Officer Bios

Tyrone Sampson

Position:  President

Year:  Junior

Major:  Business Administration / Spanish

Hometown:  Greensboro, NC

Goals:  To run the Philadelphia Marathon in under 3:30


Tyrone has been an active athlete since high school, where he played YMCA basketball for four years, swam for two years, and ran track for one year.  At UNC, he was part of the UNC Triathlon Team that finished third at the Triathlon Collegiate National Championship in 2008.  That same year, Tyrone finished second in the Student Recreation Center’s Dualthon competition.  As a Sophomore, he joined the UNC Club Cross Country and Marathon teams and has since finished three marathons: the Myrtle Beach Marathon (twice) and  the Marine Corps Marathon.  Currently, Tyrone is training for the Philadelphia Marathon to be held this November.

Jackie Tennant

Position:  Vice President / Treasurer

Year:  Junior

Major:  Exercise and Sport Science / Psychology

Hometown:  Elgin, IL (Chicago)

Goals:  To run a sub-4:00:00 marathon;  To break 1:41:55 half marathon PR


Jackie joined the Carolina Marathon Team as a Sophomore while training for the 2009 Charlottesville Marathon.  Before joining the team, Jackie was a member of UNC’s Cross Country Club and Lancaster University’s Running Club (while studying abroad in England).  In addition to running in marathons, she likes to compete in road races, triathlons, and duathlons.  Jackie’s favorite race is the two-person team duathlon competition called the Muddy Buddy.  Aside from racing, Jackie is also a passionate coach for Duke Middle School’s Cross Country Team and a volunteer with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Pacers, a local youth running club.

James La Vela


Position:  Vice President / Hotel and Transport

Year:  Junior

Major:  Business Administration / European Studies

Hometown:  Chatham, NJ

Goals:  To run a sub-3:00:00 marathon;  To run a sub-5 minute 1600m


James joined the Carolina Marathon Team as a Sophomore while a member of the UNC Men’s Crew Club.  He has since competed in two marathons and has qualified for the 114th Boston Marathon – which he will run this coming April.  In 2010, James also hopes to defend his title as Maple View Challenge champion and to successfully complete the NCSU Krispy Kreme Challenge.