Privilege Chikara named National Women's Track Athlete of the Year

Privilege Chikara was named the National Women's Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Chikara, who hails from Zimbabwe, won the national championships in the 800m and the mile at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Championships in Topeka, KS. She clocked NJCAA-leading times in both events – 2:12.73 in the 800 and 5:00.11 in the mile. in both events at 2:16.10 and 5:09.15, respectively. Head coach Chip Gayden said, "What Privilege was able to do at the NJCAA Indoor Championships was an incredible feat that not many people in history have achieved."

Privilege immediately impacted the MCC, indoor track team, breaking the school record of 1:49:58 in her first meet with a 1:36 in the 600m at the UAB Blazer/Vulcan Invitational.
She ran the mile in 5:09:15 at the Samford Invitational, which was 31 seconds faster than the previous record of 5:40:11. Privilege continued to break records at the Music City Challenge by running the 800m in 2:15:71, 12 seconds better than the prior record of 2:27:72. Distance coach Dameon Morgan said, " I knew Privilege was going to be good the first time she practiced with us in January. Not only was she running faster than I wanted her to at practice, but she was also running with the guys. Privilege is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete, and it was an honor to coach her."