CLEMSON, SC – The North Carolina A&T men's and women's indoor track and field teams both made outstanding debuts to the 2024-25 season on Friday at the Clemson Opener hosted by Clemson at the Clemson University Indoor Track Complex.
A&T came away with a combined four first-place finishes and six second-place finishes. In addition, they 14 top three finishes. Junior Jason Holmes led the way with wins in the men's 60-meter hurdles and 200 meters. Senior Caleb Jackson earned a victory in the men's 60m, and freshman Nina Story took a win on the ladies' side by claiming first place in the 800 meters.
Holmes is coming off Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Year honors as an outdoor competitor. A few months earlier, he earned second-team All-American honors from the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in the 60H. He also claimed the CAA indoor title in the 60H, and at one point last season, he was the No. 1 60 hurdler in the nation.
To open 2024-25, Holmes ran the fastest qualifying time in the 60H at Clemson with a 7.70. Teammate and another one of the nation's best 60 hurdlers, Thomas Smith IV, ran a 7.82 qualifying time to make the final.
In the 60H final, Holmes ran a personal record 7.64 to win the event. Holmes' time is tied for the fourth-best time in program history. Leonard Mustari ran the time twice during the 2021-22 indoor season. Holmes also established the best time in the nation thus far. Smith IV claimed third place with a personal record time of 7.79. His time is the sixth-best in the country.
Holmes also claimed the best time in the country in the 200m after crossing the finish line in 20.94. Jackson finished second behind his teammate with a personal record time of 21.07. Sophomore Xzaviah Taylor ran a personal record of 21.51 to finish fifth. Jackson did get a win on Friday when he took the 60m in 6.69. Freshman Correy McManus Jr. took fifth place in the event at 6.85.
McManus qualified for the final in his collegiate debut in the 60m preliminary by running a 6.87.
Story got her first collegiate win in the women's 800 by running a 2:26.15. Sophomore Jessica Daniel placed third in 2:27.88. Also, on the women's side, senior Fajr Kelly placed second in the women's 1000m by running a personal record 2:51.70.
The Aggies had three other second-place finishes, two coming in field events. Senior Carlos Alexander placed second in the men's shot put with a throw of 54 feet, 4 inches. Freshman Alex Henry placed fifth with a measurement of 49 feet ¼ inches. In the women's shot put, junior Taylor Reagor placed second by tossing the shot put 43 feet 2 ½ inches.
On the track, the men's 4x400-meter relay team of freshman Michael Brittingham and sophomores Jordan Ware, Xzaviah Taylor, and Isaiah Taylor placed second at 3:10.56. Brittingham then took second in the men's 400m in 48.37.
A&T returns to action on Saturday, January 11, when they head to Columbia, SC, for the Gamecock Open.
