Wiley, Wilberforce take Week 6 HBCUAC Men's Track and Field Awards

Wiley's trio set personal best, Wilberforce's Kendrick Sherrer excelled against NCAA competition.

April 21, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Wiley University hurdler Ronald Garrett Jr. wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Men's Track and Field Track Athlete of the Week. Myrian Blaze captures Field Athlete of the Week. Middle distance runner Earl Hurd Jr. garners Freshman of the Week. Wilberforce University sprinter Kendrick Sherrer repeats as Newcomer of the Week. They were recognized for their performance between April 13-19, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Garrett Jr. ran a season-best 14.38 in the 110-meter hurdles. He finished 1st in a field of eight runners. His time was a second from his personal best and moves him to No. 12 nationally. Garrett Jr. already qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field championship for the third straight season.

Blaze set a personal best in the javelin with a throw of 48.73 meters. He finished fourth with two NCAA athletes finishing ahead of him at the Dan Veach Invitational.

Hurd ran the Wildcats' top time in the 800-meter run at 2:01.16. He finished behind four NCAA athletes. He helped Wiley run its fastest time this season in the 4 x 400-meter relay (3:18.18), which was three seconds from the 'B' qualifying standard.

Sherrer for the second consecutive week, topped a field littered with Division II talent in claiming the 200-meter dash in 22.02. He also finished second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.84 seconds, which was 0.42 seconds from the 'B' qualifying standard.

Additional men's track and field weekly nominees: Christopher Butler (SUNO), Jaedon Chambers (Talladega), Jai Harden (Wiley), Michael Ralph (SUNO), Stanley Rhone (Dillard), Lance Williams (Dillard)

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

Date	Track	Field	Freshman	Newcomer
March 9-15	Ronald Garrett, Wiley	Carey Owens, Stillman	Denim Charles, Dillard	Jai Harden, Wiley
March 16-22	Surprise Babalola, Dillard	Jayden Burris, Voorhees	DeAndre Jones, Voorhees	N/A
March 23-29	Surprise Babalola, Dillard	Kemal Benjamin, Rust	Romel Collins, Dillard	John Russell Jr., Wiley
March 30-April 5	Ronald Garrett, Wiley	DeAndre Jones, Voorhees	DeAndre Jones, Voorhees	Jai Harden, Wiley
April 6-12	Zaireon Skinner, Voorhees	Jaylen Burris, Voorhees	Zaireon Skinner, Voorhees	Kendrick Sherrer, Wilberforce
April 13-19	Ronald Garrett, Wiley	Myrian Blaze, Wiley	Earl Hurd Jr., Wiley	Kendrick Sherrer, Wilberforce

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.