Track & Field | 5/29/2026 11:48:00 PM
LEXINGTON, Ky. – If the nation is not aware of who junior North Carolina A&T hurdler/sprinter
Isaiah Taylor is, it is about to discover who he is in a major way.
Similarly, if the country does not understand the powerful presence and impact the Taylor Twins – Isaiah and Xzaviah – bring to a track, that will soon be discovered too.
Both are headed to Eugene, Ore., for the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in the 400-meter hurdles.
Isaiah Taylor is headed there with a resounding and thunderous message to the rest of the NCAA Division I Track and Field world.
I've arrived!
Friday was historic for North Carolina A&T's men's outdoor track and field team. At the NCAA Division I East First Round,
Isaiah Taylor clocked an impressive 48.71 in the 400H quarterfinal, the fastest mark across both East and West competitions on Friday. He shattered the program record, previously held by his twin,
Xzaviah Taylor.
It marked
Isaiah Taylor's second time under 50 seconds after his 49.76 on Wednesday qualified him for the quarterfinals. Until this week, he had never run under 50 seconds in the 400H, and now he has the third-fastest time in the country. Isaiah and his brother Xzaviah will compete in Eugene; Xzaviah won the first 400H heat with a personal-best 48.82, also the third-fastest time across both meets.
The Taylor Twins now own the program's five fastest 400H times, with Isaiah at No. 1 and No. 4 (49.753) and Xzaviah at No. 2 (48.82), No. 3 (49.18), and No. 5 (49.756).
Adding to the historic nature of the evening was senior jumper
Xavier Partee. Partee cemented his status as one of the best triple jumpers in the nation after a disappointing runner-up finish at the conference outdoor meet two weeks ago. Partee jumped a program record 53 feet, 4 ¼ inches, toppling Keenan Smith's 11-year-old mark (53 feet, ¼ inch). Partee is headed to Eugene for the second straight season after earning honorable mention All-American honors in the triple jump last season.
A&T's 4x100-meter relay team is also headed to Eugene. Juniors
Lassale Hewlett and
Nakhi Benjamin, and seniors
Jason Holmes and
Jalen Booth-Mitchell finished with the seventh-fastest time (38.84), their season best, and tied for the ninth-fastest in program history. They finished second in their heat.
The 4x400 relay team—
Elijah Thomas,
Xzaviah Taylor,
Dyimond Walker, and
Isaiah Taylor—ran a season-best 3:01.22, placing third in their heat and securing the sixth-fastest qualifying time from the East. This mark stands as the program's fourth-fastest ever.
Jason Holmes advanced to nationals in the 110-meter hurdles after a 13.40 in the first round. He finished third in his heat, securing a spot among the top 12 advancing hurdlers. Holmes will compete in the 110H at NCAA nationals for the first time in two years. In 2024, he earned honorable mention All-American honors in the event.
There was some disappointment on Friday. Booth-Mitchell competed in the 200 meters and, despite posting a personal-best 20.50, he narrowly missed qualifying for nationals. He finished fourth in his heat and 13th overall, which fell outside the top 12 qualifying times. Notably, his 20.50 marked the third straight time he has broken his personal record in a 200m race.
Ty'Heak Buie finished 26th in the triple jump with a 50 feet, 3¼ inches mark, and freshman
Everett Alston placed 46th in the discus with a best throw of 164 feet, 8 inches. Neither qualified this time, but both gained crucial experience.
After the Taylor Twins' introduction on the national stage, A&T seeks to add more NCAA qualifiers Saturday as the first round concludes. Senior
Taylor Reagor competes in the discus at 1 p.m., and senior
Olivia Dowd in the triple jump at 6 p.m.
