EAST GREENSBORO – Sophomore Reheem Hayles stepped on the national stage on Saturday with a sterling performance in the men's 400 meters at the 2023 Pepsi Florida Relays hosted by the University of Florida at Percy Beard Track.
Earning that spot on the national stage secured Hayles another Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) men's outdoor track athlete of the week honor. In addition, the conference named Jada Griffin its women's track athlete of the week after she won two weekly indoor honors and CAA women's indoor track athlete of the week.
Hayles sprinted to a first-place finish in the 400m with a time of 45.47. In finishing first, Hayles ran the nation's top time this season and the 10th-fastest time in the world. Hayles also teamed with Brandon Nya, Shemar Chambers and Caleb Jackson to finish third in the 4x100-meter relay in 39.87.
The foursome ranks 13th in the East Region. In addition, Hayles, Chambers, Ryan Saint-Germain and Akeem Lindo ran the 4x400 in 3:05.77 to finish fifth at the Florida Relays. A&T's 4x400 team ranks ninth in the East Region. Meanwhile, Hayles leads the CAA in the 200m, 400m, 4x100 and 4x400.
Hayles, the CAA indoor track men's athlete of the year, won his second straight outdoor men's athlete of the week honor. Hayles has won five weekly awards from the conference between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Griffin's performance also improved her standing nationally and regionally. Griffin ran 52.99 in the 400m at the Florida Relays to finish ninth. Her 400m time ties her for the 15th-best time in the nation. In the East Region, she is tied with the same runner she is in the country, Kentucky's Dajour Miles, for eighth.
In addition to her 400m run, Griffin ran the 200m in 23.81. She is now third in the CAA in the 200m behind Elon's Piper Jons and William & Mary's Amaya Johnson. In addition to having the conference's top time in the 400m, Griffin and her teammates are ranked second in the 4x100.
Paula Salmon won outdoor women's track athlete of the week last week. A&T will host the Aggie Invitational, April 7-8, at Marcus T. Johnson Track inside Truist Stadium.
