Wiley, Stillman, Dillard claim first 2026 HBCUAC Men's Track and Field Weekly Honors
NEW ORLEANS - Wiley University hurdler Ronald Garrett Jr. wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Track Athlete of the Week. Middle distance runner Jai Harden earns Newcomer of the Week. Stillman College thrower Carey Owens garners Field Athlete of the Week. Dillard University sprinter Denim Charles takes Freshman of the Week. The men were honored for their performance between March 9-15, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Fresh off his NAIA Indoor National Championship appearance, Garrett won the 110-meter hurdles and was 0.22 seconds from the 'B' qualifying standard. He ran on the winning 4 x 100-meter relay and 4 x 400-meter relay teams at the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Opener.
Owens finished third in the triple jump with a leap of 14.10 meters at the Falcon Classic and Multi Events. He was 0.5 meters from the 'B' qualifying standard.
Charles finished second in the 100-meter dash at the Andy Thiel Season Opener on Saturday. He ran 10.86, which is 0.44 seconds from the 'B' qualifying standard. He also ran a leg on the NAIA Top-ranked 4 x 100-meter relay team.
Harden won the 800-meter run at the Texas A&M-Texarkana Opener. He finished in 2:05.95.
Additional men's track and field nominees: Jaedon Chambers (Talladega), Nigel Davis (Wiley), Shamael Durand-Pierre (Paul Quinn), Majesty Folds (Stillman), Jaylen Haynes (Talladega), Earl Hurd Jr. (Wiley), Dymun Jackson (Paul Quinn), Anthony Thompson (Dillard), Amone Tolliver (Talladega), K'Mon Washington (Dillard)
About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.