SAU Women’s hurdler Belle ready to hurdle in Tokyo
Courtesy Saint Augustine’s Athletics / July 30, 2021
RALEIGH – Tia-Adana Belle is one of eight athletes from Barbados competing in the Tokyo Olympics.
Five years ago, Belle ran for Barbados in the 2016 Olympics as a student-athlete from Saint Augustine’s University (SAU). By the time she completed her collegiate career in 2017, Belle was the greatest women’s 400-meter hurdler in Division II.
She is the NCAA Division II national record-holder (55.42) in her signature event. In fact, she owns six of the top seven Division II times in history.
Belle dominated the 400 hurdles event as a collegian, winning three straight Division II national titles from 2015 to 2017. She is one of only two athletes to accomplish the feat.
A 12-time All-American, Belle was the Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in the CIAA and the Atlantic Region (twice). She graduated from SAU in 2018.
Belle joins Shawn Rowe as SAU graduates who will compete in the Olympics. Rowe was named to the Jamaica Olympic Team late last week.
