High Point, NC – The North Carolina A&T outdoor track and field season is heating up. Over the weekend, the teams showcased their talent at High Point University’s Bob Davidson Team Challenge.
Junior sprinter Makenna Urbanek shined brightly, winning the women’s 100 meters and finishing second in both the women’s 200 meters and the women’s 4×100 relay. In total, the Aggies nabbed three wins and four second-place finishes.
In the 100 meters, Urbanek set a personal best of 11.50 seconds, leading the race against HPU’s Zamesha Myle, who finished at 11.61. This performance places Urbanek at the top of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) standings and ninth in the nation. She also achieved a personal best in the 200 meters with a time of 24.05, behind Duke’s Taylor Aska (23.95), ranking her third in the CAA.
In the women’s 4×100 relay, Urbanek teamed up with senior Zamia Stelly and freshmen Khamoni Rockeymore-Crews and Journey Cole to finish in 45.12 seconds. This time leads the CAA and is 28th in the nation.
On the men’s side, Elijah Thomas won the 800 meters with a personal record of 1:50.21, finishing ahead of George Mason’s Paul McClain (1:50.95) and ranking 15th nationally. Junior Xavier Partee also impressed with a win in the men’s triple jump, achieving a mark of 48 feet, 10¼ inches, placing him second in the conference and 32nd nationally.
Other notable runner-up finishes included freshman Rachel Wildgoose in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.69 and freshman Brenton Baker in the men’s long jump at 23 feet, 3½ inches. Wildgoose currently ranks second in the CAA and 32nd nationally.
Sophomore Alex Henry recorded a personal best of 190 feet, 5 inches in the men’s hammer throw, placing third and leading the CAA. The men’s 4×400 relay team, comprising juniors Caleb Gurnell, Braden Jordan, Shamar Morgan, and Xzaviah Taylor, placed third with a time of 3:10.35, making it the best time in the CAA and 17th in the country.
As fans cheer for the Aggies, social media buzzed about urbanek’s performance, with many sharing highlights and personal stories. The excitement builds as North Carolina A&T prepares for the Raleigh Relays, hosted by NC State, starting Thursday.
For more insights on track and field performance, check out this NCAA report for updates and statistics.
