Sanai Phillips is a sophomore multi-events and hurdles athlete for Fayetteville State University, while holding senior academic standing. A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Phillips is a graduate of Seventy-First High School, where she distinguished herself as both a high-level student and athlete. She graduated in 2022 ranked seventh in her class with a 4.05 GPA, competing in track & field and volleyball.
Phillips began her collegiate career at North Carolina A&T State University before continuing her academic and athletic journey with the Broncos. She is majoring in Psychology and has earned consistent academic recognition, including placement on the Fall 2024/25 and Spring 2025 3.0 Honor Wall.
A versatile and accomplished multi-events competitor, Phillips contributes across hurdles, sprints, jumps, throws, and combined events. Her collegiate personal bests include a 9.49 in the 60-meter hurdles, 15.03 in the 100-meter hurdles, and 1:10.72 in the 400-meter hurdles, along with a pentathlon score of 2,641 points. She has also posted marks of 1.48m (4’10.25”) in the high jump, 4.48m (14’8.5”) in the long jump, and 9.43m (30’11.25”) in the shot put, showcasing her all-around skill set.
Phillips’ most memorable athletic accomplishments include winning Junior Olympic gold medals in the multi-events on multiple occasions, a testament to her long-standing success at the national youth level.
Her collegiate journey is defined by resilience and determination. After becoming a mother during her sophomore year, Phillips found renewed purpose and direction at Fayetteville State. Her son is the most influential person in her life, providing daily motivation and inspiring her to be the best version of herself. She chose FSU for the opportunity to continue pursuing her academic and athletic goals while embracing motherhood and redefining what success looks like in her life.
Beyond competition, Phillips is deeply involved in leadership and service. She has been a member of the National Art Honor Society and Women of Class, and previously served as President of Student to Student, a program supporting military-dependent students. In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, acting, drawing, baking, crocheting, watching television shows, and spending time with family.
Phillips comes from a strong academic family background. Her parents, Danielle and Terrance Phillips, are both alumni of Penn State University and have played instrumental roles in her development. She credits her family’s support as a foundation for her success.
After graduation, Phillips plans to become a Speech Language Pathologist and open her own practice, combining her passion for helping others with her academic training and life experiences.
