Women's Track & Field | 5/4/2026 1:06:00 PM
DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central men's and women's track and field teams closed out the regular season with eight top-10 finishes at Duke Twilight on May 3 at Morris Williams Stadium. Freshman Rachel Key-White recorded the Eagles' lone top-three finish.
Key-White competed in the women's high jump and triple jump, placing 12th in the high jump (1.59m) and third in the triple jump (11.69m) behind Virginia's Kaitlyn Cook and Clemson's Sophia Curtis. Her triple jump mark was an outdoor season best, while her personal best of 11.84m was set during the indoor season.
Tia Lucas also competed in the women's high jump, clearing 1.59m, 1.64m and 1.69m on her first attempts. The senior finished fifth overall after missing three attempts at 1.75m.
Malcolm Forbes placed eighth in the men's triple jump with a season-best mark of 14.58m on his third attempt. The Raleigh, N.C. native also finished 17th in the long jump (6.60m).
On the track, the Eagles saw strong performances across sprints, relays and distance events. Zion Amadi competed in both the men's 200m and 400m, finishing 10th in the 200m (21.53) and 19th in the 400m (47.88). Nyree Bacchus added a ninth-place finish in the women's 400m with a time of 55.02.
In distance action, Aaron Alukunyang placed ninth in the men's 5,000m, setting a personal best of 13:56.74. The freshman's time ranks 32nd on the Southeast Region performance list.
NC Central's men's and women's 4x100 relay teams also recorded top-10 finishes. The men's team of Orlando McClean, Allen Barnes, Diondrey Hudgins and Deshaun Johnson placed fifth in 41.09 seconds. The women's quartet of Kaydence Daniels, Gianna Marquez, Zaria Burnett and Melanne Sutton finished sixth in 47.13 seconds.
The Eagles now have more than a week to prepare for the 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scheduled for May 14-16 at Norfolk State. Tickets to the event can be purchased HERE.
NCCU Results – Top 10 Finishes
Zion Amadi – Men's 200m, 10th (21.53)
Aaron Alukunyang – Men's 5,000m, 9th (13:56.74)
NCCU – Men's 4x100 Relay, 5th (41.09)
Malcolm Forbes – Men's Triple Jump, 8th (14.58m)
Nyree Bacchus – Women's 400m, 9th (55.02)
NCCU – Women's 4x100 Relay, 6th (47.13)
Tia Lucas – Women's High Jump, 5th (1.69m)
Rachel Key-White – Women's Triple Jump, 3rd (11.69m)
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.