As part of Black History Month, Emporia State Athletics will take a look back at some of the black student-athletes that have had an impact on Hornet Athletics.
 
Duke Tibbs was an All-American sprinter and school record holder for the Emporia State track and field team from 2013-18.
 
He made five trips to the NCAA Championships and was a four-time All-American. He earned individual honors with an eighth place finish at the 2016 outdoor meet and three times on relay teams. He was a member of the third place 4x400m relay indoors as a senior in 2018, the fifth place 4x400m relay outdoors in 2016 and the 4x100m relay that placed eighth outdoors in 2014.

He set the Emporia State record in the outdoor 400m with a 46.73 at the 2016 NCAA Championships and was on the school record 4x400m relay that ran 3:08.69 at the 2018 Drake Relays. He is ranked second all-time at Emporia State indoors in the 400m at 48.01 at the 2017 Crimson and Gold Invite and his 21.66 at the Sevigne/Husker Invitational in 2016 is ranked fourth for the Hornets.

He was a three-time MIAA Champion, with an individual championship in the 400m outdoors in 2016 and as a member of the 4x400m relay in 2016 and 2018 outdoors.
 
Here is his story in his own words:
 
Sports in general have always been my platform to take advantage of opportunities presented to me. In a system not catered to being black in America, many individuals, like me, must use a gifted talent to attain likewise success as our peers. As a black student-athlete I've taken away the ability to be that representation and voice in spaces I am invited to as an example for those who will fill that same roster spot in the future.   

My most memorable moment at Emporia State, besides breaking records on the track, came when I was given the opportunity to develop, curate, and host my own version of a freshman athletic forum as part of the new student orientation with the help of Taylor Kriley and Carmen Leeds. The focus was to discuss with new athletes' ways to get involved on campus and utilizing their platform to broaden their network.  

Ms. Toya Green, my freshman public speaking instructor, was a person that had an impact on me outside of athletics. Ms. Green was the first black educator I had throughout my degree plan and K-12. Not only did she provide black representation, but she engaged with students in a way that kept me eager to come to class and develop those attributes for my future speaking engagements. I still communicate with her and she has an influential impact on me. 

Upon graduation, I've created opportunities for myself in the finance and accounting industry having worked as an accounting specialist to my current role as an Accounts Receivable Specialist in Tempe, Arizona.