RALEIGH, N.C. — The High Point University men’s track & field team saw a school record set in the 4×1500-meter relay on Saturday at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. Benji Szalai, Jeff LaCoste, Patrick Crawford and Dakota Peachee combined for the record.
“The 4×1500 went very well today,” said HPU head coach Mike Esposito. “Benji led off in about 3:53, Jeff LaCoste ran a solid leg. Dakota ran 3:52-low. It was solid and our 4×800 relay was solid too.”
The Panthers set a school record of 15:38.63 in the 4×1500. The team placed third behind winner Duke (15:38.63) and runner-up Clemson (15:46.37). The Pantehrs beat Pittsburgh. HPU’s second 4×1500 team placed ninth with a time of 16:24.26.
Later in the day HPU’s 4×800-meter relay team of Szalai, Paul O’Donaghue, Eddie Whitlock and Peachee placed eighth with a season-best time of 7:40.57. The Panthers also entered a team that placed 22nd in 8:05.40.
In the individual running events, freshman Dennis Crawford placed 15th and senior Ryan Venable placed 16th in the 110-meter hurdles on Friday. Crawford placed second in his heat in 14.87 and Venable won his heat in 14.88. Crawford was the best of HPU’s three finishers in the 400-meter hurdles, placing 42nd overall in 56.73. Freshman Andrew Kuras won his heat and placed 65th overall in the 100-meter dash in 11.19.
Redshirt-sophomore Max Coleman was the only field-event competitor for HPU at the Raleigh Relays. He placed 12th in section II of the long jump with a distance of 6.49 meters (21-3.5).
High Point also sent competitors to the WSSU Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Saturday. Next weekend, High Point competes in the Liberty Collegiate Invitational in Lynchburg, Va.