Hampton, Va. (Dec. 9, 2022) — Hampton University track & field great, and Olympic gold medalist, Francena McCorory will be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class. 
 
A native of Hampton, Va., McCorory won three NCAA championships as a Lady Pirate, winning the 400-meter dash in the 2009 and 2010 indoor seasons, as well as the 2010 outdoor season. Her 2010 NCAA indoor performance set a new collegiate and American record at 50.54.
 
She was a four-time All-American, as named by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). McCorory was inducted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame in 2017. 
 
Her MEAC success began during the 2008 outdoor season, when she took conference titles in the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay. McCorory won the outdoor MEAC title in the 400-meter dash in three straight years (2008-10), and she won indoor 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay titles in 2009 and 2010.
 
McCorory also won MEAC titles in the 200-meter dash in 2009 (outdoor) and 2010 (indoor).To date, McCorory holds two MEAC records: 53.22 in the indoor 400-meter dash – set in 2009 – and 51.54 in the outdoor 400-meter dash (set in 2008).
 
McCorory currently holds four school records at Hampton, two for the indoor season and two in the outdoor season. She is the current record holder in the indoor 400-meter dash (50.54), indoor 500-meter dash (1:09.16), outdoor 200-meter dash (22.92), and outdoor 400-meter dash (50.58).
 
McCorory earned her first Olympic gold medal in London in 2012 as part of the 4x400-meter relay team, and she repeated that feat this past summer in Rio, having run for Team USA in the semifinal heats.
 
She was also the 400m gold medalist at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships.
 
Virginia Beach's Ryan Zimmerman, Chesapeake's DeAngelo Hall, and former William and Mary football coach Jimmye Laycock have also been selected for the 2023 class.
 
For more information on Hampton University athletics, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.