Courtesy of Bethune-Cookman Athletic Communications
Summer Brown, whose battle with cancer was as inspiring as her accomplishments with the Bethune-Cookman University track & field program, passed away Friday, Jan. 11 at the age of 25.
The 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) indoor pentathlon and outdoor long champion had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma cancer last December and had used social media as an outlet to both inform and motivate.
“To God Be the Glory for the Life of Summer Brown,” B-CU Vice President Of Intercollegiate Athletics Lynn W. Thompson said via Twitter. “Summer was such a beautiful soul who touched so many during her time at BCU. We will forever cherish her!”
“We lost a true champion, but gained another angel,” said former teammate Ed’Ricus Williams.
The Wildcat track & field team was in Birmingham, Ala., competing at UAB when they learned the news. Head coach Donald Cooper broke the news to the team, whose seniors were teammates of Brown, late Friday night.
“Summer was one of those special athletes that you come across during your brief coaching career,” Cooper said. “A great student-athlete and even greater person.”
Brown closed her career with a personal best of 19 feet, five inches to win the 2016 outdoor long jump. That meet also saw her help the Lady Wildcat 4X100-meter relay team finish second in addition to her taking fourth in the triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles.
Earlier that year, Brown had a convincing pentathlon victory at the MEAC Indoor Championships.
“I use her name a lot when describing how a true champion makes sacrifices to obtain their goals,” Cooper said. “I want to thank her and her parents for blessing us with her presence here at Bethune-Cookman University. She is forever family and forever loved.”
Brown and former Wildcat track star Malik Lewis had one son, Aycen.
This story will be updated with service date and times.
