Track and Field: HPU Distance Medley Relays Break Records at Darius Dixon Memorial

LYNCHBURG, Va. — The High Point University men’s and women’s track and field teams set records in both distance medley relays on the first day of the Darius Dixon Memorial Friday evening (Feb. 2) at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex in Lynchburg, Va.

The women’s distance medley relay of freshman Caroline Baudinet, sophomore Kanajzae Brown, junior Keaton Case and freshman Famke Heinst broke the Big South and school record in a winning time of 11:45.81.

Baudinet led off with a 1,200-meter split of 3:38.15, while Brown followed with a 400-meter leg of 57.22. Case ran an 800-meter split of 2:16.69, while Heinst anchored with a 4:53.75 mile split.

“Coach (Remy)Tamer brought these four here to get the conference record and everyone did their job,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “Caroline put us in the lead and Kanajzae stepped up and kept us there, as did Keaton. Famke powered us home for the win and the record.”

The men’s DMR of junior Alejandro Juan Torres, sophomore Pablo Romero and freshmen Siro Pina Cardona and Hocine Bouchark won in a High Point and facility record time of 10:00.44, the eighth-fastest time in Big South history.

Torres started the Panthers off with a time of 3:02.42 in the first 1,200 meters, while Romero was next with a 400-meter split of 49.52. Next up was Pina Cardona in a 1:55.99 800-meter split, while Bouchark anchored with a mile split of 4:12.53.

“The men’s DMR had a similar story to the women,” Esposito said. “Alejandro closed well to give us a big lead, Pablo and Siro maintained the gap and Hocine finished the job for us. It was fun to put all four of our Spanish student-athletes on the same relay, as the DMR is not run in Europe.”

Freshman Julia Hellman placed seventh in the women’s 5,000 meters in a conference-leading time of 18:23.65.

Sophomore TJ Morales finished 12th in the men’s 5,000 meters in a time of 15:45.21.

Junior Britton Mann placed 13th in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 12.34m (40-6).

In the women’s weight throw, senior Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine finished 17th with a season-best mark of 15.58m (51-1.5).

“Julia had a very nice and controlled race coming off of an injury,” Esposito said. “Makenzi improved with each throw and is just a few technical things away from some big throws. TJ had a solid in his 5K heat with a PR. Overall, we are excited to get back out here tomorrow for some more good individual results.”

The action continues Saturday at 10 a.m.