Charlotte, NC - Run, run, as fast as you can, but you can't catch him, referring to stellar JCSU student-athlete Leford Green. Green is a junior at Johnson C. Smith University, majoring in information systems engineering, originally from St. Catherine, Jamaica. "The transition from Jamaica to the United States wasn't hard at all," says Green. "I've been traveling since 2004 on the Jamaican national team and I've seen various places." But most know Green as the record-breaking speedster on Smith's track team. However it's much more to him then the fact that he's fast as lighting, Green has a 3.9 overall grade point average and a 4.0 in his major.
In 2008, Green was honored as the CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCA Southeast Region Athlete of the Year. "Both awards are for good academics in the classroom and great performance on track," stated Green. After college, Green would like to participate in the Olympics, though he knows that academics are much more important. "Academics are very important period; one injury could end your career, so you need something to fall back on. Most careers in sports only last about eight years," said Green.
Green understands the importance of an education and being a scholar, which is rare of an athlete of his caliber. Green earned his second All-American honors for NCAA indoor track and field last season. He established a new personal best in the 200m and the fastest collegiate performance in the nation (20.41 seconds). Green produced automatic qualifying times for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 200m and 400m. At the 2009 CIAA Outdoor Championships, Green was named Championship MVP, after placing first in the 200m, 400H, and second in the 400m. "Being named MVP was a great honor, and I went out there and did my best," says Green in regards to the CIAA award.
Green has big expectations for the upcoming season being that the 2010 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships will be hosted by Johnson C. Smith on May 27-29th. "I'm really happy about Smith being the host this year and we have a lot of athletes competing as well. Hopefully this will help catapult track to be looked as a much bigger sport; like football or basketball," said Green.
Green feels as though he has lots of support from the community surrounding JCSU, fellow student-athletes, and lots of love from the J.C. Smith family. "At first they didn't know who I was or my potential, but now even when I go to the barber shop they know who I am," Green mentioned about recognition.
Green will be in his own backyard as J.C. Smith host the 2010 NCAA DII Track and Field Championship, and with an exciting runner like Green, many will be on hand not only to support but watch records being broken. Let him be an example of an athlete, who can and has performed both in competition and in the classroom.
