NASHVILLE — Track & Field is one of the most grueling sports to participate in on the collegiate level. The sport doesn't get the fanfare that football and basketball get but, if done right, you can end up on the international stage. Tennessee State University has the unique blessing of having three coaches that have competed on the highest-level track.

Director of Track & Field, Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice represented the United States in the 1976 Olympics at the age of 17-year-old, placing sixth in the 100-meter sprint. Because the United States boycotted the Olympics, she could not compete in 1980 but was still the top USA runner in the 200 meters and second in the 100. in the 1984 Olympics, she won gold in the 4 x 100-meter relay and the 4 x 400-meter relay. Individually, she also took the silver medal in the 400-meter run.

Her many accolades include being the first Nike athlete to be signed to Athletic West. Her hiring of sprint and hurdle coach Muna Lee and thrower coach Gwendolyn Berry, both former recent Olympians is her way to give the newer athletes something for them to look up to. Cheeseborough-Guice is ecstatic about what they bring to the program.

"My first Olympics was in 1976, none of them was even born then," said Cheeseborough-Guice. "Having these two here with them bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience can only help this program, especially with recruiting. Most want to get to the next level. We can show them how to do it."

In 2004, after an impressive senior season at Louisiana State University, Lee placed second in the Olympic Trials in the 200 to represent the country in Athens, Greece. She finished an impressive seventh place. In 2008, she competed in the 100 meters at the Beijing Olympics placing fifth.  Berry participated in the 2016 Olympics in the hammer throw and placed 14^th. Four years later, she made the team and placed 11^th in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Berry started her hammer throwing career in 2008 at the University of Southern Illinois Carbondale. She gained notoriety in 2016 when she made her first Olympic team and broke the indoor world record in the event. She is a human rights activist named the 2020 Toyota Humanitarian Award recipient for her continued activism bringing awareness and educating others on social justice issues.

Over the years, Cheeseborough-Guice has coached every aspect of the sport. She admittedly isn't an expert on everything but having Lee and Berry along with longtime assistant David Rachel elevates some of the weight. Something that Cheeseborough-Guice appreciates.

"We are building something here. Their expertise gives the athletes the edge they need. The kids are buying into their coaching. We're excited to have them onboard."