HPU’s Rickert Wins Javelin at Winthrop Invitational – Other Track and Field News from HPU

Sophomore Christine Rickert led the High Point University women’s track & field team with a win in the javelin at the Winthrop Invitational on Saturday in Rock Hill, S.C. Rickert threw the javelin a season-best 45.64 meters (149-9).

Rickert’s career best and HPU record in the javelin is 47.78 meters (156-9) at the Liberty Collegiate Invitational last season. Sophomore Zoey Miller also competed in the javelin, finishing 16th.

Also on Saturday, sophomore Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick was HPU’s top finisher in the 800-meter, placing 19th with a time of 2:28.60. The Panthers’ 4×400 relay team of Emily De Lena, Emily Fischer, Shannon Corbett and Lilla Lorand placed eighth with a time of 4:07.89.

On Friday, freshman Amanda Gregory and De Lena finished 28th and 29th, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Lorand was HPU’s top finisher in the 200-meter with a time of 26.29 and Fischer was the Panthers’ top finisher in the 400-meter with a time of 1:00.10.

In the field events, Erica Herrmann was runner-up in the high jump with a height of 1.60 meters (5-3). Freshman Jenny Mara placed fifth at 1.55 meters (5-1) and Kirkpatrick tied for eighth. Gregory placed fourth in the long jump with a distance of 5.34 meters (17-6.25) and freshman Alexis Fernandex placed seventh at 5.23 meters (17-2).

In the throws, Lynee Pina placed 10th in the hammer with a career-best throw of 43.66 meters (143-3) and freshman Jamie Schnick placed 24th at 33.59 meters (110-2). Schnuck also placed 21st in the shot put.

The Big South Championship will also be hosted by Winthrop at the same site. HPU’s distance runners were competing in the Raleigh Relays on Friday and Saturday. Next week, High Point hosts the VertKlasse Meeting on Friday and Saturday at Vert Stadium.


Women’s 4×1500 team places sixth at Raleigh Relays

The High Point University women’s track & field team finished competition at the Raleigh Relays as the 4×1500 team placed sixth at NC State in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday.

The Panthers’ 4×1500 team of Cozette Collin, Katie Farina, Natalia Ocascio and Audrey Malloy ran a time of a time of 19:29.45 to place sixth.

Sophomore Kasey Spence, who was running unattached, placed 20th in the 10,000-meter on Saturday morning with a time of 39:31.37.

On Friday night, sophomore Julia Zautcke 22nd in her heat of the 5,000-meter with a career-best time of 17:55.14. She came in just under her indoor career best of 17:55.77.

High Point was also competing in the Winthrop Invitational on Saturday in Rock Hill, S.C.


Wilson sets HPU discus record at Winthrop Invitational
March 29, 2014

Sophomore Jim Wilson set the High Point University men’s track & field team’s discus record at the Winthrop Invitational on Saturday in Rock Hill, S.C. Wilson threw the discus 47.68 meters (156-5) to break the previous record set in 1992.

Wilson’s throw broke the previous record of 148-6 set by Mike Gilchrest in 1992. Last week at the Wake Forest Open, Wilson set the HPU shot put record with a throw 14.45 meters (47-5) and was just off the discus record with his then-career best throw of 45.00 meters (147-8).

Also on Saturday, sophomores Eddie Whitlock and Paul O’Donoghue placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 800-meter. Whitlock finished in 1:55.11, just ahead of O’Donoghue at 1:55.18. Freshman Luke Goodrich placed seventh in 1:56.50 and freshman Nick Williams placed 26th.

In the 400-meter hurdles, freshman PJ Lidonde placed sixth in 56.24 and sophomore Nick Hula placed seventh in 56.27. Sophomore Andrew Kuras, junior Max Coleman, Hula and freshman Eric Purnell combined to place fourth in the 4×100 relay. HPU’s 4×400 relay also placed fourth.

On Friday, sophomore Will Narramore was HPU’s top finisher, placing third in the long jump with a distance of 6.73 meters (22-1). Kuras placed 10th in the 100-meter dash in 11.15 and 27th in the 400-meter in 51.66. Hula placed 20th in the 400-meter in 50.79 and Lidonde placed 18th in the preliminaries of the 110-meter hurdles in 15.93.

The Big South Championship will also be hosted by Winthrop at the same site. HPU’s distance runners were competing in the Raleigh Relays on Friday and Saturday. Next week, High Point hosts the VertKlasse Meeting on Friday and Saturday at Vert Stadium.


Distance performances highlight Raleigh Relays
March 29, 2014

The High Point University men’s track & field team posted solid distance performances at the Raleigh Relays on Friday and Saturday. Senior Jacob Smith ran a time of 14:04.14 in the 5,000-meter and senior Patrick Crawford ran a time of 29:47.17 in the 10,000-meter to highlight the competition.

Smith’s time of 14:04.14 placed him 11th in the top section of the 5,000-meter, just behind Liberty’s Caleb Edmonds (14:02.84). Smith’s time was just off his career best of 14:01.66 set two seasons ago, which was the No. 2 time in HPU history. Junior Jeff LaCoste placed seventh in his section of the 5,000-meter with a career-best time of 14:30.48 on Friday evening.

Crawford’s time of 29:47.17 in the 10,000-meter on Friday night was good for 15th overall and puts him third all-time in that event for High Point. He ranks behind Jesse Cherry (28:44.05 in 2010) and Cole Atkins (29:20.77 in 2010) and now ranks ahead of Neal Darmody (29:54.25 in 2011).

HPU sophomore Paddy Grandinali placed 25th in the 10,000-meter in a career-best 30:04.84.

In the 10,000-meter section on Saturday morning, sophomore Cody Seymour finished seventh in 31:34.18 and freshman Mason Lenox made his debut in the event, running 31:59.14 for 12th place.

The Panthers were also competing in the Winthrop Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Next week, HPU hosts the VertKlasse Meeting at Vert Stadium.