Texas A&M will have 18 track and field athletes representing nine countries during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with track and field competition taking place from August 12-21 in the Olympic Stadium.
“Around the world we had a lot of Aggies make Olympic teams as they continue to compete on a high level,” said Texas A&M head track and field coach Pat Henry. “It’s going to be a great Olympics for Texas A&M and our program.
“With 18 track and field athletes qualified, I would say there are not many universities in the country that could match the numbers that we’re putting in the Games, so that’s gratifying for our staff as well.”
Among athletes currently qualified for the Rio Olympics, the Aggies total of 18 is the most for one school in track and field. Texas A&M is followed by Oregon (16), Arkansas (15), Florida (13), Georgia (10), LSU (10), and Texas (9).
Three Aggies qualified for the United States team during the Olympic Trials held in Eugene, Oregon. The trio included Maggie Malone in the javelin, Ameer Webb in the 200m and Shelbi Vaughan in the discus. All three were NCAA champions with the Aggies and Malone capped her undefeated senior campaign with a collegiate record of 204 feet in winning the 2016 NCAA title.
“I’m extremely pleased with the performances at the U.S. Trials, and felt like we had maybe one or two more who might have had the opportunity to get it, but they didn’t,” noted Henry.
Athletes were who were part of the Texas A&M program this season and have qualified for the Olympic Games include NCAA and SEC decathlon champion Lindon Victor (Grenada) as well as NCAA triple jump champion Latario Collie (Bahamas). Aggie sprinters include Jennifer Madu (Nigeria) in the 4×100 relay pool and Brenessa Thompson (Guyana) contesting the 100m and 200m.
Texas A&M alums include Fabrice Lapierre in the long jump for Australia, Shavez Hart in the 100m and 200m along with Demetrius Pinder in the 4×400 relay pool for the Bahamas, Bralon Taplin and Kanika Beckles each competing in the 400m for Grenada, Simone Facey in the 200m and 4×100 relay pool for Jamaica, Olivia Ekponé and Ibukun Mayungbe in relay pools for Nigeria, Deon Lendore in the 400m and Janeil Bellille in the 400m hurdles for Trinidad & Tobago, as well as Gerald Phiri in the 100m for Zambia.
NBCOlympics.com will offer live streams of the Olympic action as well as provide broadcast schedules for NBC and its various channels in the network of NBC Universal.
“It will be a fun Games for people to watch on television,” said Henry. “Especially for the Aggies since they will be able to identify with a lot of our athletes. It will be fun to see.”
Texas A&M Track & Field Athletes – Rio Olympic Games
Current Aggies (6)
| Latario Collie | Bahamas | Triple Jump |
| Maggie Malone | United States | Javelin |
| Jennifer Madu | Nigeria | 4×100 |
| Brenessa Thompson | Guyana | 100m, 200m |
| Shelbi Vaughan | United States | Discus |
| Lindon Victor | Grenada | Decathlon |
Aggie Alums (12)
| Kanika Beckles | Grenada | 400m |
| Janeil Bellille | Trinidad & Tobago | 400m Hurdles |
| Olivia Ekponé | Nigeria | 4×100 |
| Simone Facey | Jamaica | 200m, 4×100 |
| Shavez Hart | Bahamas | 100m, 200m |
| Fabrice Lapierre | Australia | Long Jump |
| Deon Lendore | Trinidad & Tobago | 400m, 4×400 |
| Ibukun Mayungbe | Nigeria | 4×400 |
| Gerald Phiri | Zambia | 100m |
| Demetrius Pinder | Bahamas | 4×400 |
| Bralon Taplin | Grenada | 400m |
| Ameer Webb | United States | 200m |