The North Carolina A&T University Aggies took home a school-record four titles at the 2021 NCAA Track & Field Championships. Sophomore sprinter Cambrea Sturgis led the way by winning both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Joining Sturgis in the winner's circle, freshman Randolph Ross Jr. won the 400-meter dash and helped his team win the 4×400-meter relay. Together, North Carolina A&T University was the only school to have its men's and women's programs finish in the top four at the national meet. In the end, Louisiana State University won the men's title and the University of Southern California won the women's title.
"We are an HBCU. We will always be an HBCU. That is who we are, that is our history, and we're proud of that," Ross said after his team's third-place finish.
"But that acronym needs to be retired if people are going to continue to misuse it. It's almost like they are saying you guys are good for an HBCU. No, we're good, period."
The future is bright for the North Carolina A&T University Track & Field program. Individual standouts like Sturgis and Ross Jr. will likely be around for years to come. Also, half of the school's championship 4x400-meter relay team will return next season. Not to mention, all four members of the school's third-place women's 4x100-meter relay team are set to return to school next season. If all goes according to plan, the historically Black university will have a shot to compete for a national title next year.
"I think some of our competition is still struggling with the fact that we are better," Sturgis explained.
"They should have been paying attention when I claimed it before it happened. We take what we do over here seriously like everybody else. We're passionate about our track and field program. Our kids are passionate about what they do. This is nothing new for us. I know a lot of people are surprised about what we did this weekend, but they shouldn't be."
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