INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Senior Akia Slaughter (Smyrna, Ga.) has become just the second Alabama A&M women's track & field student-athlete since at least 2010 to make it to the biggest stage as she has earned a trip to the 2021 NCAA Division I East Preliminaries, doing so in both the 100- and 200-meters.
 
She will be among 48 individuals in each of those events that will converge upon Jacksonville, Florida to compete for a spot in the NCAA Division I Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month. The University of North Florida will host the East Preliminaries from May 26-29 with the women's events being held on Thursday, May 27 and Saturday, May 29.
 
Slaughter has been one of the top sprinters in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), and the Southeast for that matter, all year long, earning All-SWAC honors in the 100- and 200-meters as well as part of the 4x100-meter relay. She has also earned three SWAC Track Athlete of the Week honors in the process.
 
With her selection to the 2021 field, she becomes just the second individual to qualify for the East Preliminaries in just over a decade, joining Charrie Dennard who made the trip in 2017. The latter did so in the long jump and triple jump.
 
She earned her spot in the 200-meters with a personal best time of 23.67 at the SWAC Championships and enters the East Preliminaries with the 38^th fastest time among competitors from that part of the country. Slaughter notched her place in the 100-meters at that same meet as she posted a PR of 11.57, which is the 40^th fastest time in the East in that event.
 
"This season has definitely been one for the books and if everyone only knew our entire story they would say that most would have given up," said head coach LaShaunda Jones. "I am extremely proud of Akia's accomplishments this year and I have seen firsthand how this young lady has pressed through adversity to get to where she is today. She is a true definition of carrying on BULLDOG PRIDE. We are extremely thankful to everyone who have supported us through this journey and we are excited about the future."
 
The East Preliminaries will run in two levels, beginning with First Round competition at 6 p.m. Central for the 100-meters and 7:45 p.m. (CST) for the 200-meters on Thursday, May 27. Quarterfinal action will be on Saturday, May 29 with the 100-meters at 6:05 p.m. and the 200-meters at 7:10 p.m. (CST).
 
The winner and runner-up of each heat will advance to the next round with the top individuals following the quarterfinals moving on to the NCAA Division I National Championships in Eugene, Oregon from June 9-12.
 
Stay tuned to www.AAMUSports.com, the official online home of Alabama A&M Athletics, for all the coverage of this historic trip to the NCAA East Preliminaries by Akia Slaughter.
 
NCAA Division I East Preliminaries History (Since 2010) – 4 Events/2 Individuals
2021: Akia Slaughter (100-meters, 200-meters)
2017: Charrie Dennard (Long Jump, Triple Jump)