GREENSBORO, N.C.  —  North Carolina A&T long jumper Shakia Forbes has been named a second-team All-American by the USA Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association. 

Forbes, a senior out of Hampton, Va., finished 15th in the women’s long jump at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships at Jackson Indoor Track on March 9.  By virtue of finishing in the top-15, Forbes earned All-American status. A top-8 performance would have yielded her first-team All-American honors.

“I felt great at the NCAA Championships, the best I’ve felt all season actually,” said Forbes. “I had some technical difficulties that I know I have to work on for the outdoor season, but other than that I felt really good. It was a great atmosphere and I was honored to be there.”

Forbes joins Alexandria Spruiel and Loreal Smith has the only three female All-American track and field athletes in school history with both Spruiel and Smith being named first-team.  Forbes jumped 19-feet, 7-inches in Nampa, Idaho after committing fouls on her first two jump attempts. Forbes, who was ranked 11th nationally in the women’s long jump, was the only athlete representing A&T at the meet.

“Kia competed very well in Idaho. It was a very fast runway and she had a few problems with her steps,” said interim director of North Carolina A&T track and field programs James Daniels. “She had two fouls well over 21 feet, and on her last jump she took off at least 18 inches behind the board. We believe the best is yet to come for Kia.”

Despite falling short this weekend, she ends her indoor season with a multitude of accomplishments. Forbes earned MEAC Athlete of the Week, as well as two first-place finishes this indoor season.  She also broke the school indoor long jump record with a leap of 20-feet, 9-inches at the New Balance Invitational on Feb. 3. 

“I am very proud of Kia; she has worked very hard this season and being named as All-American is such an honor,” said Daniels. “(Assistant coach) Allen has been doing an excellent job preparing our jumpers to compete at a high level. We are very excited about the outdoor season for Kia.”

Forbes was not totally satisfied, however. The two-time MEAC Outdoor long jump champion wants to be recognized among the top-8 competitors in the nation.  In fact, she wouldn’t mind being the national champion.

“I am glad I earned a place on the second team All-American squad; however I am a little disappointed because I was working to earn a spot on the first team. I am motivated to earn a spot on the first team All-American for the outdoor season,” Forbes said.

The Aggies outdoor season begins this weekend in Winston-Salem as the Aggies participate in the Wake Forest Open March 16-17.  In an effort to improve her running on the runway, the coaching staff will also use Forbes as a sprinter. Forbes will not only be in the jumping pits this spring, but also on the track surface. 

“We will spend the next several weeks working on her running mechanics in an effort to develop all aspects of her running,” Daniels added.