Christopher Belcher

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Christopher Belcher

| image=

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|01|29}}

| birth_place = Sayville, New York, U.S.

| height = 5 ft 11 in

| weight =

| country = {{USA}}

| sport = Running, track and field

| event = Sprints

| collegeteam = North Carolina A&T Aggies (2016, 2017)
Monroe Mustangs (2014, 2015)

| team = Nike

| turnedpro = 2017

| coach = Duane Ross

| pb = 100 m: 9.93 s (Eugene, 2017)
200 m: 20.01 s (Eugene, 2017)

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| the {{USA}} }}

}}

Christopher Belcher (born January 29, 1994, in Sayville, New York) is an American professional track and field sprinter who specializes in the 100 meters and the 200 meters. While in college he competed for the Monroe Mustangs and then the North Carolina A&T Aggies. He is currently sponsored by Nike.

In 2017 he competed at the World Championships in the {{nowrap|100 m}}, making it to the semi-finals. His personal best time in the {{nowrap|100 m}} is 9.93 seconds, set during the NCAA Division I Championships earlier that year.

Biography

=Early life=

Raised in Sayville, New York, Belcher attended Sayville High School. During his 3 varsity seasons, he won the state championship at the {{nowrap|55 m}} and was ranked 8th nationally. He also won the Division 1 {{nowrap|100 m}} dash state championship race his junior year. Belcher also competed and won the high school {{nowrap|55 m}} dash at the 2013 Millrose Games.{{cite web|title=Chris Belcher Signs with Monroe College|url=http://www.sayville.k12.ny.us/district.cfm?subpage=35547|website=www.sayville.k12.ny.us|accessdate=June 29, 2017|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904095906/http://www.sayville.k12.ny.us/district.cfm?subpage=35547|url-status=dead}}

=Amateur career=

In 2013, Belcher signed with Monroe College; In his freshman year, he placed 3rd in the {{nowrap|100 m}} at the 2014 NJCAA Division I Championships behind Odean Skeen and Andre De Grasse.{{cite web|title=NC A&T Belcher a possible contender for the Olympics|url=http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2017/jun/16/nc-t-belcher-possible-contender-olympics/|website=Richmond Free Press|accessdate=July 4, 2017}}{{cite web|title=South Plains sweeps Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships for fifth time in six years|url=http://www.njcaa.org/sports/wtrack/2013-14/releases/2014-05-18_21831.html|website=NJCAA|accessdate=June 29, 2017|language=en|date=May 18, 2014}} In 2016, Belcher transferred to NCAA Division I school North Carolina A&T.{{cite web|title=13 Mustang Men’s Track and Field Athletes Continue Their Careers at Major Colleges|url=http://www.monroecollegemustangs.com/news/2015/7/15/MTRACK_0715152519.aspx|website=Monroe College|accessdate=June 29, 2017|language=en}} At A&T, Belcher was the {{nowrap|100 m}}, {{nowrap|200 m}}, and 4 × 100 m relay champion at the 2016 MEAC Championships, breaking meet records in all three events.{{cite web|title=Bethune-Cookman Wins MEAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship|url=https://hbcusports.com/2016/05/09/bethune-cookman-wins-meac-mens-outdoor-track-field-championship/|website=HBCU Sports|accessdate=June 27, 2017|date=May 9, 2016}} He then went on to compete at the 2016 NCAA Division I Championships in the {{nowrap|100 m}}, but did not qualify for the finals.

Following his success in 2016, Belcher then went on to defend his {{nowrap|100 m}} and {{nowrap|200 m}} titles at the 2017 MEAC Championships. In the {{nowrap|100 m}} finals, Belcher broke the meet record that he set the previous year with a time of {{nowrap|10.04 s}}.{{cite web|title=North Carolina A&T State Men's Team Sprints To 2017 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship|url=http://www.meacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=20800&ATCLID=211586808|website=MEACSports.com|accessdate=June 27, 2017|language=en}} Belcher, along with teammates Rodney Rowe, Caleb Gabriel, and Joel Thomas defended their title in the {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} relay with a time of {{nowrap|39.44 s}}, breaking their own MEAC championship record from the previous year. During the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Division I Championships, Belcher broke the 10-second barrier with a personal best time of {{nowrap|9.93 s}}.{{cite web|title=Belcher, NC A&T Shine At Track Championships|url=http://www.wfmynews2.com/sports/belcher-nc-at-shine-at-track-championships/446764237|website=WFMY|accessdate=July 4, 2017}} Belcher went on to finish 3rd in the {{nowrap|100 m}}, 5th in the {{nowrap|200 m}}, and 3rd in the {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} relay.

