Former Olymian Bengono joins VCU men\'s track coaching staff

RICHMOND, Va. – Head men's track and field coach Julian Spooner announced the recent addition of former Olympian Serge Bengono to his coaching staff. The Cameroon native brings a wealth of experience in both collegiate and international competition and will be working with VCU's sprinters and hurdlers for the 2005 outdoor campaign.

Bengono is a two-time Olympian, competing in both the Atlanta games in 1996 and the Sydney games in 2000 for Cameroon. He has also run twice in the World Track and Field Championships in 2001 and 2003 and has won silver and bronze medals during the African Track and Field Championships.

The former George Mason standout also knows how to win in the Colonial Athletic Association. He was a two-time All-American while running for the Patriots and holds the school records in the 100m (10.25) and 4x100m (39.46). Bengono also was three-time CAA champion in the 100m, as well as a two-time IC4A champion in that event.

Most recently, he served as a volunteer coach for the Hampton International Training Center track team, supervising the workout programs for sprinters and hurdlers. Prior to that, he was a volunteer coach for George Mason's women's track squad from September 2002 – December 2003.

Bengono graduated from George Mason with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and speaks fluently in three different languages: English, French and Greek. He resides in Richmond with his wife, Shauna, and the couple is currently expecting their first child.