Approximately 30 teams to compete at Murray Neely Invitational on Saturday

GREENSBORO, April 4, 2008 – When it became apparent North Carolina A&T would begin to host track meets with the installation of Irwin Belk Track, director of track and field programs Roy Thompson knew immediately whose name should dawn one of his home meets.

Murray Neely is a legendary name in the history of N.C. A&T athletics. The N.C. A&T track and field team will host the Murray Neely Invitational at Irwin Belk Track on Saturday. Approximately 30 teams, including some of the top track and field athletes in the country, will compete in the third annual event.

Neely was the head Aggies track and field coach over a span of three decades that included the late 1950’s, the 60’s and the early 70’s. He had no assistants and he used part of his income to support the program. He also used his own vehicle to take athletes to meets and added being an assistant football coach and a teacher to his list of duties at N.C. A&T.

“He paved the way for us to have a track and field facility,’’ said Thompson. “He was a pioneer in terms of A&T track and field. He along with Dr. Bert Piggot started the program, so it’s only fitting that we pay homage to a man who dedicated so much of his life to A&T track and field.”

Neely was Thompson’s coach in track and field and football from 1965-68. He is a member of the N.C. A&T Hall of Fame as a coach, and he is a member of the Florida A&M Hall of Fame as a football player and track athlete. Thompson said Neely would be proud to know the program he started hosting track meets. N.C. A&T was and is the only historically black college or university to host a NCAA Track and Field regional. N.C. A&T also annually hosts the Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Neely would also likely be proud of the assembled talent coming to N.C. A&T on Saturday. Virginia Tech’s Kristi Castlin and Queen Harrison, the No. 1 and No. 2 women’s hurdlers in the country, will attend. Johnson C. Smith freshman Ledford Green will also compete. He is the No.1 400 meters runner in Division II.

National track power St. Augustine’s College will also attend along with UNC’s Latoya James who is ranked fifth in the nation in the 400 meter hurdles. Nike sprinter LaShawn Merritt, the 400 meter runner-up in the World Championships, will be running the 200 meters on Saturday.  

The program Neely started also has some great athletes competing. Aggies sophomore Calesio Newman is ranked fifth in the nation in the 200 meters. Aggie jumper Ron Buchanan is eighth in the nation in the triple jump and junior thrower Lonnie Phifer is 15^th in the nation in the shot put. On the women’s side, Kimona Smith is ranked 19^th in the nation in the triple jump.

The first event – the javelin – starts at 9:30 a.m. The first running event starts at 11 a.m.