HPU Track and Field Completes Action at Wake Forest Invitational

HPU Women Wrap Up Action at Wake Forest Invite

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—The High Point University women’s track and field team competed at the Wake Forest Invitational Saturday (Jan. 20) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.

“Overall, we really lacked any energy this weekend,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “Our pole vaulters had a great meet. Nathalie Elliott matched last week’s mark and was extremely close at 3.90m. Coach (Scott) Houston does a great job with that group. Our multis had a chance to compete in three to four events in one day in preparation for their pentathlon openers in a few weeks and CeAnna Soper threw well in the shot. Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine had a season-best mark in the weight throw and is starting to figure some things out.

“We need to bring a higher level of intensity to the meets because many of the technical improvements we are seeing in practice are not being transferred to the meet. We will compete everyone who is healthy next week and I’m looking forward to our entire group competing at a very high level.”

In the pole vault, freshman Nathalie Elliott cleared a height of 3.75m (12-3.5) to place third, while sophomore Rachel Berndsen and junior Heather Keck placed fifth and sixth clearing 3.45m (11-3.75) and 3.30m (10-10), respectively. Freshman Jessica Keys also cleared 3.30m (10-10) to finish eighth on misses. Sophomore Haley Doyle and freshman Danielle Cass tied for 13th after clearing the bar at 3.00m (9-10).

Senior Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine finished third in the weight throw with a heave of 15.36m (50-4.75). Holmes-DiGiovine also placed seventh in the show put with a throw of 11.97m (39-3.25). Senior CeAnna Soper was 14th with a mark of 10.93m (35-10.5).

In the high jump, junior Charlotte Morrow placed 10th at a height of 1.48m (4-10.25), while sophomore Madison Reynolds was 13th after clearing a height of 1.43m (4-8.25).

Soper placed 15th in the 60m hurdles in 9.53, while Reynolds was 22nd in 9.95.

Sophomore Ariel Wilbekin posted a mark of 4.98m (16-4.25) in the long jump to place 19th, while Reynolds (4.73m – 15-6.25) and Soper (4.64m – 15-2.75) were 25th and 27th, respectively.

In the 400 meters, junior Jasmyn Gillespie placed 28th in 1:04.25.

To finish the meet, the 4x400m relay of Soper, Gillespie, Reynolds and Berndsen placed fourth in 4:13.37.

Next up, the Panthers compete at the VMI Team Invitational next Saturday (Jan. 27) in Lexington, Va.

Panther Men Finish Competition at Wake Forest Invite

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—The High Point University men’s track and field team finished action at the Wake Forest Invitational Saturday (Jan. 20) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.

“Overall, we really lacked any energy this weekend,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “Our pole vaulters had a great meet. Carter Clasper and Jordan McClung both had indoor PRs and had great attempts at 4.85m. Coach (Scott) Houston does a great job with that group. Our multis had a chance to compete in three to four events in one day in preparation for their pentathlon openers in a few weeks and Gabriel Stainback threw well in the shot put.”

“We need to bring a higher level of intensity to the meets because many of the technical improvements we are seeing in practice are not being transferred to the meet. We will compete everyone who is healthy next week and I’m looking forward to our entire group competing at a very high level.”

Sophomore Carter Clasper was the top collegiate finisher in the pole vault, clearing a height of 4.70m (15-5) for second overall. Fellow sophomore Jordan McClung placed fourth on misses after clearing the same height of Clasper. Sophomore Zane Griffith tied for seventh at a height of 4.25m (13-11.25). Class of 2016 HPU graduate Austin Miller broke the meet record with a height of 5.35m (17-6.5).

Sophomore Pablo Romero placed fourth in the high jump after clearing a height of 1.88m (6-2). Freshman Gabriel Stainback cleared the same height and placed fifth on misses.

Freshman Anthony Sasso placed eighth in the mile in a time of 4:33.05. Sophomore TJ Morales was next for HPU in 13th with a time of 4:38.13 and freshman Stephen Gray placed 15th in 4:40.77.

In the 60m hurdles, Romero finished 15th in 8.77, while freshman Gabriel Stainback placed 26th in 8.97.

Senior James House clocked a time of 23.36 in the 200 meters for 18th place, while freshman Levi Williams was 23rd in 23.62. House also finished 24th in the 60 meters in 7.19.

In the long jump, junior Brad Kanney placed 20th with a leap of 6.04m (19-9.75).

Stainback placed 22nd in the shot put with a mark of 10.68m (35-0.5).

Freshman Brendan McCabe placed 23rd in the 800 meters in 2:03.39.

Next up, the Panthers compete at the VMI Team Invitational next Saturday (Jan. 27) in Lexington, Va.