Courtesy of Bethune-Cookman Athletics
PARIS — Former HBCU Track & Field standouts from Bethune-Cookman Sade McCreath and Monae’ Nichols are each headed to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics — officially Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, taking place July 26 through August 11. McCreath will represent Canada in the Games, while Nichols is competing for the United States of America.
Known by all as Sade McCreath-Tardiel at Bethune-Cookman where she competed for the Wildcats under former head coach Donald Cooper — and current head coach Garon Jackson, who was an assistant coach at the time under Cooper, hails from Ajax, Ontario. She qualified to represent Team Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics as a member of the 4×100 Women’s Relay Team. She helped lead Canada to a 42.98-second time in the World Athletic Relays, with Les Rouges setting a new season-low time in the process.
The Canadians have not medaled in the 4×100 event on the women’s side in the Summer Olympics since 1984, with the combination of Angela Bailey, France Gareau, Angella Isaajenko, and Marita Wiggins collecting the silver medal.
At Bethune-Cookman, McCreath was a member of the NCAA East Preliminary 4×100 relay team, as well as competing individually in the 2019 NCAA East Prelim 100-meter relay. She took part in the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships for the Maroon and Gold as well.
Monae’ Nichols competed in HBCU track for Bethune-Cookman from 2018-21, before transferring to Texas Tech after the COVID-19 global pandemic suspended Wildcats Athletics during the 2020-21 campaign.
In turning in her best performance of the season at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, Nichols performed a season-best 6.86 meters leap in the long jump, earning qualification to the Paris Summer Olympics to represent her home country of the United States. The qualification occurred on what was her sixth and final attempt in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials.
During her time in HBCU track at Bethune-Cookman, Nichols competed in the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Nationals in the long jump, while also competing in the 2019 NCAA East Preliminaries in the 4×100. She was the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion in the long jump during the outdoor season and took home top honors in the MEAC during the 2018 outdoor season as well, completing back-to-back individual titles.
Coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics begins July 26, with the Opening Ceremonies on Peacock.