Athletics News
Assistant Cross Country/Track And Field Coach Jackie Kirby Featured On WITN-TV 7 Newscast
January 11, 2012
WITN-TV 7 (Washington, N.C.) aired a story during Wednesday evening's newscast on the Mount Olive College family's support for assistant cross country/track and field coach Jackie Kirby, who is hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle while out running Sunday night.
Kirby suffered serious injuries, but thankfully, she is expected to make a full recovery. At last report, she is listed in Fair condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.
Kirby joined the Mount Olive College family in the fall of 2009. The Trojan men's and women's cross country and track and field teams have enjoyed tremendous success in the last two years. Mount Olive swept the 2011 Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Track and Field Championships last spring. This past fall, the Trojan men's cross country team earned its first berth in the NCAA Division II National Finals in 10 years. The Trojan women's cross country team also had a runner qualify for the National Finals for the first time in eight years.
Kirby is a graduate of Keystone College, where she earned a B.A. in visual arts with a concentration in photography and graphic design.
A decorated cross country and track and field athlete at Keystone, she was a three-time cross country conference champion (twice in the Northeast Athletic Conference, senior year in the Colonial States Athletic Conference) and still holds school records for fastest time in both the 5k and 6k. Kirby was a two-time all-region selection and qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country National Championship in her junior and senior years.
Kirby was the 2009 CSAC Track and Field Athlete of the Year and qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division III Women’s Track and Field Championship in the 5,000 meters and the mile. Kirby holds school records in six different events.
“We appreciate all of the well wishes and support on behalf of Jackie,” said Mount Olive College Director of Athletics Jeff Eisen. “We ask the Mount Olive College family and the local community to continue to keep Jackie in their thoughts and prayers.”
As updates become available, we'll keep everyone posted on her recovery.
