Track & Field | 5/15/2025 1:53:00 AM
GREENSBORO – The biggest most unavoidable story for the North Carolina A&T men's outdoor track and field team on Wednesday during the first day of the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by A&T at Marcus T. Johnson Track are the missing 20-plus points the Aggies were expecting from the 110-meter hurdles.
The missing points leave the men with an uphill climb if they want to claim their first outdoor conference title since winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2021. The Aggie men scored two points on Friday but still have opportunities to score numerous points after qualifying multiple athletes for championship finals on Thursday. In addition, the Aggies are favored to win the men's triple jump and shot put.
William & Mary leads on the men's side after the first day with 49 points, followed by Monmouth with 46, and UNC Wilmington rounds out the top three with 28 points. Meanwhile, the A&T women have an arduous journey to the title but had several impressive showings in the qualifying sprint events.
The Aggies scored four points on Wednesday. They trail Day 1 leader Elon, who scored 44 points on Wednesday. The Hampton Pirates are in second place with 29 points, followed by William & Mary, rounding out the top three with 28 points. The A&T women are expected to score big on Thursday in the shot put, triple jump, discus, and high jump.
However, the lesson learned on Wednesday is that what is expected to happen doesn't always happen.
A frustrating day because of numerous weather delays due to lightning in the Piedmont Triad area, became even more frustrating after the 110H. The Aggies came into the conference outdoor championships with three of the top 110H in the CAA. But 110H leader Jason Holmes did not start. His good friend and teammate Thomas Smith IV did not start either, and sophomore Isaiah Taylor was disqualified for a false start. It leaves A&T with no one in the 110H finals.
A foursome of Aggies in the 400-meter final keeps hope alive for the Aggies. Freshman Elijah Thomas, the CAA leader coming into the championships, was the top qualifier on Wednesday. He finished in 47.05. Sophomore teammate (47.16), freshman teammate Jailen Hicks (47.26) and Caleb Gurnell (47.79) also qualified for Thursday's final.
A&T also had the top qualifier in the men's 100m. Graduate Brandon Nya crossed the finish line with a season-best 10.34. Senior Jaeden Gumbs (10.37) and freshman Correy McManus Jr. (10.52) are also in the final. Xzaviah Taylor comes into Thursday's competition with the top time from the 400H. Xzaviah Taylor recorded a 51.88, while his twin brother Isaiah Taylor qualified by finishing in 53.27. Sophomore Braden Jordan will join the twins in the finals after running a 53.80.
In addition, the Aggies will have two runners in the 800m final with juniors Dawson Grogan (1:52.15) and Dyimond Walker (1:52.92). Junior Isaiah Monroe (21.64) and freshman Correy McManus Jr. (21.39) will occupy the men's 200m final. The lone scorer on the day for the A&T men was Aeneas Reed Jr. He finished seventh in the long jump at 22 feet, 7 ¾ inches.
Senior Jade King was the only Aggie to score on the women's side. She jumped 18 feet, 7 ¾ inches to finish fifth in the long jump.
The ladies had a stronger-than-expected showing in the 100m qualifying. Sophomore Makenna Urbanek led the way for A&T, qualifying in 11.65. Senior Lucheyona Weaver had a career day in the 100m, finishing with a personal-record 11.66 to qualify. Senior Pebbles Scott is also in the final after running an 11.68.
As expected, Weaver is in the 100H final after running an 11.80 in the driving rain. Senior Zamia Stelly is also in the final after finishing in 13.95. Senior Fajr Kelly will be in the 800m final after running a qualifying time 2:12.21. Scott and sophomore Hayleigh Bryant are in the 200m final after Scott ran 24.35 and Bryant finished in 23.82.
Sophomore Serenity Brazell is in the 400m finals with a time of 55.15 and freshman Jaylen Spencer is in the 400H final with a time of 1:01.15.
The weather conditions look better today as the meet will start earlier than expected. The men's hammer was moved to Thursday after the weather delays led the meet into the night, where it became too dark to conduct the event. The event will start at 9 a.m. The first running event, the men's 4x100-meter relay, is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
