EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T came away with 14 victories over the weekend at High Point University during the men's and women's outdoor track and field season debut.
Many nationally known names for A&T did not participate, sending a signal to the NCAA Division I track and field nation that the Aggies have as much depth as they have ever had in their history.
This week, the Aggies are headed to the University of Texas for the prestigious Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, March 25-27. It is the 93rd running of the meet.
The women's side features the Aggies powerful trio that could turn into a quadruple threat by the end of the season. Seniors Madeleine Akobundu, TeJyrica Robinson and junior Paula Salmon are considered the three best hurdles in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and three of the best in the nation.
With the addition of graduate transfer Breanne Bygrave to the mix, the Aggies look to have a dominant showing in the 100mh. All four ladies will be in action at 1 p.m., Friday in the 100mh prelim. The final is Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
All four ladies were in action last week at HPU, where they finished 1,2,3 and 4 in the 100mh as Salmon led the way with a time of 13.29, followed by Robinson (13.39), Akobundu (13.52) and Bygrave (13.58).
The other hurdles race will feature juniors Nilaja Florence and Sydni Townsend in the 400mh. Last week at HPU, Townsend and Florence finished 1,2 in the 400mh, with Townsend recording a time of 1:01.52 and Florence finishing the race in 1:02.52. A 400mh prelim will occur at 5 p.m., Friday, and the finals will take place at 3:35 p.m., Saturday.
Three Aggies will run both the 100 and 200m races as junior Cambrea Sturgis, sophomore Kamaya Debose-Epps and freshman Jonah Ross are scheduled to run in both races. There is a 200m prelim at 6 p.m., Friday and the final is 3:55 p.m., Saturday. The 100m final is slated for 2:35 p.m., Saturday.
First-team All-American in the 200m indoor, Delecia McDuffie, will also run in the 200m along with Division I transfer Symone Darius. Darius ran an 11.59 in the 100m last week in her Aggies debut. She also helped the Aggies finish first in the 4x100.
Junior Ayoola Gbolade will compete in the women's 800m at 2:50 p.m., Saturday, and Akobundu will double up by competing in the women's long jump on Friday at 3 p.m.
The Aggies will also have competitors in the women's 4x100 and 4x400 races with the 4x100 prelim, Friday at 1 p.m., and the 4x400 prelim, Friday at 2:20 p.m. The 4x100 final is 2 p.m., Saturday and the 4x400 final is 4:20 p.m., Saturday.
