LUBBOCK, Texas – The North Carolina A&T men's and women's indoor track and field teams watched another record fall on Day 2 of the 2025 Corky Classic — this time in the field events at the Texas Tech University Sports Performance Center.
Competing against only himself for A&T record-book superiority in the men's indoor shot put event, senior Brayden Hodgest added more than two feet to the program record he already owned with a throw of 59 feet, 5 inches on Saturday to take fourth place. The last time Hodgest broke the record came on February 23, 2003, when he tossed the shot put 57 feet, ¾ inches to win the event at the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Hodgest claims the top five spots for best indoor shot put throws in program history, and he has been the reigning champ of the CAA indoor championships the previous two seasons. He is poised to retake the title as he currently sits No. 1 in the CAA rankings.
The Aggies did garner two first-place finishes on Saturday from sophomore Isaiah Taylor and senior Fajr Kelly.
Taylor toppled more than 60 participants in one of the 200-meter events to win with a personal record of 21.02. The new mark has Taylor tied for No. 2 with teammate Jordan Ware and just behind teammate Jason Holmes (20.94). Taylor's twin brother, Xzaviah Taylor, also took on the 200m race and managed a sixth-place finish with a personal record of 21.34. He is ranked sixth in the CAA.
Kelly is typically an 800m runner, but on Saturday, she participated in her third collegiate 600-yard race, winning the event by shaving more than 10 seconds off her previous 600m runs to win the event in 1:20.28. Taking on the 600m for the men, freshman Elijah Thomas placed fifth in 1:09.56.
In making leaps in the triple jump, sophomore Xavier Partee improved his personal record by jumping 51 feet, 1 ¾ inches, to place eighth. This mark will keep him positioned at No. 1 in the CAA rankings. Partee's previous record was 49 feet, 4 ¼ inches from the Clemson Opener in December.
After three weeks on the road, the Aggies will get a chance to run a bit closer to home at their next meet, hosted by the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem. The teams expect to compete at the JDL Flat is Fast Invitational on Sunday, January 26.
