DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University women's track & field sophomore
Darlene Girardeau has been named the NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for January 2015 in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments in competition and in the classroom.
A native of Hope Mills, North Carolina, Girardeau posted nine top-10 performances in four indoor track & field meets during the month of January.
Girardeau opened the first month in 2015 as the top collegiate finisher in both the 60-meter dash (7.77 seconds) and the 200m dash (26.02) at the Joe Hilton Invitational, hosted by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on Jan. 10.
The following week at the Virginia Tech Invitational (Jan. 16-17), she placed sixth in the long jump with a leap of 5.84 meters, while also running in the 60-meter dash (16th, 7.78) and 200m dash (12th, 25.00).
The next Sunday (Jan. 25) at the UNCG Spartan Team Challenge, Girardeau won the 60m dash with a time of 7.73 seconds.
Girardeau wrapped up the month by posting three top-10 finishes at the Hilton Garden Invitational, hosted by Wake Forest University on Jan. 30-31. The sophomore placed fourth in the long jump with a distance of 5.63 meters, fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.57 seconds and, after recording the fastest time in the 60m dash preliminaries of 7.70 seconds, finished one spot out of the finals to take ninth with a semifinal time of 7.76 seconds.
For her performance during that final weekend, Girardeau was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Women's Field Athlete of the Week.
An art major at NCCU, Girardeau earned a 3.0 grade point average during the fall 2014 semester.
For a complete list of award winners, visit
www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
NOTE: On Thursday, Feb. 12, NCCU sophomore Darlene Girardeau won the MEAC championship in the long jump with a leap of 5.80 meters (19'0.5"), becoming the first Lady Eagle to win a MEAC track & field individual title. 
