The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships began with the men competing for national titles in field events while runners vied for a spot in the finals on Friday on the track.
In the end, two HBCU athletes advanced past the preliminary round, hoping for a podium finish.
Alabama State sprinter Jamarion Stubbs entered with the opportunity to claim two national titles in the 100m and 200m, with one of those goals remaining intact at the end of the day.
Although Stubbs could not qualify for the 100m final, running a 10.31 in the first preliminary heat (finished fifth in his group and 17th overall), he more than made up for it in the 200m.
The Hornets’ sprinter led the third heat, running a 20.15 (tied for fourth fastest overall) to advance to the final automatically.
Meanwhile, the 110m hurdles was the only event that saw multiple men compete for a championship, with three men qualifying for the preliminary round.
In the end, Howard’s Samuel Bennett narrowly made it through, snagging the last spot in the final with a 13.46.
His time was the third-fastest in his heat and beat the first person out by a slim 0.06-second margin.
North Carolina A&T duo, beatings Smith and Jason Holmes, ran respectable times of 13.65 and 13.71, respectively, but they would not advance to the final.
