HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University Director of Track & Field Maurice Pierce has announced that former Lady Pirate standout Benita Taylor will be joining his coaching staff for the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach.
Taylor will work with Hampton’s cross country and mid-distance runners.
“I am excited about adding Benita to my staff,” Pierce said. “She is not too far removed from competing for Hampton, where she was a NCAA All-American. I strongly believe that she has the ability to motivate and help our athletes become better. She will be my third former athlete that I have added to my staff.”
Assistant coaches Yvette Lewis and Kristal McGreggor also competed at Hampton during Pierce’s tenure, which is now in its 13th year overall.
Taylor currently holds the school record in the indoor 800-meter run, thanks to the 2:05.67 she ran at the ECAC Championships in 2013. In her senior season, Taylor was named Second Team All-American in both the indoor and outdoor 800-meter run.
As a senior in 2012-13, Taylor won the MEAC indoor title in both the 800-meter run and 4x400-meter relay – a feat she duplicated in the MEAC Outdoor Championships (in addition to taking the conference crown in the 1,500-meter run).
In 2011-12, Taylor was a Second Team All-MEAC selection in the outdoor 800-meter run and 4x400-meter relay. As a sophomore in 2010-11, she won the MEAC indoor and outdoor titles in the 4x400-meter relay and was Second Team All-MEAC in the indoor distance medley and the outdoor 800-meter run.
She was also a Third Team All-MEAC selection in the indoor 800-meter run.