Christopher Newport University

Local legend Taylor Gorum joined the coaching staff of the Christopher Newport track & field program as the squad's new part-time assistant coach for throws prior to the 2026-27 campaign.

A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Gorum established herself as one of the nation's top throwers during an All-American career at Alabama. In her final collegiate appearance with the Crimson Tide, she placed eighth in the hammer throw at the NCAA Division I National Championships after posting a 66.60-meter launch. That established a new school record and earned her first-team All-American honors.

Along with her record-setting performance in the hammer, Gorum rewrote the history books during her time at Alabama. She finished her tenure ranked second in school history in the weight throw (22.22 meters), fourth in the discus (56.05 meters), and seventh in the outdoor shot put (16.84 meters).

A three-time national qualifier, she placed 23rd in the shot put at the 2021 outdoor championships and finished 15th in the weight throw at the 2023 indoor meet before her award-winning appearance in the hammer as a senior.

In addition to her success on the national stage, Gorum was a regular competitor at the Southeastern Conference Championships. Her finest work on the league level came at the 2021 outdoor meet when she secured a spot on the podium in a pair of events after coming in second in the hammer and third in the discus.

Prior to her time at Alabama, Gorum also spent two years competing at Florida A&M from 2017-19. During her time with the Rattlers, she claimed back-to-back discus crowns at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships while also earning single titles in the weight throw and indoor and outdoor shot put. For her efforts, she was named the MEAC Field Athlete of the Meet during the spring championships in 2018 and 2019.

Overall, Gorum still ranks second in MEAC history in the discus (51.69 meters) and third in the weight throw (19.11 meters). Additionally, her 51.69-meter launch in the discus at the 2019 championships remains the league's meet record.

Before her collegiate career, Gorum was a two-time state champion in the discus at Grassfield High School. She also claimed the indoor and outdoor shot put titles in 2017.

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