HPU Track and Field – Miller, Todaro Win Events On Day Two At Winthrop

• Junior Austin Miller won his seventh pole vault title of 2014-15 (4.80m, 15-9)
• Sophomore Vinny Todaro won the developmental 800 run in 2:00.73
• Redshirt-senior Tristan Faure set a new collegiate PR in the discus throw (37.83m, 124-1.75)

ROCK HILL, S.C. – High Point University men’s track & field junior Austin Miller won his first pole vault title of the 2015 outdoor season to lift the Panthers on the final day of competition at the Winthrop Invitational.

Miller cleared the 4.80m (15-9) bar to earn the first place finish. It’s his seventh vault title of the 2014-15 season, as the Herndon, Va., native won six pole vault events during the indoor campaign.

Freshman Todd Uckermark finished third with a vault of 4.50m (14-9) while freshman Isaiah Henderson placed eighth with a vault of 4.20m (13-9.25). Junior Harris Coley was 13th after posting a mark of 3.90m (12-9.50).

“In many ways this weekend was more about growth opportunities than great performances,” associate head coach Eric Dudley said. “Matt Hollis nobly completed his first decathlon. Chernet Sisay had the opportunity to race for a win and wound up with a huge PR. Todd Uckermark got to explore some bigger poles in the vault. Will Narramore found the board in the long jump. Jim Wilson competed his way into finals in the shot put, earning himself three more chances to improve. We try to be very process focused, and part of that process is overcoming your own demons, fears, and obstacles before you can conquer the competition.”

Sophomore Vinny Todaro also picked up a victory Saturday in the developmental 800m in a time of 2:00.73. The time was more than two seconds faster than the second place competitor. Senior Chris Colo finished 16th (2:06.22) while fellow senior John Yankello was 20th (2:07.45).

Todaro also placed sixth in the 1500m run with a time of 4:07.57 and Colo finished ninth in 4:09.82.

Redshirt-senior decathlete Tristan Faure placed 19th in the discus throw with a personal best mark of 37.83m (124-1.75), while sophomore decathlete Eric Purnell finished 41st with a mark of 24.37m (79-11.75). Faure also represented the Panthers in the 400m hurdles for the first time since 2013 and placed 18th with a time of 58.51 seconds.

Faure’s third event of the day was the javelin and the West Chester, Pa., native finished 14th with a throw of 39.08m (128-2.75).

In HPU’s only event at the Raleigh Relays Saturday, the 4x800m relay team of junior Paul O’Donoghue, sophomores Luke Goodrich and Nick Williams and freshman Keegan Hanks placed 16th with a combined time of 8:05.35.

HPU returns to action April 3-4 with one of the highlights of the outdoor season – the 2015 VertKlasse Meeting inside Vert Stadium.