HPU men’s track completes competition at ETSU

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The High Point University men’s track & field team wrapped up competition at the ETSU Buccaneer Invitational Saturday.

Leading the way for the Panthers, freshman Patrick Van Der Cruyssen won his heat in the 800m run and finished an impressive 14th out of 108 runners in the event with a season-best time of 1:58.40. Junior Nick Williams placed 63rd in the 800m with a time of 2:07.58.

In the 3000m run, freshman Drew Roeber made his HPU debut and registered a time of 9:26.97 to finish 23rd. Fellow freshman Bryan Gonzalez was 30th in 9:35.34.

Senior Jim Wilson finished 30th in the shot put with a mark of 12.88m (42-3.25) and freshman Britton Mann placed 33rd (12.52m, 41-1).

On the jumps circuit, freshman Sean Banda posted a season-best mark of 6.27m (20-7) in the long jump to place 29th.

Junior Pat Irwin completed his first ever heptathlon Saturday, capped by a strong third-place finish in the 1000m run (3:01.28).

HPU’s 4x400m relay team wrapped up the day with a 29th-place showing in the event (3:31.43). The quartet included Van Der Cruyssen, Banda, Irwin and senior Will Narramore.

The Panthers return to the Triad to host their annual home meet, the HPU Team Challenge, on Thursday (Feb. 11) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.