Track & Field | 5/15/2026 8:53:00 PM

ELON, NC – North Carolina A&T men's outdoor track and field team surged toward its second straight Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championship with master-class qualifying performances Friday.

Friday launched the 2026 CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Elon University's Jerry and Jeanne Robertson Track and Field Complex. The Aggies did not capture any event championships on Friday, but they stand ready to claim many on Saturday's Day 2.

The Aggies are particularly poised to rack up points in both hurdle events and the 100 meters. Senior Jason Holmes entered the CAA outdoor championships as the leading contender in the 110-meter hurdles due to his 13th-fastest time (13.43) in the nation before Friday's action began.

Holmes, naturally, advanced to the conference final on Saturday (1:55 p.m.) with a 13.68. However, junior teammate Isaiah Taylor outpaced him, clocking 13.62 as the fastest qualifier. Taylor's best time before the championships was 13.48, so both athletes aim to push even faster in Saturday's final.

Graduate Brandon Johnson and sophomore Desmond Smith will join Holmes and Isaiah Taylor in the final. Johnson clocked a 14.25 in the prelims, while Smith pushed through in 14.62 to qualify. While Holmes did not record the top qualifying time in the 110H, he stunned several observers by charging to the fastest qualifying time in the 100m.

Why was Holmes's 100m performance surprising?

Friday marked the first time in his storied career that he tackled the 100m. He burst across in 10.44 ahead of senior teammate Jalen Booth-Mitchell, who entered the championships with the CAA's second-fastest time (10.28). On Friday, Booth-Mitchell clocked 10.54, securing the third-fastest qualifying time.

Holmes and Booth-Mitchell will compete with sophomore Correy McManus, Jr., who dashed to the fourth-fastest time at 10.55. Hampton's Jaci Summers (10.24) arrived as the favorite but secured a final spot with 10.66. Northeastern's Tashawn Berry notched the second-fastest time at 10.52.

The 100 men's final will unfold at 2:40 p.m., Saturday. Holmes and Booth-Mitchell will join A&T's 4x100-meter relay team on Saturday (1:10 p.m.), seeking to boost the Aggies' point total. A&T also plans to rake in more points in the 400H.

The Aggies advanced three in the event on Friday. Isaiah Taylor blazed the trail with 51.30, outpacing his twin brother Xzaviah, who finished in 51.78. Junior Braden Jordan also clinched a final spot (3:25 p.m.) after posting a 54.12. Besides Holmes and Isaiah Taylor, the Aggies locked down two more top qualifying times on Friday.

Booth-Mitchell powered through the 200m in 20.76 for the top qualifying time, setting his fastest 200m mark as an Aggie. He previously logged a 20.55 at the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) outdoor championships as a Delaware State Hornet. McManus also advanced (21.32), though the Aggies expected to qualify more sprinters.

However, junior Nakhi Benjamin shockingly did not qualify, and junior Jordan Ware did not enter the competition. Both men posted times under 20.70 prior to the championships. In the men's 400m, sophomore Elijah Thomas grabbed the top qualifying time.

Thomas stormed to a 46.29 on Friday, a year after establishing a personal record with a 46.19 for second place at the CAA outdoor title. Last season's 400m champion, Xzaviah Taylor, raced to the third-fastest time at 46.62. He notched a personal record of 46.01 to win last season's CAA outdoor 400m. Graduate Michael Brittingham (47.07) also secured a final spot (2:20 p.m.).

Three more Aggies earned spots in the 800m final, led by freshman Taysaun Wilson (1:50.92), who blazed to the second-fastest qualifying time behind William & Mary's Jonathan Kumer (1:50.38). Senior Dawson Grogan (1:51.16) and junior Dyimond Walker (1:51.31) completed the list of A&T finalists for the 3 p.m. race.

Thomas, Walker, and the Taylor brothers aim to dominate the 4x400 relay. The Aggies managed to chalk up some points on Friday. Sophomore Alex Henry placed third in the men's hammer (184 feet) and freshman Brenton Baker seized fifth in the men's long jump (23 feet, 9 ½ inches).

Men's Standings:

1.Northeastern - 61
2.William & Mary - 52
3.Monmouth - 45
4.Hampton - 23
5.Stony Brook - 14
6.N.C. A&T - 13
6. UNCW- 13
8.Hofstra - 11
9. Campbell - 2