COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 7. 2018) – North Carolina A&T track and field continued their outdoor dominance with a return to the University of South Carolina for the Gamecock Invitational at the Sheila & Morris Cregger Track. The Aggies won the men's 100 meters and the women's 200m, placed second in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase and had two third-place finishes in the men's 100 and women's 400-meter hurdles.
The men garnered 14 top-10 finishes with four personal records. Junior Michael Dickson recorded the nation's ninth-fastest time in the 100mh at 13.75 during the prelim round. Dickson ran his best time of the outdoor season and has the top time in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the finals, Dickson placed fourth at 14.02.
Sophomore Jaylan Mitchell captured the only Aggie men's victory winning the 100 with a time of 10.43 while senior Joel Thomas was third at 10.56. In the 200, Mitchell posted a personal-record 21.44 to rank 10th in the MEAC. Thomas was ninth in the 200 at 21.57.
Sophomore Marquise McGee (10:08.14) was second in the 3000m steeplechase and freshman Chase Bonham (53.01) was fourth in the 400mh. In the 400, freshman Trevor Stewart (47.21) was fourth and junior Justin Hamilton (48.13) was seventh.
Freshman Alan Johnson paced the distance crew with a personal-record 1:53.56 in the 800. He ranks sixth on the conference list. Senior Steve Stowe III (1:54.81) was eighth in the 800. Senior Corey Aiken finished 10th in the 1500 meters with a personal-best 4:02.38 to rank eighth in the conference.
The field events were highlighted by senior Nehemiah Lipford leaping a personal-best 46-feet, 2-inches to place fourth in the triple jump. Lipford sits seventh amongst the conference competitors. Freshman Michael Bell was fifth in the long jump at 21-feet 11 ¾ inches.
N.C. A&T's women were superb as well with 10-top-10 finishes and five personal records. Junior Kayla White won the 200 running the fastest time in the conference while setting a personal record at 23.36. White ranks 36th in the nation in the event. Junior Kennedy Thorne was third in the 400mh with a personal-record 1:00.93 for the third-fastest time in the MEAC.
In the 100mh, sophomore Madeleine Akobundu (14.13) placed sixth in the finals after a fourth-place finish in the prelims at 13.46. Freshman TeJyrica Robinson PR'd in the hurdles at 14.00 ranking fifth in the conference.
Sophomore G'Jasmyne Butler ran a personal-best 4:46.07 in the 1500 and is ranked seventh in the MEAC. Sophomore Kristoni Barnes recorded a season-best 4:49.95 ranking eighth in the conference behind Butler in the 1500.
Freshman Nia Lundy (55.44) was fourth in the 400 and sophomore Sun-Sara Williams (24.33) was sixth in the 200. Senior Imani Coleman (2:17.17) placed seventh in the 800 while sophomore Khadijah Reid (2:18.77) was ninth.
The Aggies will compete at home for the first time in 2018 when they host the Aggie Invitational on April 13-14 at Aggie Stadium.
