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 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. This time, some of the more well-known names will be making their season debut. Some of the names will also be making their outdoor career debuts because the COVID pandemic put an end to the 2020 outdoor season before it even began.
Before even stepping on the track for an outdoor event, Randolph Ross, Jr., is one of the most recognizable names in track and field. For the past two indoor seasons, he has already compiled numerous accolades. As an indoor freshman, he had the fastest time in the world in the 400 meters for much of the season. As a sophomore, he finished second in the nation in the 400m, and he helped his 4x400-meter relay team win the national championship.
Ross Jr. will make his outdoor debut in the 100m, and later, he will participate in the 4x100 and the 4x400. Freshman Javonte Harding, junior Daniel Stokes and junior Tavarius Wright will also be making their outdoor career debuts. All three men will participate in the 100m along with Ross, Jr.
The 100m races start at 2:35 p.m. EST, Saturday, March 27.
Junior Rasheem Brown, an NCAA championship indoor qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles, will also make his outdoor debut as he will join teammate Cory Poole in the 110mh. Poole made his collegiate debut last week at HPU, where he won the 110mh in 14.52. The 110mh preliminaries are 1 p.m., Friday, March 26. The finals are on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. EST.
Seniors Brandy Felix, Akeem Lindo and Abbas Abbkar are outdoor veterans. Felix and Lindo will compete in the men's 400m at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. Most of Abbkar's outdoor experience came at Savannah State. He will make his Aggies debut at 2:50 p.m., Saturday in the 800m.
Senior Trevor Stewart returns to the outdoor scene two years after he finished second nationally in the 400m. He will run the 200m at Texas along with Harding, Sirleaf, Wright and junior Brandon Hicklin at 3:55 p.m., Saturday. Hicklin will also compete in the men's long jump on Friday at 3 p.m.
Sirleaf, Strokes and Stewart will join Ross Jr. in the 4x400 prelim race on Friday at 2:20. The finals are set for 4:20 p.m. on Saturday. The 4x100 team will consist of Ross Jr., Wright, Stokes and Harding. The prelim is at 1 p.m., Friday and the final is 2 p.m., Saturday.
