Track & Field | 5/14/2025 1:00:00 PM

GREENSBORO, NC — North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced a multi-year partnership with Mielle, supported by a $200,000 investment in the university’s nationally acclaimed track and field programs. Mielle proudly serves as the official textured hair brand of the North Carolina A&T track and field program.

In just a decade, Mielle has emerged as one of the fastest-growing textured hair care brands, known for delivering high-quality, affordable products designed specifically for textured hair. At the core of its success is a commitment to giving back by investing in communities that helped build the brand, providing critical resources through mutually beneficial partnerships, and helping the next generation of leaders thrive without barriers.

This new partnership reflects Mielle’s mission to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by empowering student athletes to dream bigger and do what they love with confidence on and off the track.

Mielle’s $200,000 investment will go directly to the track and field teams to support their greatest needs from training and equipment to travel. Mielle will also provide annual product donations for athletes and coaches, along with hair health education to encourage holistic wellness and confidence. The goal: to close funding gaps, amplify visibility, and support success on every level.

North Carolina A&T’s track and field program is a powerhouse in collegiate athletics. The Aggies boast four indoor and four outdoor event national championships. Standout moments include Kayla White being named the 2019 NCAA Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the men’s indoor team earning the No. 1 national ranking in 2022. The men’s outdoor team is currently ranked in the top 50 in the nation and recently captured the university’s first-ever Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship, with Allen Johnson named CAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.

“As a proud HBCU alum, it means a great deal to support a program with such a rich legacy of excellence,” said Omar Goff, President, Mielle. “At Mielle, we believe in the power of investing in our communities, and this partnership with NC A&T is about more than dollars, it’s about championing the brilliance of Black student athletes and giving them the tools to win in every area of life.”

Together, Mielle and North Carolina A&T are building more than champions – they are shaping confident, purpose-filled leaders of tomorrow.

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ABOUT MIELLE:

Founded in 2014 by CEO Monique Rodriguez, Mielle is the fastest growing Black-founded and women-led global beauty brand. With a heavy emphasis on incorporating healthier ingredients and a “root to results” approach, Mielle’s collection of beauty products is designed for all hair types. Today, Mielle is a global and viral sensation, with orders in over 90 countries around the world. Their products can be found in more than 100,000 stores across the U.S. in retailers such as CVS, HEB, Rite Aid, Sally Beauty, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, and Walmart.

 

ABOUT NC A&T:

Consistent with the mission statement of the University to provide an intellectual environment where students develop a sense of identification, belonging, responsibility, and achievement that prepares them for leadership and service in regional, national and global communities, the department of athletics provides a comprehensive program of intercollegiate competition as an integral part of the total educational experience for all students.

Embracing the principles of competitive excellence, sportsmanship, diversity, ethical conduct, and amateurism while facilitating the academic objectives of the student-athletes, the department complies with all conference and association rules and regulations and ensures equal opportunity and access for all students and staff who desire to associate with intercollegiate athletics without regard for race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, or religion.

 

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s track and field team prepares for its second Atlantic Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship under head coach Asha Gibson-Smith, Thurday-Saturday, at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Governos begin their championship stay in the field, Thursday, where Emma Tucker, Chloe Peterson, and Marcia Dejesus will compete in the hammer throw at 1:30 p.m. Later in the evening, Amani Sharif, Ja’Kyah Montgomery, and Myra Eriksson then compete in the high jump at 6:30 p.m., followed five Governors – Taylin Segree, Seven Pettus, Isis Banks, Busiwa Asinga, and Alijanae Cole – competing in the 200-meter dash preliminary round.

Shaniya Davis and Asinga then conclude the opening day of events at 7:20 p.m. with the preliminary round of the 400-meter hurdles.

On Friday, APSU again begin in the field with Tucker, Peterson, and Dejesus at 2 p.m. in the discus toss. Emmani Roberts, Denim Goddard, and Sharif then begin the long jump at 2:15  p.m.

Heading to the track Friday evening, Alexi Arnett, Segree, and Mia McGee compete in the 400-meter dash prelims, while Pettus, Gabrielle Miller, Cole, and Gabrielle Hoskins begin the 100-meter dash 30 minutes following.

After Roberts and Neveah Schmeling compete in the 100-meter hurdles at 7:10 p.m., Jaedyn Stalnecker and Taylah Upshaw compete in the Govs’ penultimate event of the evening with the 800-meter run. 

Shaye Foster will be APSU’s final competitor on Friday, as she prepares for the 3000-meter steeplechase at 8:45 p.m.

The 2025 ASUN Track and Field Championships will be live streamed on ESPN and live stats also are available at the link atop this article. 

For news and updates throughout the Governors’ postseason stay, follow the Austin Peay track and field team on X or Instagram (@GovsXCTF) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com for the latest news and stories. 

Northern Michigan University’s Allie Barlow, center right at net, tries to stuff the ball over during a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal match played against Wisconsin-Parkside at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Nov. 20. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Not even counting the end-of-the-season GLIAC Tournament, the Northern Michigan University volleyball team has a busy schedule that includes three tourneys this fall for a total of 27 matches.

