Dillard, Voorhees claim Week 2 HBCUAC Men's Track & Field Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Dillard University sprinter Surprise Babalola wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Week. Voorhees University jumper Jayden Burris garners Field Athlete of the Week. Jumper DeAndre Jones earns Freshman of the Week. They were recognized for their performance between March 16-22, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Babalola qualified for the 2026 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Championship in the 100-meter dash. He surpassed the 'A' qualifying standard with a time of 10.28 at the Louisiana Classics. His time was second out of 53 athletes and leads the HBCUAC and ranks second in the NAIA.

Burris qualified for the NAIA National Championship in the triple jump. He won the event with a distance of 16.35 meters at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational, topping 55 athletes.

Jones leaped a NAIA National Championship qualifying height in the high jump. He cleared 2.11 meters, which surpassed the 'A' qualifying standard. His height was third among 20 athletes.

Additional men's track and field weekly nominees: Myrian Blaze (Wiley), Denim Charles (Dillard), Emmanuel Idris (Huston-Tillotson), Chadrick Lee (Paul Quinn), Carey Owens (Stillman), Jaiden Parker (Huston-Tillotson), Stanley Rhone (Dillard),  Ziareon Skinner (Voorhees)

2026 HBCUAC Men's Track and Field Athletes of the Week

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.