Track Stars App Recap: North Carolina A&T

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North Carolina A&T captured a fourth straight MEAC indoor championship behind some of the nation's most talented athletes. Here's a look at the Aggies 2019-2020 season.

Cambrea Sturgis proved her freshman season was no fluke as she recorded the team's fastest 60-meter time of 7.15 during the opening meet of her sophomore campaign.

Sturgis dominated the 60-meters races in her first meet of the season which was the Jim Green Invitational at the University of Kentucky. During the prelim round she ran 7.32, tied with Kentucky star Celera Barnes. In the semifinals she finished at 7.24, well ahead of Barnes' time of 7.36.

In the finals she ran her personal best time of 7.15 to win the event. That time was the second best finish in the NCAA during the season as well as the eighth fastest time in the world this year. Sturgis also posted a time of 7.17 at the Tyson Invitational where she beat fellow up and coming sprinters Thelma Davies(LSU) and Amira Young (Minnesota).

At the MEAC indoor championship meet, Sturgis (7.26) was edged out by Norfolk State's Kiara Grant (7.22) in the 60-meter finals, but Sturgis got her revenge when she left the meet with the 200-meter dash crown. Sturgis' time of 23.61 narrowly defeated Grant's 23.64 finish.

North Carolina A&T's hurdlers recorded three of the top 16 times in the nation in 2020. Sophomore Paula Salmon started the season with a bang during a dazzling performance at the Jim Green Invitational. Her finals time of 8.09 in the 60-meter hurdles was second only to pro runner Devynne Charlton.

Not to be outdone, 2019 MEAC outdoor hurdles champ Madeleine Akobundu scored a time of 8.08 at the Hokie Invitational, hosted by Virginia Tech. At that meet Akobundu defeated Salmon who finished at 8.19.

Salmon matched Akobundu's 8.08 during a third place finish at Arkansas' Tyson Invitational, where she finshed behind the NCAA's top hurdler Tonea Marshall (LSU) 7.89 and her teammate Alia Armstrong (7.95). Akobundu and Salmon's 8.08 finishes were tied for the 10th best mark in the NCAA for the season.

The two hurdlers met at the MEAC indoor championship meet as the favorites. Akobundu, a senior managed to have the top prelim time at 8.21 seconds, ahead of Salmon's 8.29. In the finals, things were turned upside down as senior TeJyrica Robinson showed up to the party with a win in 8.12 seconds.

North Carolina A&T had a one-two-three finish as Salmon (8.13) and Akobundu (8.14) were second and third respectively. Robinson would be a number one hurdler at most programs around the nation but with North Carolina A&T being so stacked throughout her career, she has gone under the radar, while others shined. Her MEAC indoor championship win was the second indoor 60-meter hurdles win of her collegiate career.

As we discuss upsets, junior Delecia McDuffie, a transfer from Johnson C. Smith, won the 400-meter dash MEAC indoor title for North Carolina A&T. McDuffie finished with a personal best time of 54.13, ahead of Norfolk State's Malika Pride and North Carolina A&T's 400-meter favorite, senior Tori Ray. Over her career Ray won two indoor championships and two outdoor titles in the 400-meter dash.

North Carolina A&T won the MEAC championship meet with 165 points. Norfolk State was the runner-up with 131 points in the field of 11 teams. North Carolina A&T also had a strong performance from junior Loren Jones who won the MEAC shot put and weight throw championships. The shot put win was her second straight indoor crown.

Salmon also pitched in on the field side of things with a win in the high jump competition. Her teammate freshman Kenady Wilson was second.

The future of North Carolina A&T is as bright as ever. Sturgis and Salmon are national powers who lead the way but others such as junior Kayla Foy, sophomore Kamaya Debose-Epps and sophomore Nilaja Florence are going to rise in the ranks as the Aggies prepare for their final year in MEAC competition.