EAST GREENSBORO – No matter what conference houses the North Carolina A&T track and field programs, the Aggies will win weekly honors from the said conference.
After winning numerous weekly honors last season in the Big South Conference, the Aggies started their indoor track and field season with two weekly awards from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) on Tuesday.
The conference named graduate All-American Paula Salmon its female track athlete of the week after the Aggies outstanding 2023 season debut at the HBCU Showcase Challenge at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York on Saturday. In addition, Sophomore Brayden Hodgest earned its male field athlete of the week.
Salmon earned three Big South indoor weekly honors last season. In addition, Hodgest obtained his first career weekly honor. Salmon won three events during the HBCU Showcase Challenge. Salmon won the 60-hurdles for the sixth time in her career, finishing in 8.26. Salmon has the fastest 60H time in the CAA this season and the 18th-best in the country.
Salmon also championed the women's 200m with a time of 24.85 to rank third in the conference. Salmon also helped Nilaja Florence, Jaera Griffin and Shaliciah Jones win the 4x200 in 1:40.20.
"It was exciting to see Paula highlight the Aggies dominant performances in her hometown of New York by winning the 60-meter hurdles and the 200 meters as well as anchoring our winning 4x200-meter relay team," said director of track and field Allen Johnson.
Hodgest won the shot put at the HBCU Showcase Challenge, throwing it an indoor personal-best 56-feet, 10-inches. Hodgest has the best shot put throw in the conference. Hodgest is coming off the Big South outdoor championship in the shot put and discus.
"It was a fantastic opener and win," said Johnson about Hodgest. "He picked up where he left off last year. We are now focused on building from here."
The Aggies will compete at the Carolina Challenge at the University of South Carolina, Jan. 20-21, at the Carolina Indoor Track and Field Complex.
