Track & Field | 1/19/2024 11:49:00 PM

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The North Carolina A&T men's and women's indoor track and field teams had another impressive showing in the hurdles during the first day of the Hokie Invitational hosted by Virginia Tech at Rector Field House on Friday. Sophomore Jason Holmes secured his second straight win in the men's 60-meter hurdles in as many events, and junior Lucheyona Weaver battled East Carolina's Sydni McMillan all day for supremacy in the women's 60H. 

Holmes, who won Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) men's athlete of the week on Dec. 12 after running a 7.70 at the Clemson Opener at Clemson University on Dec. 8, won at Virginia Tech on Friday by finishing in 7.72. He had the sixth-fastest time in the preliminary, winning his heat in 8.02. As of Friday, Holmes' Clemson time still has him ranked second nationally behind fellow CAA hurdler Ethan Exilhomme of Northeastern (7.60). 

Like Clemson, there was strength in numbers for the Aggies in the men's hurdles. At Clemson last month, they placed first, second, third and fourth. The Aggies claimed four of the top-six spots on Friday as freshman Isaiah Taylor placed third with a time of 7.92. He had the fifth-fastest qualifying time at eight seconds flat. Sophomore Thomas Smith had the fourth-fastest qualifying time (7.96) before finishing fourth in 7.97. 

Smith and Taylor rank fourth and fifth in the CAA as of Friday. Senior Aveon Reid closed out the Aggies' strong presence in the hurdles by finishing sixth in 8.10. He had the second-fastest qualifying time in the prelims, winning his heat in 7.88. Reid is third in the conference after he ran a 7.73 at Clemson. That time also has Reid ranked 10th nationally as of Friday.

On the women's side, Weaver had the second-fastest qualifying time as she finished in 8.32 behind McMillan's 8.30. McMillan won the final with a personal record of 8.27. Weaver ran an 8.30 to finish second. As of Friday, Weaver is tied for 10th nationally in the 60H after running an 8.19 at Clemson. She is No. 1 in the CAA. 

The Aggies had another second-place finish as freshman Xzaviah Taylor ran the men's 300 meters in 34.15. He finished ahead of senior teammate Shmar Chambers, who crossed the line in 34.36 to place fifth. In the men's 60m, senior Caleb Jackson finished tied for fourth with a time of 6.757. He is third in the CAA after running a 6.72 at Clemson. 

Sophomore Qualiar Newton had a sixth-place finish in the men's weight throw with a toss of 59 feet, 2 ¾ inches. Newton is still second in the conference after measuring 59 feet, 4 ¼ inches at the University of South Carolina's Gamecock Opener last week. The Aggies had three top-10 finishes in the men's 600m as freshman Kamren Kennedy led the way with a fifth-place finish in 1:20.71. Freshman Kaleb Conway followed in sixth (120.77), and Dawson Grogan placed seventh (1:20.93). 

A&T returns to action at Virginia Tech on Saturday, with the first event starting at 11:30 a.m. The first event on the track will begin at 2 p.m., with the women's distance medley relay. The Aggies will also compete in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Sunday at the JDL Fast Track.