GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T is making some noise on the track and it is starting to be heard in more places than just East Lindsay Street on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
“I've been telling our team all week, 'This world, this country, this conference, they think they know the Aggies, but after this weekend they will really know'” said Duane Ross, director of track and field programs. “My Aggies did just that. They stepped up and let the rest of the country know that we will be a team to be reckoned with.”
The Aggies competed in High Point and Gainesville, Fla., over the weekend. They made a significant improvement in field events at the High Point VertKlasse Meet. Junior Tatianna Clark placed fourth in the women's long jump with a personal-best jump of 18-feet, 8-inches. Junior Sherri Owens placed third in the women's discus with a personal-best throw of 141-feet. Sophomore Demetria Dickens threw a personal-best of 124-feet, 5-inches in the women's hammer throw. Dickens also placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 136-feet, 4-inches.
“Brittanie Morris and Tatianna Clark did great this weekend in leading our women to some great times and performances,” said Ross. “Week by week we're getting better, and that's the beginning of a championship program.”
Morris had a productive day in High Point. She ran 14.54 for a personal best in the 100 meter hurdles. She then placed ninth in the 400 meter hurdles at 1:02.94. Junior Latrese Barker ran the women's 200 meter dash in 25.59 to post a new personal best. Barker also ran a 12.04 in the 100 to finish seventh.
Freshman Joshua Peoples ran a personal-best of 10.71 in the men's 100 meters to finish third. Peoples also placed sixth in the men's 200 running a personal-best 21.35. Freshman Thomas Jones also got into the personal-best business with his 14.80 in the 110 meter hurdles.
Peoples was not the only Aggie to excel in the 200. Senior Kendrick Smith placed sixth (22.71), while senior Christopher Barnes was ninth in 22.99 and sophomore Byron Mingo was 10th in 23.06. Mingo had a fifth-place finish in the 400 as he posted a personal-best 49.28.
The men's 4x100-meter relay (Marquis Howard, Mingo, Maurice Eaddy, Peoples) ran 43.31, placing fifth. The men's 4x400-meter relay (Darius Bogertey, Mingo, Peoples, Keenan Smith) placed sixth with a time of 3:21.31.
In Florida, the men's 4x100-meter relay (Desmond Lawrence, Darryl Williams, Caleb Gabriel and Marquis Noble) continue to excel as they placed 10th with their fastest time of the season, 39.84.
The Aggies next competition will be next weekend, April 12, at Irwin Belk Track.
