NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (June 30, 2026) … The Hampton University athletic department came out with a pair of honorees at the 76th annual Peninsula Sports Club Headliners Night banquet held at the Newport News Marriott on Monday evening.

Senior sprinter Brianna Charles was named the Hampton University Athlete of the Year by the Sports Club and senior Emmani Shaw was recognized with a Community Service award. The featured speaker for the event was Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Maurice Pierce.

Shaw is a recent graduate earning her Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Material Science and Engineering. On the track, she competed in the high jump, triple jump and pentathlon.

Off the track, she was deeply committed to serving her community through educational outreach, healthcare services, and environmental initiatives. Shaw volunteered by reading to students at Achievable Dreams Elementary School, supporting student recognition programs at Andrew's Elementary School, participating in annual Thanksgiving turkey drives, and contributing to food banks and clothing drives throughout her college career. She also served veterans at the VA Hospital during Veterans Day initiatives, volunteered at Waterview Health, and participated in Clean the Bay environmental efforts for multiple years.

Charles just graduated in May with a degree in Psychology. She was a two-year standout in the sprints, setting meet records at Penn State during the 2025 indoor season in the 60- and 200-meter events. Charles captured both titles in the 2026 CAA Indoor Track and Field Championships en route to being named the Most Outstanding Track Performer.

During the 2026 CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, she repeated as the Most Outstanding Track Performer, winning the 100- and 200-meter races and competing on the winning 4x100 relay and the second-place 4x400 relay teams.