Eight CIAA Representatives are in Rio for the Olympic Games

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The CIAA has produced a plethora of track and field greats throughout its long standing history. The legendary Saint Augustine's University's athletic director and track and field coach George Williams has won a combined 38 NCAA Division II national championships; the most NCAA track and field championships of any collegiate coach amongst all divisions. Coach Williams was the 2004 United States Olympic Track and Field Coach and has coached over 40 Olympians.

The approaching Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will highlight eight CIAA representatives performing in the track & field stadium. George Williams will join current and former Saint Augustine's Falcons competing in the Games. Tia-Adana Belle, Burkheart Ellis, Jr. and Ramon Gittens will represent their homeland of Barbados. Roxroy Cato will represent Jamaica.

Johnson C. Smith University's head coach Lennox Graham has been selected to serve as an assistant coach for the Jamaican National Team. 2016 NCAA All-American Kendra Clarke will represent the Golden Bulls and Canada while graduate Shermaine Williams will compete for Jamaica.

At a media briefing held at the Barbados Olympic Association, Chef de Mission for the Barbados delegation Dr. Adrian Lorde announced Belle, Ellis Jr. and Gittens as three of their eight representatives in the sport of track and field.

Tia-Adana Belle, a rising senior, will compete in the women's 400-meter hurdles. She earned the bronze medal in the NACAC U23 Championships in 57.16 seconds. This past outdoor season, she broke the women's NCAA DII record (55.82) and championship record (56.13).

Burkheart Ellis, Jr. will compete in the 200-meter dash. The 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, who led the Falcons to four straight national titles, ran the third fastest (20.36) 200m time in Division II history.

Former Falcons' Ramon Gittens is the Barbados 100 and 200 meters national champ. He will participate in both in Rio.

In his one season with Saint Augustine's, Roxroy Cato won the 400-meter hurdles NCAA DII national title in 2014. He will run under Jamaica's colors.

Kendra Clarke, an Edmonton Alberta native, advanced through the rounds of the Canadian Olympic Trials to claim a bronze medal in the 400 meters in 52.19 seconds. She will also participate as a member of the 4x400 relay squad.

Shermaine Williams claimed the silver medal in the 100-meter hurdles at the Jamaican Olympic Trails and surpassed the qualifying standard of 13.00 seconds with a 12.90 mark.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on Friday, August 5th with track and field events beginning the morning of Friday, August 12th.

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS