Watch

UNCF has several connections to Olympian competitors at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Below are three standout track and field athletes that made an impact and even medaled during the global games.

Anna Cockrell

Anna Cockrell, UNCF board member Kieth Cockrell’s daughter, received a silver medal in the 400m hurdles at the Games. After being disqualified at the 2021 Tokyo finals, Cockrell returned for another Olympic Games. She earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team after finishing second and earning silver in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic trials, with a time of 52.64 seconds, according to an article in The Charlotte Post.

Two track and field standouts from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL, one of UNCF’s member HBCUs, also competed in Paris—Monae’ Nichols, representing the U.S., and Sade McCreath, representing Canada.

Monae’ Nichols

Nichols finished sixth in the long jump finals. She qualified for the Paris Summer Olympics at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR, where she performed a 6.86 meters leap in the long jump, a season best. At Bethune-Cookman, Nichols competed in HBCU track from 2018-2021, including the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Nationals in the long jump and the 2019 NCAA East Preliminaries in the 4×100. She took home top honors in the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in the long jump during the outdoor season, according to an article in Centre Daily.

Sade McCreath

McCreath finished sixth in the 4×100 Women’s Relay, with a time of 42.69. Since 1984, Canada has not medaled in the 4×100 event on the women’s side in the Summer Olympics, according to Centre Daily. At Bethune-Cookman, McCreath was a member of the NCAA East Preliminary 4×100 relay team. She also competed individually in the 2019 NCAA East Preliminary 100-meter relay and the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The 2024 Paris Olympics began July 26 and ran through Aug. 11.