JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senior Trevor Stewart has his sights on even more records before he leaves the North Carolina A&T men's outdoor track and field program. On Wednesday night at the 2021 NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round at Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus, Stewart ran a 44.55 in the 400 meters.
By running a 44.55 in the first round, he tied his meet record from two years ago when he ran the same time on May 23, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Freshman teammate Randolph Ross, Jr., did not finish far behind. Ross Jr. ran a 44.63 to have the second-fastest qualifying time. Senior Elijah Young also moved on to the quarterfinals by qualifying with a time of 46.64. The 400m quarterfinals will take place at 7:20 p.m., Friday.
The Aggies had a qualifier in a field event as well, as Brandon Hicklin will move on to NCAA nationals after jumping a season-high 24-feet, 11 ¾-inches to post the ninth-highest qualifying mark. Hicklin's previous highest mark this season came on May 16 when he jumped 24-feet, 5 ½-inches at the Aggie Classic Twilight at N.C. A&T's Irwin Belk Track.
Two Aggies advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's 200m. Javonte Harding ran a 20.32 to post the third-fastest qualifying time. Junior Daniel Stokes finished his 200m race in 20.85, and he too will be in the 200m quarterfinal. The quarterfinal for the 200m is at 8:10 p.m., Friday.
Two more Aggies are in the quarterfinals for the 100-meter hurdles in junior Cory Poole and senior Cedric McGriff. Poole posted a 13.64 as he finished with the eighth-fastest qualifying time. McGriff moves into the quarterfinal after finishing at 13.79. The quarterfinals for the 110mh are Friday at 6:45 p.m.
Senior Akeem Lindo had the eighth-fastest qualifying time in the men's 400mh as he crossed the finish line in 58.86. Lindo will try to advance to NCAA nationals on Friday when he competes at 7:55 p.m. Friday.
Fifth-year standout Abbas Abbkar will compete in the quarterfinals of the 800m on Friday at 7:35 p.m. after he qualified on Wednesday with the fifth-fastest time of 1:49.05.
The North Carolina A&T women's outdoor track and field qualifiers will compete on Thursday.
