PHOTO | MONICA GARRISON

Johnson C. Smith is launching a women’s cycling program in spring 2022, making the school the first historically Black college to sponsor a women’s only team. Cycling is gaining momentum with women, like with the club Black Girls Do Bike (above).

Johnson C. Smith is launching a women’s cycling program, the first at a historically Black college.

JCSU is one of three schools to receive funding from EF Pro Cycling, Cannondale and USA Cycling. The other colleges, Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Navajo Technical University in Crown Point, New Mexico, are tribal colleges and universities, or TCUs.

“There are things still in the pipeline, but we do expect the program to get underway next year,” JCSU compliance director Shawn Meacham said.

The Golden Bulls would be the second CIAA school to launch cycling. St. Augustine’s in Raleigh debuted a blended-gender program last year. Smith’s program, though, is expressly geared to women on a varsity level with road, cyclocross and gravel teams. The closest collegiate association is the Southeastern Collegiate Cycling Conference, which is made up of schools regardless of size from eight states, including both Carolinas.

The SECCC is one of 11 conferences that make up the National Collegiate Cycling Association, a standing committee of USA Cycling. More than 200 collegiate cycling clubs are registered with the NCCA, representing over 2,500 athletes.

“Having a cycling program is going to be a great asset and will give our students an opportunity to compete as well as keep them on a healthy track physically,” Meacham said on the school’s website. “Additionally, it will allow students to pursue higher education benefits while being involved in the program and presents educational growth and leadership qualities for our scholar athletes on and off the course. The program is easily accessible to any woman who is a student and desires or is interested in being part of the cycling club. Cycling will give students an opportunity to consider or explore a career in cycling as a professional, while simultaneously becoming more involved in the community and the world of cycling.”

The grant underwriters will offer assets ranging from equipment, mentorship, coaching, and finances to the new programs.

“We have the ability to change cycling, to grow the sport for everyone, and I’m excited to see where this road takes all of us,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of EF Education First-Nippo. “We are excited to support the Institute of American Indian Arts, Navajo Technical University, and Johnson C. Smith University as they pave the way to a more inclusive future in cycling.

“I’m hopeful that in the coming years we will see more diversity at the highest levels of the sport — and that our team can help discover and develop riders who haven’t enjoyed the same access or opportunities many cyclists take for granted.”

Said Institute of American Indian Arts President Robert Martin, a member of the Cherokee Nation: “The benefits of this grant are far-reaching and will have a positive impact on recruitment and the health and well-being of our student body, who are primarily Indigenous from the United States and First Nations from Canada. IAIA, one of 37 Tribal Colleges in the U.S., hasn’t had a cycling program, and this opportunity will expand our athletics program while encouraging leadership and healthy lifestyles in our students.”

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