Winston-Salem State Making Noise Early in the 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Season

Winston-Salem, NC — The Winston-Salem State University outdoor track and field team is coming out the gates hot, continuing to build on its storied legacy with a strong start to the 2025 outdoor season. The Rams are running with purpose—and rings on their minds.

2025 Outdoor Season Highlights

It all kicked off at the Weems Baskin Invitational in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 22, where the Rams wasted no time making their presence felt. The 4x100 meter relay squad blazed their way to first place, setting the tone for the season. Elicia Bryant showed poise in the 800 meters, finishing 9th, while Ashekia Smith surged to a 3rd place finish in the 200 meters. The Rams capped off the day with a 3rd place finish in the 4x400 meter relay—an all-around statement performance.

One week later at the Livingstone Blue Bear Invitational in Salisbury, North Carolina, the Rams turned up the heat. Brianna Benloss was untouchable, taking first place in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.15 seconds and doubling down with another victory in the 200m at 23.89 seconds.

The 4x100m relay team continued to show elite form, crossing the line in second place. But the day belonged to Charnessa Reid in the 100m hurdles. Reid’s blistering 13.92 finish not only landed her at #3 in Division II, but also shattered the school record. Reid is no stranger to breaking records—coming off a historic indoor season where she claimed five program records.

After her latest feat, Reid reflected on her journey:“The season has gone very well so far—starting out breaking records—and I hope to continue that toll until the very end! It feels surreal, most of the time I'm just running trying to outdo myself, but to see that I’ve outdone the best before me only keeps me wanting more!”

Her mindset? It's clear—team first. Reid’s sights are set on helping as many of her teammates as possible punch their ticket to nationals. But the endgame? One goal: winning a ring.

Behind all of this success is a coaching staff that’s been dialed in from day one. With a strong emphasis on athlete development—on and off the track—they’ve built a culture of accountability, grit, and finishing the job.

As the 2025 outdoor season rolls on, one thing is clear: the Rams are locked in, stacking wins and chasing greatness with every meet. The road to nationals runs through Winston-Salem—and they’re just getting started