GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T outdoor men's track and field had a wonderful week last week. It included winning the prestigious 4x400-meter relay Drake Relays title and claiming two more Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) weekly awards.
The Aggies 4x400 'A' team, consisting of freshman Elijah Thomas, sophomores Xzaviah Taylor and Isaiah Taylor, and Dyimond Walker, ran 3:05.36 to win Drakes. A day later, the Aggies extended their presence to the University of Virginia's High Performance meet and accomplished more.
Sophomore Nakhi Benjamin claimed CAA Athlete of the Week, and senior teammate Brayden Hodgest won co-Field Athlete of the Week after their showing at UVa., on Sunday.
Benjamin won three events on Sunday, including running in two relay races. He joined A&T's 4x100 'B' relay team of senior Jaeden Gumbs, freshman Correy McManus Jr., and sophomore Barfuo Abayie Boakye-Boaten to run a 40.31.
It stands as the third-best performance in the conference after the 'A' team's 38.96, which leads the conference and ranks eighth nationally. Benjamin also joined the 4x400 'B' team of sophomore Caleb Gurnell, freshman Jalien Hicks, and sophomore Braden Jordan to post a 3:16.99 to win at UVa. It is the eighth-best performance in the CAA this season, ranking behind the 'A', who leads the CAA at 3:03.10.
The 4x400 team also ranks eighth in the nation. Benjamin then took to the track as an individual and ran a 20.99 in the 200 meters to win the event. Benjamin's 20.75 recorded at A&T's Aggie Invitational on April 19 ranks as the 54th-best time in the nation and 31st in the NCAA East Region.
Meanwhile, Hodgest kept setting a new standard in the men's shot put at A&T. He broke his program record in the event, having his best toss land at 59 feet, 1 ¼ inches. Hodgest is No. 1 in the conference, 38th in the region and 71st nationally in the shot put. Hodgest also finished second in the discus throw at Virginia, with his best throw landing at 161 feet, 7 inches.
The Aggies return to action this weekend when they host the Aggie Classic at Marcus T. Johnson Track, May 2-3. The Aggie men will try to pull off the double by winning the CAA outdoor championship months after winning the indoor title. The Aggies will host the 2025 CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Johnson Track, May 14-15.
2025 CAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD A&T WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
March 25: Lucheyona Weaver
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
March 25: Julieth Nwosu
April 1: Julieth Nwosu
April 22: Spirit Morgan
Men's Track Athlete of the Week
March 25: Isaiah Taylor
April 1: Jason Holmes
April 29: Nahki Benjamin, N.C. A&T
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
March 25: Brayden Hodgest
April 1: Brayden Hodgest / Reagan Wise, Campbel
April 29: Brayden Hodgest / Dalton Yeust, Monmouth
