CLEMSON, S.C./LEXINGTON, Va. – North Carolina A&T men's and women's indoor track and field teams participated in the prestigious Tiger Paw Invitational at the Clemson Track and Field Indoor Complex. Some Aggies competed at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Winter Classic at the VMI Corps Physical Training Facility.
At Clemson, the Aggies had one track athlete make a final as sophomore Thomas Smith finished fifth in the men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.90. In the 60H semifinals earlier in the day, Smith ran a personal-best 7.81 to qualify for the final. Aveon Reid qualified for the men's 60H semifinals by running a 7.96 in the first round, finishing second in his heat.
Reid did not compete in the semis, however. The Aggies came into the meet with the No. 1 60H unit in the nation, but their No. 1 hurdler, Jason Holmes, did not run on Friday.
In the women's 60H, junior Lucheyona Weaver qualified by winning her heat in the first round in 8.22. It stood as the fourth-fastest qualifying time. She failed to qualify for the final after posting an 8.25 in the semis.
Graduate Shemar Chambers won his 400-meter heat in 47.38, finishing 28th overall. Chambers finished shy of his season best, 47.36. The time has him ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). In the men's long jump, freshman Kaleb Lucas jumped 21 feet, 11 inches, to finish 26th.
At VMI, Qualiar Newton finished second in the men's weight throw with his best toss landing at 59 feet, 7 inches. Newton came into the weekend ranked fourth in the CAA in the event at 60 feet, 2 1/2 inches. Junior teammate Carlos Alexander also competed in the weight throw on Friday, finishing seventh at 51 feet, 6 inches.
After winning the women's weight throw at VMI last week, sophomore Cameron McNair placed third on Friday, with her best throw measuring 54 feet, 11 inches. That throw could move McNair into the top-10 in the conference.
On the track, freshman Makenna Urbaneck qualified for the women's 60m final by running a 7.74 and finishing third in her heat. The final day of the Tiger Paw Invitational and the VMI Winter Classic is Saturday.
