AGGIES
PREPARED FOR A BUSY TRACK SEASONGREENSBORO, March 17, 2006 -- Roy Thompson is a proud North Carolina A&T State University alumnus. There is nothing he likes better than to showcase his school. He also likes to showcase his men’s and women’s track programs.
In 2006, he will get ample opportunity to do both. Thompson, the director of track programs, is heading into his 25th year at N.C. A&T. He has seen outstanding athletes come and go, but this year will mark the first time he has seen so many arrive and leave at one time.
This Saturday’s Aggie Team Challenge Race kicks off what promises to be an exciting 2006 season of Aggie track and field. N.C. A&T is the host school for the 2006 NCAA East Regional. The Aggies will be the first HBCU to host a NCAA outdoor track and field regional event.
“When you think about the schools, the officials, the knowledgeable track fans, the alumni and others that will be here for the event you can’t put into words the magnitude of what hosting such an event will have on the University,’’ said Thompson. “We’re excited about it, we’re looking forward to it and I think A&T is going to put on a great event. We are the first HBCU to be host, so it is an honor.”
While the NCAA East Regional is an enormous accomplishment for N.C. A&T and the Irwin Belk Track facility, it is not the only event coming to Aggie Land in 2006. In fact, there will be nine other events, including four N.C. A&T home track meets that will be on the schedule in 2006.
The MEAC Outdoor Men’s and Women’s Championships will be among the outside organizations looking to hold their event in at N.C. A&T.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A Championships return (May 19-20) for a second straight year. Also returning for year No. 2 is the Nike High School Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Nike meet features the best athletes from across the country, including future stars on the Division I and Olympic levels. Like last season, it also features future track stars for N.C. A&T.
In late June, the USATF National Age Group Championships will visit and in July, the Russell E. Blunt Invitational will make its third appearance at Irwin Belk Track.
With all the excitement of a 10-meet schedule, what can get lost is the outstanding season the Aggie track teams should have in 2006. Thompson and assistant James Daniels have some athletes who have All-American and National Champion potential.
Among the superstars is senior jumper Brandon Via. Via ended a successful indoor season by earning All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. He became N.C. A&T’s seventh All-American track athlete in school history. Via, however, has a score to settle in outdoor.
A year ago, the six-time MEAC Champion (indoor and outdoor) would have been an All-American in outdoor had he not been disqualified for stepping over the line on one of his longer jumps. Thompson said Via is determined not to let that mistake happen again.
“I’m proud of Brandon,’’ said Thompson, who works with the field event athletes. “He didn’t get down; he came back and began working hard toward the future. He worked on his approach, he worked on his steps and I think people are going to see a focused young man come this spring.”
Joining Via for the All-American chase is sprinter Justin Byron. Bryon just missed out on All-American status during the indoor season and he came up short during the 2005 outdoor season. But Bryon has steadily improved over his career, and was ranked in the top 10 for much of the indoor season. He broke the school and MEAC record in the 200 meters (21.35) during the indoor season.
Byron’s presence will also help the Aggies in the 4x100 relay. If the Aggies could have avoided disqualification in the 4x100 relay last season, they would be the defending MEAC Outdoor Men’s Champions today.
“Justin has been consistent for us throughout his career,’’ said Daniels. “He is an excellent student in the classroom and he comes to compete every day. I really want to see him close out his career as an All-American.”
The Aggie men are an experienced group, and with the MEAC and the East Regional on their own surface, there is no reason this should not be a banner year. Seniors Jimmie Fields and Dominique Camm should help Via load up on the points in jumping events.
Antonio Lee, Robert Martin and Erick Worthington along with Bryon should form some pretty formidable relay teams. It is the same foursome that was disqualified last spring, but will try to make up for the disqualification by winning the 4x100 relay championship.
Gordon Smith and Jerrecolm Wyatt will compete in the hurdles for the Aggies. Smith also steps into the realm of field events. He placed second behind teammate Christopher Walker in the high jump at the MEAC Championships last season.
The Aggies even added a little punch in the distance areas. Traditionally, distance events haven’t been strong for the Aggies, but with the addition of freshmen Travanni Jett and Rashad Burnett that could all change. Another addition – freshman Lonnie Phifer – gives the Aggies more muscle in the throwing events.
Sophomores Ron Buchanan and Cerone Burnett had even more depth in the field events. Freshmen Tarrish Alexander (jumps) and Thomas Funderburk (sprints) also add depth.
“It’s always been my dream to have N.C. A&T as big name in the track and field circles,’’ said Thompson. “The steps have been put in place to make that happen. I’m excited about the direction of the program. Pretty soon, when people mention collegiate track and field, A&T’s name will start to come to mind.”
On the Lady’s side, senior hurdler Lauren Taylor is striving to take the women’s program places it has never seen. Taylor broke the school’s indoor record in hurdles during the indoor season (8.36) and looks to break more records during the outdoor season. Taylor’s field events status isn’t bad either. Taylor placed second in the long jump at the MEAC Outdoor Championships.
She will team with fellow senior Courtney Clark. Clark has won four MEAC titles, including three in relays and she won the 400 meters as a sophomore. Clark had a productive indoor season, which should translate into an outstanding outdoor season.
Senior Phykesha Blackmon should garner the Aggies some points in sprints and Caryle Decruise was the record holder in the hurdles before Taylor broke it.
Another element of the women’s team that has Thompson and Daniels thrilled are the freshmen. The women’s teams sports 14 freshmen who should make the Aggie track surface look even better in the future with top finishes.
“We wanted to have a big recruiting year and we went out and made it happen,’’ said Daniels. “When you have a great facility added to your program you want to take advantage of it. We feel like these girls have what it takes to take our program to championship levels.”
Mixed in with five sophomores that include Brittany Disxon leading the way in field events, the Aggie women are shaping to have a great season.