HPU Mens Track And Field Finishes Strong In Final Meet Before Championship

Chapel Hill, N.C. – The High Point University men’s track & field team took part in the Dennis Craddock Invitational on Saturday. The Panthers had several impressive finishes in the team’s final meet prior to the Big South Indoor Championship.

“Today was more of a tune-up to get ready for next week,” said associate head coach Eric Dudley. “Our conference is getting tougher, which keeps us hungry and fighting, so we are looking forward to competing as a team next weekend. Today, we saw some good performances. Kevin Maguire’s sub-two minute time in the 800-meter gives us six guys under two minutes this season, which is tremendous. Jeff LaCoste’s mile was impressive and in the pole vault Austin Miller had a good day.”

HPU had a successful meet on the track including several top finishes. Redshirt-sophomore Jeff LaCostefinished as runner-up in the mile crossing in 4:18.28, which was just under three seconds off of UNC’s Richard Miller who won the race in 4:15.71. Sophomore Paddy Grandinali came in with a fourth place showing behind LaCoste crossing in 4:22.29.

The Panthers also had success in the 3000-meter where freshman Mason Lenox and junior Chris Colo placed first and second, respectively. Lenox finished in 8:59.66 while Colo came in at 9:11.86.

In the 800-meter, sophomore Kevin Maguire took fifth by finishing in 1:59.37. Maguire’s finish is the seventh time this season a Panthers’ athlete has crossed with a sub-two minute time in the event. Eddie Whitlock, Paul O’Donoghue, Luke Goodrich, Jacob Smith and Benji Szalai have all done so. Goodrich and Whitlock have accomplished a sub-two minute time in the 800-meter three times this season.

High Point continued its success in the field events at Saturday’s meet. Sophomore Austin Miller cleared 4.80 meters (15-9), which is just off of the HPU record of 4.85 meters (15-11) that he set earlier this season. Miller finished with a third place showing in the event.

Freshman Drew Francoeur had the Panthers’ other top-five finish, coming in fourth in the triple jump. Francouer finished the competition with a distance of 12.92 meters (42-4.75).

The Panthers return to competition on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Big South Indoor Championship in Blacksburg, Va. The championship meet will span both Friday and Saturday.