Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
GAINESVILLE, FL. – The North Carolina A&T men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams excelled in both triple jump events Saturday at the Florida Relays hosted by the University of Florida at Percy Beard Track.
In the women’s triple jump, senior Olivia Dowd broke her personal record for the second meet in a row. A week after jumping 41 feet, 1 ¾ inches, Dowd leaped 42 feet, 9 inches on Saturday to take fourth. She strengthened her lead in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). Dowd’s jump at the Florida Relays elevated her national ranking from 37th to 14th.
Sophomore Ty’Heak Buie excelled in the men’s triple jump, placing second with a jump of 50 feet, 10 ¼ inches. In his first appearance this season, he surpassed teammate Xavier Partee in the CAA rankings to claim first place. Partee previously reached 50 feet, 1 ¼ inches at N.C. State’s Raleigh Relays.
The Aggies now have two men’s triple jumpers in the national top 50. Buie’s performance moved him to No. 23, and Partee holds 42nd. Junior Isaiah Taylor also emerged on the national stage.
Isaiah Taylor had a standout Saturday, earning national rankings in two events. In the 110-meter hurdles, he posted the third-fastest qualifying time in prelims at 13.77 and placed fourth in the finals with the same time. Taylor is now the fastest 110 hurdler in the CAA and ranks 23rd nationally. In the 4x400-meter relay, Isaiah Taylor needed help to move to a top national spot.
He anchored a team with sophomore Elijah Thomas, his twin brother Xzaviah Taylor (junior), and junior Dyimond Walker. The group ran 3:03.47. The same group ran 3:03.10 at the Florida Relays last season. This year, their performance pushed A&T’s 4x400 team to first in the conference and sixth nationally. Walker also performed well in the men’s 800 meters.
Walker finished 29th in the men’s 800 with a 1:49.37, second fastest in the conference behind William & Mary’s Jonathan Kumer (1:48.38). Freshman Taysaun Wilson placed 42nd with 1:50.33, fifth fastest in the CAA. The Aggies also improved in the 400m.
Junior Serenity Brazell leads the women’s CAA 400m after running 54.89 on Saturday to place 35th. For the men, junior Caleb Gurnell placed 35th in 47.34, third fastest in the CAA this season. The Aggies also earned a top-5 finish in the men’s high jump. Junior Yule Pieters cleared 6 feet, 8 ¼ inches for fourth. His 6-foot, 9-inch jump at Raleigh Relays remains the conference best.
The Aggies will compete in the Duke Invitational at Duke University from April 9-11.
