This HBCU’s Men’s Track Team Makes History, Breaking Record For Fastest 4×400 In The World

They’re runners; they’re track stars!

North Carolina A&T’s men’s track team just made history, breaking the record for fastest 4×400 in the world, Blavity reports.

North Carolina A&T’s men’s track and field team are no stranger to wins. The team was recently ranked best in the nation after proving victorious at the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships. During their NCAA victory run, the Aggies became the first HBCU to win an NCAA indoor title in the 4×400 since Morgan State won back to back in 1965 and 1966. Now, the team has another trophy to claim.

During the annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at the University of Texas, four-track team members, Randolph Ross Jr., Daniel Stokes, Trevor Stewart, and Elijah Young logged a 3:00.23 run, the fastest 4×400 record in the world. The team recorded almost a full second faster than their competitors, LSU, who came in second place at 3:01.00.

The school’s athletic department took to Twitter to celebrate the win, writing, “The National Champs are at [it] again!! And this time, they’re doing it on the outdoor scene. This foursome just ran the fastest 4×400 time in the WORLD (3:00.23) at the…Texas Relays.”

Duane Ross, A&T’s director of track and field programs, spoke about the win saying, “I’m happy for our 4×4 team. This is what we are supposed to do. We feel that we’re the best in the world at it, so this time and even faster times in the future are expected. We want to keep proving that it can be done right here at North Carolina A&T.”

Stewart, a senior, said he is used to people underestimating their team.

“People are always going to discredit us no matter what we do. It boils down to we’re an HBCU. We’re not supposed to be doing this. It almost forces us to do it bigger and better. But we’re fine with that. It makes us better people, and it prepares us for life after college. Bigger and better is what the world is going to expect from us too,” he said.

According to the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association’s, NCAT was ranked No. 2 team in the nation before moving to No. 1 following the NCAA championships. 

While the men’s team is doing exceptionally well, the women’s team has also shown out, sophomore sprinter Cambrea Sturgis winning first place in the women’s 200 meters at the Texas Relays.

The Aggies are headed to the University of Florida and High Point University for their next competitions, participating in the Florida Pepsi Relays and the high point VertKlasse Meeting.

Congratulations, Aggies!

Photo Courtesy of @NCATAggies/Twitter