JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
Edward Waters University sprinter
Samuel Vessat is set to make history this week as he becomes the first EWU student-athlete to compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
A dual-sport standout from Paris, France, Vessat will represent the Tigers on the national stage in both the 200-meter and 400-meter events, showcasing his elite speed and all-around athleticism.
Vessat secured his spot at nationals in the 400-meter sprint with a strong 47.35 finish at the UNF River City Relay in March. He later qualified for the 200-meter dash with a blazing time of 20.91, recorded at the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic in April, continuing a breakout season on the track.
His performance throughout the spring earned him First-Team All-SIAC honors in the 400 meters and Second-Team All-SIAC in the 200 meters, further solidifying his place among the conference's best. Vessat dominated the SIAC Championships, taking 1st place overall in the 400 meters and finishing 6th in the 200 meters.
A true multi-sport athlete, Vessat also competes on the EWU Men's Basketball team, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to representing the university at the highest level.
Vessat's championship journey begins Thursday, May 22 at 7:55 PM (local time) with the first round of the 400-meter sprint. He returns to action on Friday, May 23 for the 200-meter prelims at 9:55 pm, before potentially advancing to both finals on Saturday, May 24 — the 400-meter final at 8:30 PM and the 200-meter final at 9:55 PM.
As he steps onto the national stage, Vessat carries with him the pride of his team, his coaches, and the entire Edward Waters community.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.