=Professional career=

Belcher qualified for the 2017 USA Championships in the {{nowrap|100 m}}. At the event, Belcher ran his last amateur race in the semifinals. Deciding to forego his final year of NCAA eligibility, he signed a professional contract with Nike.{{cite web|title=N.C. A&T star sprinter Christopher Belcher signs professional contract with Nike - North Carolina A&T State University|url=http://www.ncat.edu/news/2017/06/belcher-turns-pro-nike.html|website=www.ncat.edu|accessdate=July 4, 2017|language=en}} In the finals of the {{nowrap|100 m}}, Belcher finished 3rd behind Justin Gatlin and Christian Coleman, qualifying for the World Championships in London.{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Terence|title=Justin Gatlin's 100-meter win is still hard to believe.|url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/239113760/justin-gatlin-35-100-meters-usa-track-field|website=Sports on Earth|accessdate=July 4, 2017|language=en|date=June 28, 2017}} In London he made it through the heats but was unable to advance through the semis.

Statistics

Information from World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/christopher-belcher-14503562 |title=ATHLETE PROFILE Christopher BELCHER |website=World Athletics |accessdate=June 20, 2021}}

=Personal bests=

class=wikitable style=text-align:center
Event !Time (s) !Wind (m/s) !Competition !Venue !Date
100 m \| 9.93 \| +1.6 \| NCAA Division I Championships \| Eugene, Oregon, US \| June 7, 2017
200 m \| 20.01 \| +1.6 \| NCAA Division I Championships \| Eugene, Oregon, US \| June 7, 2017
4×100 m relay \| 38.30 \| {{n/a}} \| Herculis \| Monaco \| July 21, 2017
4×200 m relay \| 1:19.73 \| {{n/a}} \| World Relays \| Yokohama, Japan \| May 12, 2019

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

Event

!Time (s)

!Wind (m/s)

!Competition

!Venue

!Date

100 m

| 9.93

| +1.6

| NCAA Division I Championships

| Eugene, Oregon, US

| June 7, 2017

200 m

| 20.01

| +1.6

| NCAA Division I Championships

| Eugene, Oregon, US

| June 7, 2017

4×100 m relay

| 38.30

| {{n/a}}

| Herculis

| Monaco

| July 21, 2017

4×200 m relay

| 1:19.73

| {{n/a}}

| World Relays

| Yokohama, Japan

| May 12, 2019

=100 meters progression=

class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center

!Year

!Time

!Venue

!Date

2012

| 10.76

| Cicero, New York, US

| June 8

2013

| 10.71

| Middletown, New York, US

| June 8

2014

| 10.27

| Mesa, Arizona, US

| May 16

2015

| 10.46

| Mahwah, New Jersey, US

| April 4

2016

| 10.07

| Greensboro, North Carolina, US

| May 5

2017

| 9.93

| Eugene, Oregon, US

| June 7

2018

| data-sort-value=999|—

| —

2019

| 10.05

| Montverde, Florida, US

| July 6

2020

| 10.26

| Des Moines, Iowa, US

| August 29

rowspan=2|2021

| rowspan=2|10.01

| Walnut, California, US

| May 9

Eugene, Oregon, US

| June 19

=200 meters progression=

class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center

!Year

!Time

!Venue

!Date

2012

| 21.77

| Cicero, New York, US

| June 9

2013

| 21.81

| Middletown, New York, US

| June 8

2014

| 21.40

| Mesa, Arizona, US

| May 16

2015

| 21.40

| Chester, Pennsylvania, US

| March 28

2016

| 20.39

| Greensboro, North Carolina, US

| May 5

2017

| 20.01

| Eugene, Oregon, US

| June 7

2018

| 21.09

| Birmingham, Alabama, US

| January 13

2019

| 20.42

| St. George's, Grenada

| April 13

2020

| 20.86

| Doha, Qatar

| September 25

2021

| 21.35

| Jacksonville, Florida, US

| April 16

=International championship results=

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time	Wind (m/s)	Notes
class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center \|+Representing the {{flagu\|United States}}
2017 \| World Championships \| London, England \| 13th \| 100 m \| 10.20 \| −0.2 \|
rowspan=4\|2019 \| World Relays \| Yokohama, Japan \| bgcolor=gold\|1st \| data-sort-value="800 relay"\|4×200 m relay \| data-sort-value=80.12\|1:20.12 \| {{n/a}} \|
rowspan=2\|The Match Europe v USA \| rowspan=2\|Minsk, Belarus \| bgcolor=gold\|1st \| data-sort-value="400 relay"\|4×100 m relay \| 38.26 \| {{n/a}} \|
bgcolor=silver\|2nd \| 100 m \| 10.25 \| {{n/a}} \|
World Championships \| Doha, Qatar \| 25th \| 100 m \| 10.23 \| −0.3 \|

