From Setback to Standout: Melanne Sutton Sprinting Into the Spotlight at NCCU

DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore sprinter Melanne Sutton is emerging as one of North Carolina Central University’s brightest athletic talents, rebounding from a rocky freshman year to post personal bests that have her sprinting toward regional and national recognition.

Freshman Frustrations Fuel a New Fire In Sutton

A native of Greenville, N.C., Sutton came to NCCU after a record-setting high school career at Greenville Rose. However, her freshman campaign didn’t live up to expectations. Her top times in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash hovered around 11.93 seconds and 24.92 seconds, respectively.

“I wasn’t used to this hard training,” Sutton admitted. “It shocked me. I didn’t think it would be all this running. I thought it was going to go smoothly. I had to push hard. My body had to mature, and I had to mature mentally.”

Fall endurance workouts were a wake-up call: “We had to do seven or eight 300 [meter sprints] on the turf. I only got through two or three of them.”

Soaring in Sophomore Season

Now in her second season, Sutton has clearly found her rhythm. At the Raleigh Relays held March 27–29, she scorched the track with a 100-meter time of 11.65, placing 2nd in her heat and 9th overall out of 86 runners. She followed that with a personal best of 23.95 in the 200-meter, finishing 14th out of 128 competitors.

A week earlier at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational, Sutton clocked an 11.64 in the 100-meter, besting her previous times and signaling her breakout season had officially arrived.

She also competed at the JDL Invitational earlier this season, showcasing her continued growth and consistency among top collegiate sprinters.

The Coach Behind the Comeback

What changed? One major factor was the addition of Coach Reggie Barnes, a former N.C. State standout who specializes in sprints and hurdles.

“Coach Barnes has been an incredible influence on me this track season,” said Sutton. “He doesn’t just focus on the race; he focuses on the journey, encouraging me to trust the process and believe in my potential every step of the way.”

Barnes helped Sutton make one key adjustment—learning to relax mid-race. Tightening up had been costing her speed. “Now she realizes that and flows through it,” he said.

According to Fabrienne Swepson, NCCU’s Interim Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, “They mesh very, very well. He’s been able to tap into something with her. We’ve been able to watch her soar beyond what she’s been doing before.”

Is Sutton On the Road to Nationals?

Currently, Sutton is ranked third in the MEAC in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the 200-meter dash. She’s aiming for a strong showing at the MEAC Outdoor Championships, May 15–17, in Norfolk, Va.

She’s also tied for 39th in the 100-meter dash and just outside the top 50 in the 200-meter on the NCAA East Outdoor Qualifying list. The top 48 declared athletes in each event advance to the NCAA East Regionals in May, a step toward the NCAA Championships.

“At some point, she is gonna win a conference championship,” Barnes said. “It is just a matter of time. I’m not rushing it. She doesn’t have to break all the records right now. It will come.”

For now, Sutton is staying focused, training hard, and proving that every setback can be the setup for something spectacular.

Photo: NCCU Athletics/Photographer: Kevin Dorsey