GARNER, N.C. — Randolph Ross won the hearts of people in his hometown long before he ever returned to North Carolina with a gold medal from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

 

What You Need To Know

Randolph Ross, a Garner native, won gold for Team USA in the 4 x 400 relay team

The mayor named September 7 "Randolph Ross" Day

The 20-year-old runs for N.C. A&T

 

On Tuesday night, Ross received a new distinction because of what he has most recently accomplished in the realm of track and field on the world stage. Inside the town hall, Garner Mayor Ken Marshburn proclaimed Sep. 7 “Randolph Ross” Day. In August, Ross won gold as a member of the 4 x 400-meter Team USA relay team.

Ross is happy to have such a tribute in his name with his parents and grandparents by his side. “It was actually a surprise because coming here we knew we were going to be honored, and we didn’t know exactly what’s happening. So, we walked in and we ended getting a whole day assigned to me.“

The mayor also handed him a key to the town. To be given so many accolades in the place he called home felt profound.

“Oh, it’s amazing. You know, growing up, especially in the track world, the dream is the Olympics. So, to be able to run in high school, run in college, which a lot of athletes don’t get to do, and then have the opportunity to go and compete for not just our town but our country as well. It was an amazing feeling,” Ross said. “To come back with something that pulls you over there. So, hopefully we have more years left and we go on to the next one and we do even better, but that’s great.”

Ross has enjoyed success in high school and in colleg, where he now runs for N.C. A&T. In June, Ross posted a personal best in the 400m while competing at the NCAA Track and Field Finals in Eugene, Oregon.  The then-sophomore ran a 43.85 race to claim the world’s fastest time in 2021. His blazing speed earned him the second individual title in the collegiate ranks.

Those achievements made the moment they stood on the winner’s podium in Japan even sweeter.

“That’s literally the end goal of everything. So especially being here at a young age and still having years left in me. It's seeing them cross the line and knowing this most likely won't be my last one. It's great. We get to come home with gold, but it kind of makes you look forward and want to see what else you have in store,” he said.

Ross has resumed his fall classes in Greensboro at N.C. A&T and will compete as a junior for the Aggies this coming season.