Neil De Silva – Track & Field
Our next Hall of Fame inductee is a name that echoes from the track lanes of Wilberforce to the grandest international stages. From Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, to the Olympic Games — Neil De Silva embodies the true spirit of Marauder excellence.
As a standout member of the 1993 Central State University Men’s Track & Field team, De Silva helped lead the Marauders to their first-ever NAIA National Championship. That historic season, he delivered one of the most dominant performances in program history — winning national titles in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dash, anchoring the championship-winning 4x100-meter relay, and propelling Central State to a commanding team victory that forever secured its place among the NAIA’s elite.
Neil’s success extended far beyond Wilberforce. Representing Trinidad and Tobago, he competed in four Olympic Games and earned medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, and Central American and Caribbean Games. His personal best of 45.02 seconds in the 400 meters stands among the fastest times in his nation’s history, and he helped set a national record in the 4x400-meter relay during the 1992 Olympic Games.
Neil De Silva’s legacy is one of power, precision, and pride — a reflection of the excellence that defines both his career and the Central State University tradition.