NMU Sports Information released the schedule on Monday, which features a total of eight matches in back-to-back tournaments to be held in Florida and Minnesota in the first half of September.

The Wildcats have another tournament scheduled for mid-October with information not yet available about where, who and exactly when those matches take place.

Otherwise, the entirety of the rest of the regular season is taken up by conference matches starting Sept. 19 and running through Nov. 15.

The GLIAC Tournament follows the succeeding Wednesday, Nov. 19, with the quarterfinals that NMU hopes to host as a top-four finisher in the regular season. The semifinals and finals follow, which in past years have always been hosted by the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals.

Before that happens, though, the Wildcats have a busy regular season that includes nine home matches — but none before the final week of September — opponents hailing from nine states and four foes Northern hasn’t faced before.

Three of the new combatants come in the season-opening SpringHill Suites Invitational held in Pensacola, Florida, when NMU plays four matches in three days, Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 4-6, the week and weekend following Labor Day.

The Wildcats open with a first-time match vs. Wheeling (West Virginia) University on the afternoon of Sept. 4, followed by two matches on Sept. 5 — a late-morning match against first-time foe Spring Hill College of Mobile, Alabama, and an evening encounter against more familiar foe Southwest Minnesota State.

The Florida trip wraps up with a match for the first time vs. tourney host West Florida on the morning of Sept. 6.

NMU takes on an almost identical schedule the following week, again playing four matches in three days from Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 11-13, but instead will head west for the Huskies Volleyball Classic in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Three opponents this time will be familiar. The Wildcats open against Minnesota-Duluth on the evening of Sept. 11, then play twice on Sept. 12, vs. Barry of Miami Shores, Florida, in the morning and against host St. Cloud State in the evening.

The event wraps up for Northern with a match against first-time opponent Adelphi University of Garden City, New York, on the morning of Sept. 13.

After that comes the 17-game GLIAC schedule against the 10 other members of the league, seven teams Northern will see twice and three just once.

NMU starts with eight conference matches in a row from Sept. 19-Oct. 11, six of them on the road. The two at home will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, vs. Wisconsin-Parkside and at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, vs. Roosevelt.

There’s also matches on Sept. 19 at Davenport, Sept. 20 at Ferris State, Oct. 3 at Saginaw Valley State, Oct. 4 at Lake Superior State, Oct. 9 at Michigan Tech and Oct. 11 for the season’s only match at Purdue Northwest.

After that stretch, the Wildcats are scheduled on Oct. 17-18 for two matches at the Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover against opponents and at a location still to be determined.

Then the final nine matches of the regular season follow, all in the GLIAC. Unlike the early stretch, this part of the schedule is overwhelmingly at home, seven of the nine at Vandament Arena.

It starts with the only match vs. Grand Valley State, home at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, then the only match against Wayne State, again at home at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.

NMU then gets its rematch against Michigan Tech at home at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Next are the only two road matches of the late season, at Roosevelt on Oct. 31 and at Parkside on Nov. 1.

The Wildcats complete the regular season with four straight matches at Vandament over consecutive weekends — vs. Ferris State at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, vs. Davenport at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, vs. LSSU at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, and vs. SVSU at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Fans can find the schedule online by visiting the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and looking under volleyball, or by going directly to https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the schedule. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the fifth straight time, the High Point University Men’s Track and Field team was crowned the 2025 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Champions. The Panthers totaled 304 points after landing on the podium with 12 gold medals.

“We talk about our goal being to pursue excellence, not perfection,” Head Coach Mike Esposito stated. “For people who know track and field, there was some excellence out there for three days, so not perfection, but oh boy, they were excellent. I have the best staff in America; It’s not even close. We are very blessed at High Point with resources, but we have the best staff. We have the best work ethic in kids, and we’ve got a role in and it’s a tribute to my staff, so the preparation didn’t start this week. We are looking beyond this week and to North Florida here in two weeks to get some kids to Eugene for NCAA Nationals. We want to be a top 25 team in the country. It will and can happen at some point.”

 

The first two days of the Big South Championships held the decathlon, a mix of field event finals and the running event preliminaries. On Wednesday, the running event finals were completed along with another mix of field events. Following the three-day event, the Championship ceremony took place honoring various athletes of the year with the presentation of awards.

 

On day one, the first individual title of the meet was given to Justin Sluijter in the men’s long jump. He jumped 7.69m in the sand to earn first-place.

 

The men’s pole vault team swept the podium as Ricardo Montes de Oca was named the champion clearing 4.91m. Jackson Toumey placed second clearing 4.46m and Jason Olivera Jr. placed third clearing 4.01m.

 

In the throwing events, Alex Hoffman placed second in the men’s hammer throw after throwing 57.77m.

 

Rounding out the first day, Hunter Steinau put on a show in the men’s 10,000m race. He was crowned the champion after clocking a 30:33.78 time earning his first collegiate Big South title.

