LYNCHBURG, Va. (February 11, 2018) – North Carolina A&T's men's and women's indoor track and field programs were in two locations over the weekend in preparing to become the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school to repeat as both men's and women's conference indoor champions. The conference meet is Feb. 15-18 at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Md. A few Aggies went to Arkansas to compete at the Tyson Invitational.
At the Liberty Invitational, the Aggies looked good in their warm-up to the meet that could be historic for the university as they tallied 11 top-10 finishes capped with a win in the men's 60 meters.
Sophomore Jaylan Mitchell captured his third 60m victory of the indoor season by running a 6.66. Mitchell also has times of 6.60 (Clemson Orange & Purple Invitational) and 6.65 (JDL College Kick-Off Classic) as he heads into the MEAC indoor championships. Senior Joel Thomas ran a personal-record 6.68 to give the Aggies more depth in the 60. Thomas is 30th in the nation and fifth in the conference in the 60. The Aggies also were the runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles behind sophomore Robert Miller's personal-record 8.05.
In the distance events, a pair of Aggies set new personal records. Senior Corey Aiken posted one in the 1000m event finishing third at 2:23.00. Freshman Alan Johnson was fifth in the 800m, crossing the finish line in 1:54.58, his second-fastest time of the season. Sophomore Marquise McGee ran 8:58.88 in the 3000m run, eclipsing his previous PR of 8:59.90 ran at the UAB Vulcan Invitational on Jan. 13.
Freshman Michael Bell was the lone jumper for N.C. A&T. His best long jump measured 22-feet, 3-inches for seventh place.
Sophomore Taliyah Townsend ran a personal-record 7.50 in the 60 to place second for her highest finish of the season. Sophomore Kristoni Barnes was second in the 800 (2:11.73), coming just short of her 2:11.47 PR. Sophomore Khadija Reid also ran in the 800 and was ninth with her second-fastest time of the season at 2:19.79. In the mile, sophomore Camille Martin was eighth in 5:18.35. Freshman Loren James finished 10th in the shot put at 42-feet, 4 ¾ inches while senior Imani Abraham placed 17th in the weight throw at 48-feet, 2 ½ inches.
