RALEIGH, N.C. – Five relay teams competed for North Carolina A&T on the final day of the Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State University (NCSU) at Derr Track in outdoor track and field action on Saturday.
All five finished in the top-5, including wins by the women's 4x100-meter relay A team and the women's 4x400 relay A team. The Aggies also got a victory in the men's long jump.
The women's 4x100 A team consisted of graduate Symone Darius, freshman Grace Nwokocha, senior Kamaya Debose-Epps and sophomore Jonah Ross. They combined to finish in 44.61 in the third heat. They finished ahead of the Ohio State foursome (44.79) in the same heat.
After their performance, A&T's women's 4x100 enter the national rankings at No. 19. They are No. 1 in the Big South Conference.
There was also a solid showing from graduate Delecia McDuffie, Nwokocha, Darius and Ross in the women's 4x400. In the sixth heat, that quartet finished in 3:34.90, again finishing ahead of an Ohio State team. The Buckeyes finished in 3:38.31 in the same heat.
Last week, the women's 4x400 finished in 3:39.06. This week, the team is ranked 12th nationally and No. 1 in the Big South. Meanwhile, the Aggies 4x400 B team of sophomore Mykayla Perry, freshman Pebbles Scott, senior Nilaja Florence and sophomore Nia Frederick finished fourth in 3:44.43. That is the second-fastest time in the Big South.
On the men's side, A&T's 4x400 A team and its 4x400 B team finished second and third, respectively.
The A team included seniors Daniel Stokes and Cory Poole, junior Aveon Reid and graduate Elijah Young. They finished in 3:10.32 in the sixth heat behind Ohio State, who ran the 4x400 in 3:08.85 in heat No. 6.
The B team consisted of freshman Shemar Chambers, sophomores Raheem Hayles and Brandon Nya and senior Akeem Lindo. They crossed the finish line in the fifth heat in 3:12.05. The A team has the fastest time in the Big Sout, and the B team has the second-fastest time.
Senior Brandon Hicklin ended a solid weekend for the Aggies in field events. A day after junior Kenady Wilson won the women's high jump, Hicklin won the men's long jump with his best leap measured at 25-feet, 8-inches.
Hicklin is ranked seventh in the nation as he tries to reach his fourth NCAA championship. He has qualified for two NCAA indoor championships and one outdoor NCAA championship thus far in his career.
A&T returns to action at the Florida Relays hosted by the University of Florida, March 30-April 2. A portion of the team is also scheduled to compete at the VertKlasse Meeting hosted by High Point University, April 1-2.