=National championship results=

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time	Wind (m/s)
class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center \|+Representing the Monroe Mustangs (2014–2015), North Carolina A&T Aggies (2016–2017), and Nike (2017–2019)
rowspan=5\|2014	rowspan=2\|NJCAA Indoor Championships	rowspan=2\|New York, New York	11th	60 m	6.86	{{n/a}}
8th	200 m	21.78	{{n/a}}
rowspan=3\|NJCAA Division I Championships	rowspan=3\|Mesa, Arizona	bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd	100 m	10.27	+0.9	{{AthAbbr\|PB}}
15th	200 m	21.40	−0.1	{{AthAbbr\|PB}}
7th	data-sort-value="400 relay"\|4×100 m relay	40.50	{{n/a}}	{{AthAbbr\|PB}}
rowspan=4\|2015	rowspan=2\|NJCAA Indoor Championships	rowspan=2\|Albuquerque, New Mexico	5th	60 m	6.78	{{n/a}}
6th	200 m	21.49	{{n/a}}
rowspan=2\|NJCAA Division I Championships	rowspan=2\|Hutchinson, Kansas	bgcolor=f5a9a9\|{{AthAbbr\|DQ}}	100 m	data-sort-value=999.99\|—	+4.9	False start
15th	data-sort-value="400 relay"\|4×100 m relay	41.11	{{n/a}}	{{AthAbbr\|SB}}
rowspan=2\|2016 \| rowspan=2\|NCAA Division I Championships \| rowspan=2\|Eugene, Oregon \| 24th \| 100 m \| 10.71 \| +1.3 \|
14th \| data-sort-value="400 relay"\|4×100 m relay \| 39.65 \| {{n/a}} \| {{AthAbbr\|PB}}
rowspan=5\|2017 \| rowspan=2\|NCAA Division I Championships \| rowspan=2\|College Station, Texas \| 9th \| 60 m \| 6.64 \| {{n/a}} \| {{AthAbbr\|PB}}
15th \| 200 m \| 21.02 \| {{n/a}} \|
rowspan=3\|NCAA Division I Championships \| rowspan=3\|Eugene, Oregon \| bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \| 100 m \| 10.19 \| −2.1 \|
5th \| 200 m \| 20.66 \| −3.1 \|
bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \| data-sort-value="400 relay"\|4×100 m relay \| 38.57 \| {{n/a}} \| Belcher ran the 4 X 100 relay along with: Malcolm Croom-Mcfadden, Akeem Sirleaf, Michael Dickson, & Rodney Rowe.
2017 \| USATF Championships \| Sacramento, California \| bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \| 100 m \| 10.06 \| −0.7 \|
rowspan=2\|2019 \| rowspan=2\|USATF Championships \| rowspan=2\|Des Moines, Iowa \| bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \| 100 m \| 10.12 \| −1.0 \| 10.120 s
10th \| 200 m \| 20.59 \| −1.4 \|
2021 \| US Olympic Trials \| Eugene, Oregon \| 10th \| 100 m \| 10.11 \| +0.7 \|

NCAA results from Track & Field Results Reporting System.{{cite web |url=https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/4660574/Monroe_College/Christopher__Belcher.html |title=CHRISTOPHER BELCHER MONROE COLLEGE |website=tfrrs.org |publisher=Track & Field Results Reporting System |accessdate=April 6, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/5660973/N_Carolina_AT/Christopher_Belcher.html |title=CHRISTOPHER BELCHER N. CAROLINA A&T |website=tfrrs.org |publisher=Track & Field Results Reporting System |accessdate=April 6, 2019}}

Notes

References

External links

{{World Athletics}}
{{USATF|new_id=chris-belcher}}
{{TFRRS|5660973}} (North Carolina A&T)
{{TFRRS|4660574}} (Monroe)

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Track and field athletes from New York (state)

Category:People from Sayville, New York

Category:Sportspeople from Islip (town), New York

Category:American male sprinters

Category:African-American track and field athletes

Category:North Carolina A&T State University alumni

Category:North Carolina A&T Aggies men's track and field athletes

Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen