Top HBCUAC Championship Performers claim final 2026 HBCUAC Men's Track and Field Awards
NEW ORLEANS - After delivering impressive performances at the 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Track and Field Championship, Voorhees University distance runner Camron Gilliard wins HBCUAC Men's Track and Field Track Athlete and Freshman of the Week. Talladega College thrower Jaylen Haynes garners Field Athlete of the Week. Wiley University distance runner John Russell Jr. brings home Newcomer of the Week.
Gilliard was the Most Valuable Track Performer at the 2026 HBCUAC Championship. He won the 1,500-meter run and turned in a runner-up finish in the 800-meter run. He helped Voorhees place in the 4 x 400-meter relay and 4 x 800-meter relay. His performances helped the Tigers repeat as HBCUAC Champions.
Haynes won Most Valuable Field Performer. He won the hammer throw and discus and finished runner-up in the shot put.
Russell Jr. delievered an All-HBCUAC finish in the 5,000-meter run. He finished third with a time of 17:35.85. He also placed in the 1,500-meter run.
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 |
|
April 20-26 |
Jamaal Morris Jr., Dillard |
Muhammad Shreef, Voorhees |
Jordan Thomas, Dillard |
N/A |
|
April 27-May 3 |
Camron Gilliard, Voorhees |
Jaylen Haynes, Talladega |
Camron Gilliard, Voorhees |
John Russell Jr., Wiley |
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.
