Track & Field | 7/19/2024 3:57:00 PM

GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T men's and women's track and field programs (indoor and outdoor) have been recognized by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for academic excellence.

Both programs were listed among the organization's All-Academic Teams, with the men's program carrying a 3.0 grade point average and the women posting a 3.16 GPA. Three male student-athletes and one female student-athlete earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors based on the criteria:

• Minimum CUMULATIVE grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, certifiable by either NCAA Faculty Rep or NCAA Compliance Coordinator or Registrar's Office. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0].
• Must have completed at least two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters at the nominating institution.

Athletic criteria for the award:

• For the indoor season: must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event or in the top 48 in any championship relay event for the most recent indoor season, certifiable by their place on final season performance lists on TFRRS for Indoor Track and Field (including performances achieved outside the qualifying window during the indoor season).
• For the outdoor season: must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships (the Preliminary Championship Competition and/or the Final Championship Competition) or for the multi-events, must have finished the season ranked in the top 48 in the East or top 48 in the West for the most recent outdoor season, certifiable by their place on the NCAA Division I.

Based on the criteria, junior middle-distance runner Fajr Kelly, a finance major out of Washington, D.C., earned acknowledgment. Sprinter Shemar Chambers (has transferred), a management major, sophomore hurdler Thomas Smith IV, a kinesiology major, and freshman hurdler/sprinter Xzaviah Taylor received acknowledgment on the men's side.

Kelly won gold at the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships in February by helping the Aggies win the 4x400-meter relay. She finished second in the 800 meters at the same event.

She won CAA Track Athlete of the Week on January 16 after winning the 800m at the University of South Carolina's Gamecock Opener. During the outdoor season, she won her first conference title as an individual when she claimed the 800m championship at the CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.

Before transferring, Chambers scored big for the Aggies at the CAA indoor championships, scoring 23 points by finishing fourth in the 200m, second in the 400m and first in the 4x400. Smith came on strong late during the outdoor season, qualifying for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round (regionals) in the 110-meter hurdles before qualifying for the NCAA championships, where he earned second-team All-American honors.

Taylor had an excellent freshman season, playing a significant role in the Aggies winning the CAA indoor championship in the 4x400. He also finished sixth in the 60H at the conference indoor championships. During the outdoor season, he qualified for the NCAA regionals in the 400H. At the CAA outdoor championships, he competed in three different events, finishing third in the 4x400, fourth in the 400H and sixth in the 400m.