The road to Eugene continued Wednesday as several HBCU athletes either advanced to the NCAA Track and Field regional quarterfinals or punched their ticket directly to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in field events.
Alabama A&M long jumper Justin Walker delivered one of the biggest performances of the day, recording a personal-best jump of 7.67 meters (25 feet, 2 inches) to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene. Walker finished 12th overall in the East regional long jump competition, securing the final automatic qualifying spot.
Walker’s performance highlighted a strong opening day for HBCU athletes competing across sprint, hurdle and field events.
Justin Walker advances to Eugene
Walker’s personal-best leap came during the men’s long jump first round Wednesday evening. The Alabama A&M junior improved his previous best and secured a coveted national championship berth.
| Athlete | School | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Walker | Alabama A&M | Long Jump | 7.67m (PB) — Qualified for Eugene |
HBCU athletes advancing to quarterfinals
Several HBCU sprinters and hurdlers advanced through Wednesday’s opening rounds and will compete again Friday and Saturday for a chance to qualify for Eugene.
Men’s 100-meter dash
Texas Southern freshman Joshua Brown advanced to the quarterfinals after running 10.25 in the opening round.
| Athlete | School | Result |
| Joshua Brown | Texas Southern | 10.25q |
Men’s 200-meter dash quarterfinalists
North Carolina A&T senior Jalen Booth-Mitchell advanced to the quarterfinal round in the 200-meter dash.
| Athlete | School |
| Jalen Booth-Mitchell | North Carolina A&T |
Men’s 110-meter hurdles quarterfinalists
Florida A&M placed two athletes into the quarterfinal round while North Carolina A&T also qualified an athlete in the event.
| Athlete | School |
| Jason Holmes | North Carolina A&T |
| Leonard Mustari | Florida A&M |
| Joseph DeRosier | Florida A&M |
Men’s 400-meter hurdles quarterfinalists
North Carolina A&T advanced two athletes in the 400-meter hurdles while Florida A&M freshman Tyon Reed also moved on.
| Athlete | School |
| Xzaviah Taylor | North Carolina A&T |
| Isaiah Taylor | North Carolina A&T |
| Tyon Reed | Florida A&M |
What happens next?
Track athletes who advanced on Wednesday will compete again in the regional quarterfinal rounds later this week. The top finishers and qualifying times from those races will earn spots at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Women’s action begins on Thursday, for a complete list of HBCU athletes competing for a spot in Eugene, click here.
Field event athletes, including long jump competitors, qualified directly to Eugene based on Wednesday’s final standings.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships are scheduled to take place at Hayward Field in Eugene, one of the sport’s premier venues.