2024-01-27 03:33:54
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NEW YORK, NY – The North Carolina A&T men’s indoor track and field team jumped their way to prosperity on Friday during the first day of the Dr. Sanders Invitational Columbia Challenge at the Armory. The Aggies also received another stellar performance from sophomore hurdler Jason Holmes in the 60-meter hurdles.
Joseph Palmer, a junior University of Kentucky transfer, led the way for the Aggies, led the way in the men’s triple jump by jumping a season-best 49 feet, 5 ¾ inches to win the event for the first time this season. Palmer came into the weekend ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association with his 49-foot ¼ inch jump at the Clemson Opener in December. As of Friday, he will remain No. 2, trailing Campbell’s Charles McBride II, who jumped 51 feet, 2 ¼ inches on Jan. 20.
Freshman Kaleb Lucas had a breakout performance in the long jump, leaping a personal-best 23 feet, 2 ½ inches to finish seventh. As of Friday, Lucas’ jump is the second-best in the conference behind Monmouth’s Ahmad Brock’s 23-feet, 3 ¼ inch jump on Jan. 20.
Holmes, who already has two CAA men’s indoor track athlete of the week honors this season, had his best performance of 2023-24 in the 60H. Holmes ran a personal-best 7.66. That is still a few ticks off Northeastern’s Ethan Exilhomme, whose lowest time is 7.60. Holmes has won the 60H three times this season.
For the fourth time this season, the Aggies placed at least three hurdlers in the top-8 of the 60H. It happened again on Friday as the Aggies placed four Aggies in the top-8 of the final. Freshman Isaiah Taylor finished third in 7.91, which was a fraction of a second off his best time of 7.90 recorded at the Clemson Opener on Dec. 8. Sophomore Thomas Smith placed fourth in 7.95, and senior Aveon Reid finished eight in 8.24.
In the women’s 60H, junior Lucheyona Weaver had the fastest qualifying time at 8.27. Senior Shadajah Ballard posted the seventh-fastest qualifying time with a personal-best 8.52. Weaver finished third in the final in 8.30, while Ballard placed sixth in 8.55. Meanwhile, senior Caleb Jackson had a fourth-place finish in the men’s 60 meters by running a 6.82.
Braydon Hodgest finished fifth in the men’s shot put with his best throw traveling 54 feet, 2 ½ inches. Hodges remains behind teammate Carlos Alexander, who threw 54 feet, 5 ½ inches at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off on Dec. 2. In the women’s shot put, Julieth Nwosu had a toss of 46 feet, 11 ¾ inches to place fifth. As of Friday, it is the fourth-best throw in the CAA.
A&T will return to the Armory on Saturday for the second day of competition.
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