Javonte Harding has proven to be the fastest man in the MEAC.

Now he’ll try and match strides with the swiftest collegians from all over the United States.

The freshman from Prince George High School was named Most Outstanding Runner after helping North Carolina A&T State University to the MEAC track and field title May 9 at Irwin Belk Track in Greensboro, N.C.

Harding, listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, won the 100 meters in 10.21 seconds, the 200 in 20.21 and carried the baton on legs of the Aggies’ victorious 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

North Carolina A&T won its fourth straight MEAC men’s title in what will be its final season in the conference. The historically Black land grant college is moving to the Big South Conference in July, where it will join former MEAC member Hampton University.

This track season is just heating up.

Next up for Aggies track is the NCAA East Preliminary May 26 through 29 in Jacksonville, Fla. Then comes the big one, the nationally televised NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship June 9 through 12 in Eugene, Ore.

Harding, 2020 Gatorade Virginia Track and Field Athlete of the Year, now ranks in the NCAA Top 10 in the 200 meters and in the Top 20 in the 100 meters. He’ll be a threat to reach the finals in both distances in Oregon.

He and his North Carolina A&T teammates figure to make plenty of noise in Eugene in numerous events, especially the 4x400 relay.

Competing at the Texas Relays on March 27 in Austin, North Carolina A&T covered the mile relay in a dazzling 3:00.23, the fastest clocking in the world to date this year.

The quartet of Trevor Stewart, Randolph Ross, Elijah Young and Daniel Stokes had won the NCAA Indoor title in that event two weeks earlier at Nationals in Fayetteville, Ark.

In Greensboro, Ross, who is from Garner High School in Raleigh, N.C., won the open 400 meters in a blistering 44.60, among the fastest clockings in the world in 2021.

Harding raced as a substitute in that featured event on his home oval in Greensboro. The Aggies prevailed with ease at 3:06.97, four seconds faster than runner-up Coppin State University.

In the 4x100, Harding anchored a 39.37 championship, with Norfolk State second in 40.14.

At Prince George High, Harding was a multiple state 5A champion in the sprints, with bests of 6.3 for 55 meters, 10.39 for 100 and 21.33 for 200.

He is the son of Roxanne and Wayne Harding. Speed runs in the family. Wayne Harding starred as a football defensive back and track standout at Virginia State University. Javonte’s older brother, Jajuan, won numerous sprint titles at Prince George High and preceded Javonte as a track athlete at North Carolina A&T.