By: Evan Gates | Guest Contributor
Lynchburg, Va. – Despite entering the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships as the 20th and final qualifying seed, senior Lamont Victoria shocked the field in the men’s 60-meter dash by clocking 6.71 to become the University of Lynchburg’s first 60-meter national champion.
The senior transfer from Campbell University qualified for the meet with a 6.78 personal best, just one hundredth of a second faster than the cutoff mark. Victoria relied on an even tighter margin to win the national title, besting the second-place finisher, Dylan Doss, by one thousandth of a second.
“I wasn’t even sure if I was in first,” Victoria said. “When I first looked at the time, I was just seeing if I was going to break 6.70; I wasn’t even worried about the actual placement.”
Following a prolonged 15-second wait as the stadium came to a collective hush, Victoria’s name was the first to flash on the board. In his first NCAA Championships race, the Richmond native struck gold.
“One of my favorite sprint moments now has to be waiting for the time, and actually being first,” Victoria said.
In addition to Victoria’s 60-meter title, he finished second in the men’s high jump with a 6’ 11½” (2.12m) mark. He contributed 18 of the Hornets’ 30 points in the men’s team standings, as the team finished fifth in Division III.
“I love both,” Victoria said. “A lot of people love jumping but don’t love sprinting. The more fun I have with it, the better I’ll perform.”
The Journey as a Jumper
Victoria began his collegiate career at North Carolina Central University in 2023, eventually transferring to Campbell University before arriving at Lynchburg. With a previous mark of 7’ ½” (2.15m) in the high jump at NC Central, Victoria always believed that field events were his specialty.
“I still believe that I’m a high jumper first,” Victoria said. “It’s something I’ve always been doing, but now, I feel like sprints and jumps are about to get even.”
Few athletes in Division III, let alone track & field, aim to qualify for sprint events and the high jump, as the skill sets rarely complement one another. Director of Track & Field Mario Wilson, who recruited Victoria to compete at Lynchburg, recognizes the extraordinary nature of his athlete’s talents.
“It’s funny how a moment like that can change your perception of what your own ability levels are,” Wilson said. “I’ve jokingly said that he’s probably the fastest high jumper in the world.”
Despite succeeding as a sprinter, the majority of Victoria’s training has revolved around jumping.
“I don’t train for the 60,” Victoria said. “This outdoor season is going to be different, and I think the coaches will come together to teach me how to run those events. I never knew so much went into it.”
As the reigning champion, he understands the importance of bolstering his training for the outdoor campaign.
“It’s going to be more strenuous on my body, but the people I’m going against are going to be ‘those types of guys’ who run 10.30 in the 100 [meter dash],” Victoria said. “I feel like this year is going to be more competitive.”
Final Preparations
Although Victoria didn’t post a faster time than 6.78 throughout his first season with the Hornets, Coach Wilson believed the title was within reach.
“Quietly, I was confident that he could win it,” Wilson said. “Once I saw his reaction in the final and how well he got out, I thought he had a good chance. When his name came up first, it was proof that he had the ability.”
For the Lynchburg coaching staff, Victoria’s conference-record performance was a testament to the hard work put forth in the offseason.
“Ever since the fall when we were training, he did not shy away from any workout that was thrown at him,” Wilson said. “I stuck him in with the quarter miler group after a while, and there were no questions or frowns. He just put in the work.”
Upon Victoria’s departure from Campbell University, he felt unsure about continuing as a collegiate athlete. With the trust of Coach Wilson, Victoria felt grateful for a new opportunity.
“When [Coach Wilson] earned the head coach position, he wanted to bring me here,” Victoria said. “He told me, ‘You have too much talent to stop.’”
A Championship for the Culture
Lynchburg fans will undoubtedly remember the pair of podium finishes, but for those wearing red uniforms, the NCAA Championships meant more than an ordinary business trip.
“Whether you performed exceptionally well or underperformed, you’ll remember those little details: the house that we stayed in, being able to hang out, the haircuts and makeshift barber shop,” Wilson said.
One of Victoria’s high jump teammates, Jamarcus Brown, believes the new bonds help the team perform at a high level while also enjoying the process.
“Last year, I was by myself and battled a lot of pressure,” Brown said. “I’ve only been with him for three weeks, and we really hit it off. He taught me a lot.”
Since his arrival, Coach Wilson has also striven to strengthen the track athletes’ bonds by traveling in vans rather than flying to national meets.
“Sometimes, flying can be a little less personable,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of respect for each person’s specific needs. When we stopped in Knoxville and were working out, there was no rush for the distance guys finishing their reps.”
Following Victoria’s national title and a fifth-place finish for the men’s team, Brown believes the team is moving on the right track.
“I really trust in what Mario has going on right now, and I hope he keeps continuing to bring in pieces and help us out.”
To access full results from the NCAA Championships, click here.
Contacts List:
Lamont Victoria, Student-Athlete
Mario Wilson, Director of Track & Field
Jamarcus Brown, Student-Athlete