Track & Field | 5/30/2025 10:49:00 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The premiere HBCU men's outdoor track and field program in the country proved why it holds that distinction again on Friday during the third day of the 2025 NCAA Division I East Preliminaries at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.
The Aggie men are headed to Eugene, Ore., and the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon's Historic Hayward Field, June 11-14, in a big way.
Both relay teams – the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400 teams are headed to NCAA nationals along with Xzaviah Taylor in the 400-meter hurdles and his twin brother Isaiah Taylor in the 110H and 400H. Not to be left out, there will be a field participant for the Aggies as sophomore Xavier Partee is also headed to the Pacific Northwest.
It was another huge day for the Taylor twins. The brothers will compete in three events apiece at nationals, with Xzaviah competing in the 4x400, 4x100 and 400H. Isaiah will go as the Aggies representative in the 110H, 400H and 4x100. Xzaviah's performance in the 400H highlighted the day. Xzaviah produced the fastest qualifying time in the 400H by running a program-record 49.18.
He finished ahead of Noah Langford from fellow HBCU Howard University. Xzaviah broke Cory Poole's time of 49.42 set during the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2022. Xzaviah helped the Aggies qualify for nationals in two additional events.
Xzaviah joined brother Isaiah, graduate Brandon Nya, and senior Jaeden Gumbs to run a 39.09 in the 4x100. The Aggies finished third in the first heat. Their 39.09 was the eighth-fastest qualifying time. Later in the day, Xzaviah, freshman Elijah Thomas, junior Dyimond, and sophomore Caleb Gurnell ran 3:03.56 in the 4x400. It marked the 10th-fastest qualifying time in the East. They placed fourth in the first heat.
Isaiah will join his brother as a multiple-event qualifier. Isaiah posted a personal record in the 110H by running a 13.458 for the fifth-fastest qualifying time. Isaiah finished second in his heat by Louisiana Tech's Oscar Smith. The Taylor brothers will also compete for an event national championship in the 400H. Like his brother, Isaiah posted a personal record in the 400H. Isaiah's 50.25 marked the ninth-fastest qualifying time in the East to advance him to Eugene.
Partee called his journey to Eugene a testament to what it means to be consistent and disciplined. Partee jumped a personal-record 52 feet, 4 ¾ inches for the eighth-best qualifying jump in the East.
"This is only my second year doing track and field, so just seeing how much those two things (discipline and consistency) can impact my life is super eye-opening," said Partee. "Making nationals has also shown me the importance of having a village.
With all my teammates, coaches, family members, friends, and Aggies supporting me, I feel like I can do anything on the track, and today really showed that. I look forward to competing at nationals and continuing to put on for my Aggies."
Earlier in the day, junior Taylor Reagor and graduate Julieth Nwosu made A&T outdoor women's track and field history when they competed in the shot put. It marked the first time the Aggies had two throwers compete at NCAA regionals. Reagor threw 48 feet, 9 inches, and Nwosu had her best toss land at 48 feet, 3 ¼ inches.
Neither lady qualified for NCAA nationals. However, Nwosu will have another chance on Saturday when she competes in the discus, becoming the first Aggie to compete at a regional in two different throwing events. Nwosu's event starts at 10 a.m. In addition, the Aggies will also have student-athletes in the women's triple jump, women's high jump, and the women's 4x100.
Junior Olivia Dowd will compete in the triple jump, and junior Spirit Morgan will compete in the high jump at 2:30 p.m. The 4x100 team will compete at 5 p.m.
