Nikeshia Brown

A possible relay contributor whose distance training has improved endurance … will be expected to make athletic gains this upcoming spring.

2006: Opened up the season at the Virginia Tech Invitational with a 400/500m double running 58.31 and 1:17.72 … competed in the 400m at the SEC Indoor Championships, completing the indoor two-lap race in 56.64 for 17th … outdoors at the Spec Towns Meet, ran 55.41 for a sixth-place finish before running 56.41 at the SEC Outdoor Championships to finish out the year.

2005: Ran distances from the 200 to the 800 as a true freshman … won the indoor USC Invitational 400m … ran both the 200- and 400-meters at the SEC Indoor Championships … turned in her best time in both events at that meet, finishing 35th in the 200 (25.76) and 25th in the 400 (56.53) … ran in both events at the Last Chance Meet … ran both the 200 and 400 at the SEC outdoor meet … placed 17th in the 400 (57.72) and 30th in the 200 (25.30).

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Hempstead High … coached by Lenroy Raffington … was the indoor 300-meter state champion in 2004 (39.06) … Junior Olympic national finalist in 2002 and 2003 in the 200 and 400 … member of relay teams that won the state championships in 2004 for the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relay … was on the relay team that set the Long Island record for the 4×400 with a time of 3:42 … recognized as the Nassau County Outstanding Track Athlete of the Year and the Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete at Hempstead in 2004 … was an all-county winter/spring athlete each year from 2002 to 2004.

PERSONAL: Nikeshia Nichole Brown was born Dec. 24, 1986, in Brooklyn, N.Y. … parents are Yolande Small and Collie Brown … pursuing a degree in African American studies … also considered Georgia, Tennessee and Cal State Northridge before picking South Carolina.