WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – North Carolina A&T director of track and field programs Duane Ross walked away pleased with what he saw from the A&T women's indoor track and field team on Thursday during the first day of the Big South Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at the JDL Fast Track.
The women qualified numerous athletes in the sprint finals. In addition, they broke three Big South indoor championship records and put some significant points on the board in the shot put and distance medley relay. High Point University leads the indoor championship with 81 points followed by Hampton (45), A&T (28), Charleston Southern (21) and UNC Asheville (19) in the top-5.
The women are doing their thing," said Ross. "I thought they were great in their preparation and came in here on a mission."
The women are after their fifth straight conference indoor title after winning four straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) indoor championships before the Aggies athletics department departed for the Big South in the summer of 2021.
Loren James and Jasmine Jenkins have the Aggies off to a great start in points. The senior duo finished 1,2 in the shot put, with James claiming the title. Her best throw landed at 49-feet, 5 ½-inches.
Thursday marked the third straight indoor shot put conference championship James has claimed after winning the MEAC in 2019 and 2020 before the MEAC canceled its 2021 indoor. Jenkins' best throw traveled 45-feet, 7-inches. It marked a new personal record for Jenkins.
The Aggies also scored big in the distance medley relay. The DMR team of seniors Ayoola Gbolade and Nilaja Florence and sophomore Carolyn Brown and freshman Fajr Kelly won with a time of 12:01.75. The Aggies won the MEAC DMR championship in 2020.
A&T looked dominant in other areas, including the 60 meters, where they recorded four of the five top qualifying times.
Graduate Symone Darius had the fastest 60M on Thursday. She broke the Big South indoor championship record by running a 7.34. The previous record stood at 7.39. Freshman Grace Nwokocha tied that mark as her 7.39 was the second-fastest qualifying time.
Sophomore Jonah Ross and senior Kamaya Debose-Epps had the fourth and fifth-fastest times, with Ross running a 7.47 and Debose-Epps finishing in 7.48.
The second-ranked women's 60-hurdler in the nation, graduate Paula Salmon, also broke a Big South indoor championship record on Thursday. She ran a top qualifying time of 8.15 to break the previous record of 8.23. Freshman Amanda Kinloch will also be in the final after running an 8.54.
The Aggies also have at least four finalists in the 200, 400 and 800M.
Debose-Epps broke the Big South indoor championship record in the 200 by posting the top qualifying time of 23.95. The previous record stood at 23.98. The Aggies also had the next three fastest qualifying times led by Jonah Ross' 24.11. Darius clocked a 24.16, and Nwokocha finished in 24.17.
Senior Delecia McDuffie has the top qualifying time in the 400M after running 55 seconds flat. Senior Nia Frederick (56.74), freshman Pebbles Scott (57.11) and sophomore Mykayla Perry (58.06) will also appear in the final.
Freshman Fajr Kelly and Brown had the two top fastest qualifying times in the 800M. Kelly ran a 2:12.72, and Brown posted a 2:14.34. Gbolade (2:14.96) and sophomore Jayla Jones (2:16.85) will also appear in the 800M final. Junior Love Melton made the mile final with a qualifying time of 5:17.88.
"We can win it on the women's side," said Ross. "Let's see what happens."
