Track & Field | 2/8/2025 10:41:00 PM
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The 2025 Liberty University Liberty Opener closed out on a good note for several athletes on the North Carolina A&T men's and women's indoor track and field teams.
Freshman Elijah Thomas had a brilliant day, championing his first individual 400-meter run in 48.06, quickly moving to No. 6 in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) rankings. Thomas also won in the men's 4x400 relays while running with sophomores Xzaviah Taylor, Dyimond Walker, and Isaiah Taylor.
The men, already ranked No. 1 in the conference, won in 3:10.99.
Sophomore Serenity Brazell, senior Pebbles Scott, sophomore Hayleigh Bryant, and senior Fajr Kelly pulled off the upset on the women's side. They won the 4x400 event in 3:44.75 to mark a season-best and move them to the No. 2 spot in the CAA rankings.
As they did in the preliminary round, the men claimed three of the top five spots in the 60-meter hurdle finals. Isaiah Taylor led the pack, championing the event with a time of 7.79. Junior Thomas Smith IV placed third in 8.15, and Isaiah's twin brother Xzaviah Taylor finished fifth in 8.32.
Senior Lucheyona Weaver earned back-to-back wins in the women's 60H final as she boasted an 8.17, mirroring last week's Gamecock Challenge. Weaver outpaced Olympian Gabbi Cunningham (8.23) to claim the prize.
Most of A&T's field athletes in Saturday's lineup did not start, but the teams still found gold while competing in only two off-track events. Graduate student Julieth Nwosu took the victory by winning the women's shot put with her second-best throw of the season, 52 feet, 1 ¾ inches. Junior Taylor Reagor followed in third with a throw of 46 feet, 11 ¼ inches.
Junior Jason Holmes is usually a 60 hurdler, but he took on the 60-meter dash this weekend. Running this event for the first time this season, Holmes placed second in the race with a personal record of 6.81, a mark that currently sits at No. 3 in the CAA.
Walker finished third in the men's 800 with a personal record 1:52.18 behind former All-American Sam Llaneza (1:51.99). Nina Story also ran a personal record in the 800m, finishing sixth on the women's side in 2:16.23.
The teams have another meet before the CAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Feb. 26-27 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va. They are set to compete at Clemson University's Tiger Paw Invitational on February 14-15 at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex.