 

On day two, High Point had two athletes compete in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. Aiden Morrison made the podium placing third with a 9:21.80 time. Evan J. Mills crossed the finish line two places behind Morrison with a 9:36.61 time for fifth place.

 

The Panthers had four athletes to compete in the decathlon across the two days including Cole Wilson, Evan Mills, David Caivano and William Reeves. Three Panthers swept the podium as Wilson was crowned the champion with a program record, 7,609 points, followed by Mills with 6,750 points and Caivano with 6,268 points. Reeves placed fourth with 5,508 points. Wilson recorded personal bests in the 110m hurdles (14.78), 1500m (4:35.59) and the 400m (49.58).

“The decathlon is very similar to a track meet all in one event,” Esposito added. “Because of the ups and downs of it, you are not going to have a perfect meet, just like you aren’t going to have a perfect dec. He mixed in PRs with some disappointing performances, but to his credit, he really rallied back at the end of both days in the 400m and 1500s to put him in a position to go to Eugene. When he focuses on excellence like he did and not perfection, he’s pretty darn good.”

 

In the men’s javelin, Drew Noblet placed second for a spot on the podium after launching the javelin a personal best 62.83m. In the men’s shot put, Caleb Barley placed fourth with a 16.21m throw and Hoffman placed fifth with a 15.91m throw.

 

In the jumps, Mobu Nwakor took home second place in the men’s triple jump with a season best 14.52m.

 

Kicking off the final day on Wednesday, the men’s 4x100m relay team secured first-place down the home stretch with a new program record 39.71 time. Following up the opening race, Graham Ferguson won the men’s 1500m race with a 3:49.74 time. Jason Thomson joined Ferguson on the podium in second place with a 3:50.41 time.

 

Antonio Votour jumped out to a lead in the men’s 110m hurdles and crossed the finish line in first place with a 14.97 time.

 

In the men’s 400m race, HPU swept the podium all recording new personal best times. Tim Brown took gold with a 46.45 time for new program record, Marquis Belle took silver with a 47.08 time and Myles Darroch took bronze with a 47.32 time.

 

In the men’s 100m dash, Keshon Sapp made the podium crossing the finish line in second place with a 10.30 time.

 

Camerin Williams made a statement in the men’s 800m with a new program and meet record clocking an impressive 1:47.37 time. Both Ferguson and Thomson joined Williams on the podium in second and third respectively with new personal best times. Ferguson recorded a 1:50.09 time and Thomson recorded a 1:51.25 time. Jake Weakland placed fourth with a personal best 1:51.73 time.

 

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Allon Sweeney placed second with a new personal best 52.97 time.

 

Steinau took home his second Big South title of the week in the men’s 5,000m race after registering a 14:29.77 time, beating UNC Asheville’s Paul Kiprotich by tenths of a second as they crossed the finish line. Gavin Stevens recorded a new personal best with a 14:33.43 time for fourth place.

 

Closing out the track events, the men’s 4x400m took home first place with a dominant 3:07.58 time. The group consisted of Marquis Belle, Camerin Williams, Myles Darroch and Tim Brown.

 

In the final events on the final day, Hoffman placed fourth in the men’s discus with a 47.52m throw. High Point had two Panthers make the podium in the men’s high jump. Alex Constantinou took first with a 2.09m mark and Shaun Thomas took second with a 2.07m mark after having a jump off in the finals. John Connors placed fourth with a 1.97m clear.

Following the meet, the Big South announced the athlete of the year awards. Below is the list of High Point student-athlete honorees.

Men’s Outstanding Performance

Cole Wilson, High Point (based on event performance by TFFRs of 7,609 points in the decathlon)

 

Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year

High Point

Men’s Scholar Athlete of the Year

Graham Ferguson, High Point (3.93 GPA, Accounting & Finance)

UP NEXT:

This concludes the 2025 High Point track and field outdoor regular season. Athletes who qualified for the NCAA First Rounds in Jacksonville, Florida will prepare for the postseason.

 

#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam

Maine West boys volleyball tied the school record for wins Monday, May 5, but they had to wait until Tuesday, May 13 to officially break the record with their 26th win of the season. 
After a tough 25-21, 25-19 loss to Niles North Wednesday, May 7 to snap the Warriors perfect conference record, Maine West (26-5) rebounded to win 25-15, 25-16 over Vernon Hills May 13.
The Warriors surpassed the 25-12 team in 2022 for the most wins in a single season.
Maine West’s Aiden Michels (14) is fired up af…

Greensboro, NC – Isabella Gerena recorded a personal best time in the 3000m Steeplechase to lead the Pride at the CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. Gerena finished the race in 10th place with a time of 11:21.40.

Allison Reid finished the 1500m trials with a time of 4:53.83 to finish in 25th place out of the 29-runner field. In the 10,000m race, Saralyn Frederick finished with a time of 38:43.33 to place 18th of 18 runners. 

Elon leads the team competition with 44 points, with Hampton in second place with 29. As a team, Hofstra is not ranked.