Texas A&M’s Charokee Young will miss out on the SEC Championships that began on Thursday because she has been exposed to someone infected by Covid-19.

The situation is a blow to the athlete and her university as she had the fastest time of the participants in the 400m and is a key member of the A&M’s record-breaking mile relay team.

The 20-year-old former Hydel High School star in Jamaica said she was informed of the situation this morning.

“Due to Covid-19 trace, I will not be able to compete at the SECs. I do not have Covid but I was exposed two days prior to competing due to a teammate having it, and I was informed at 7:30 this morning,” a disappointed Young posted on social media today.

“It’s unfortunate but that is just the way it is and how the rules work. I do believe everything happens for a reason. Good luck to everyone competing this weekend.”

Young was supposed to begin the competition at 7:25 pm in Heat 1 of the 400m that also included Stephanie Davis of South Carolina, who has a season-best of 54.11, Taylor Manson of Florida, whose season-best is 52.74 and Jurnee Woodward of LSU, who fastest time this season is 54.85.

Young’s 51.93 season’s best is the second-fastest time in the NCAA this season only bettered by teammate Athing Mu’s 50.52 that was run at College Station, Texas on February 6. Mu is not down to compete in the 400m.

There are five heats in the women's 400m.

Young also split 51.12 in her team’s record-setting run of 3:26.27, an all-time collegiate record as well as a facility and meet record at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Centre at Arkansas, where the SEC Championships are currently being held.

She ran the second-fastest split behind Mu’s 50.27 on the anchor leg.