Track and Field: HPU Women Sit Second, Men Third after First Day of Big South Indoors

HPU Wins Women’s DMR at Big South Indoors

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—The High Point University women’s track and field team won the distance medley relay and sits in second place after the first day of action at the Big South Indoor Championships Saturday (Feb. 25) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Panthers sit in second place with 43.5 points, behind Liberty with 88 points. Campbell is third with 42 points, followed by Radford (21), Winthrop (19.5), Charleston Southern (12), Gardner-Webb (5) and UNC Asheville (3).

“It was a very positive day for us,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “We demonstrated great competitiveness, but need to keep the momentum, not settle and come back tomorrow with even more energy.”

The women’s DMR of senior Natalia Ocasio, sophomore Emily Geis, sophomore Keaton Case and senior Cozette Collin captured the conference title in a school-record time of 11:58.81.

“Natalia handed off a close second and Emmy kept us in the race with a solid 400,” Esposito said. “Keaton split 2:15 on the 800m leg to give us a chance and Cozette ran a very intelligent mile to anchor the win.”

Geis also earned all-conference honors in the 3,000 meters, finishing third in 10:17.66, while Ocasio rallied to earn fourth in 10:17.90.

In the pentathlon, senior Erika Bridges finished fifth with a PR total of 3,227 points, while junior CeAnna Soper was sixth with 3,186 points.

Freshman duo Rachel Berndsen and Heather Keck placed fourth and fifth in the pole vault, clearing 3.30m (10-10). Senior Madison Depner finished in a tie for seventh at a height of 3.00m (9-10).

Senior Amanda Gregory placed sixth in the long jump with a leap of 5.35m (17-6.75).

In the shot put, sophomore Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine finished seventh with a throw of 12.11m (39-9).

In prelim action, freshman Kanajzae Brown broke the High Point record in the 60 meters in a time of 7.62. She will be seeded second for Sunday’s final. Brown also qualified for the final in the 200 meters in 25.44, ranking seventh.

Case and Collin both qualified for the 800 meters final, finishing second (2:15.05) and fifth (2:17.66), respectively.

The meet continues Sunday (Feb. 26) with the men’s heptathlon and field events starting at noon, while track events are set for a 12:30 p.m. start.

HPU Men Sit in Third After First Day of Big South Indoors

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—A pair of podium finishes highlighted the High Point University men’s track and field team’s action on the first day of the Big South Indoor Championships Saturday (Feb. 25) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“It was a very positive day for us,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “We demonstrated great competitiveness, but need to keep the momentum, not settle and come back tomorrow with even more energy.”

The Panthers sit in third place with 36 points, behind Campbell (42) and Liberty (41.5). Charleston Southern is fourth with 31.5 points, followed by Gardner-Webb (25), Winthrop (14) and UNC Asheville (4).

HPU picked up 15 key points in the pole vault, led by freshman Carter Clasper, who finished second with a height of 4.60m (15-1). Fellow freshmen Jordan McClung and Zane Griffith finished in a tie for fifth, clearing a height of 4.30m (14-1.25).

The distance medley relay team of senior Vinny Todaro, freshman Jake Dunn, sophomore Patrick Van Der Cruyssen and senior Paddy Grandinali finished third in 10:19.20.

In the 3,000 meters, sophomore Alejandro Juan Torres was just off the podium in fourth place in a big PR of 8:18.79, while Todaro closed well to finish fifth in 8:23.70. Grandinali picked up a key couple of points, placing seventh in 8:32.65.

Sophomore Britton Mann placed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 14.57m (47-10)

In prelim action, junior James House qualified for the finals in the 60 meters and 200 meters. He is seeded second place in the 60m in 6.94 and third in the 200m in 22.43.

Freshman Pablo Romero Gonzales qualified for the finals of the 60m hurdles in 8.63.

In the heptathlon, Romero Gonzales is in second place with 2,624 points after four of seven events. Senior Pat Irwin is fourth with 2,499 points, while senior Drew Francoeur is sixth with 2,422 points.

“Pablo is in position to compete for the win tomorrow,” Esposito said. “The second day is a strong one for him. Pat sitting fourth has improved greatly in day-two events.”

The meet continues Sunday (Feb. 26) with the men’s heptathlon and field events starting at noon, while track events are set for a 12:30 p.m. start.