Virginia State University's seven time All-American student-athlete, Samantha Edwards (senior/ Elmont, NY) and USA World Indoor Silver Medalist, Track and Field Assistant Coach Jernail Hayes (New Castle, DE), will toe the line over the next two weeks attempting to earn a spot representing the USA later this summer at the 2012 London Olympic Games. From June 2011 until this past Sunday (June 17th) anyone in the country had the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Trials, held in Eugene, OR on June 22nd – July 1st. The USA Track & Field (USATF) selects the top 28 athletes in the entire country in the two events which VSU will be represented. Edwards has qualified in the 400m dash, while Hayes has qualified in the 400m Hurdles.

“At this level, every event is tough!” says second year Head XC and Track & Field Coach Jason-Lamont Jackson. “It's a very exciting time for both of these athletes, the VSU Athletic and Academic Family, and even for myself. To be one of the top 28 or so best athlete's in the United States is a huge accomplishment, when you think of all of the College, Universities, Post collegiate and Professional Track & Field athletes in the country, it's an amazing accomplishment.” To just stop there isn't what either of these two hope for; each will compete over three rounds of qualifications in hopes of reaching the final 8 athletes, in which the top 3 will earn a spot on the Olympic Team.

This will be Edwards second USA Nationals, she competed at the 2012 USA Indoor National Championships in Albuquerque, NM. According to Jackson, “The past two years have been just unbelievable for Samantha. She has done an excellent job of handling everything that has come her way. The good, the bad and everything in between. Her status and notoriety have changed tremendously this year, but she has taken it all in stride and continued to stay as focused and disciplined as ever. What's exciting, it that this is the tip of the iceberg for her future as a elite Track & Field Athlete; I couldn't be more proud of her. This experience will be one that she will carry for the rest of her life as she etches her name as the best female track & field athlete in the history of VSU, it's just amazing.”

Hayes is no stranger to USATF National Stage. At the 2011 USA Outdoor Nationals, Hayes qualified for the semi-finals in the 400 hurdles. The year before that, she was a finalist at the championships. Most recently, Hayes finished fifth at the 2012 USA Indoor Nationals in Albuquerque, NM in the 400m and earned her a spot on the women's 4x400m relay team; which earned a silver medal at the Indoor World Championships. “Coach Hayes has been invaluable to the team, seeing her balance her daily office responsibilities, graduate school, her daily workouts and her success at the national/ international level has allowed the student-athletes to see firsthand how consistency and discipline are vital to your success. It's been a learn by doing and watching for many of them, that's something many programs don't have.”

Jackson has seen much success in the past two years at the helm of the men's and women's program at VSU, in just two years his Trojans have accumulated 12 All-CIAA XC Conference Performers, 12 CIAA Indoor T&F Conference Individual Championships Titles, 10 CIAA Outdoor T&F Conference Individual Championship Titles, 179 All-CIAA Conference Performers (placed top 8 at Conference championships), 11 NCAA All-American Honors, and 44 USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region Honorees. “Everything we have been able to accomplish here has been a total “Team” effort, from my outstanding staff, supportive administration and most importantly, the student-athletes buying into what we are trying to accomplish here in Petersburg. The next two weeks will be very exciting for me as both a coach and fan of the sport. The USA Olympic Trials! Other than the Olympic Games….. it doesn't get any better than this!”