WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Senior CeAnna Soper broke the school record in the women’s pentathlon as six members of the HPU track and field teams finished action at the Queens University Combined Events Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 6) at the JDL FastTrack in Winston-Salem.
Soper, the school record holder in the outdoor heptathlon, finished sixth with a score of 3,261, ahead of the previous record of 3,227, set by Erika Bridges in 2017. Soper used personal bests in the high jump (1.52m – 4-11.75) and the 800 meters (2:28.14) to propel her to the record.
Also in the women’s pentathlon, sophomore Anika Weisbrod placed 16th with a personal-best score of 2,836 and sophomore Madison Reynolds was 18th with 2,667 points. Weisbrod set personal records in the 60m hurdles (9.59), shot put (8.37m – 27-5.5) and long jump (4.79m – 15-8.75), while Reynolds had PRs in the shot put (8.03m – 26-4.25) and the 800m (2:40.51).
“Our women had an up-and-down day today, but showed a lot of fortitude,” HPU associate head coach Scott Hall said. “CeAnna ran a strong, purposeful 800m to claim the school record. I know the women will learn and build from this meet and prepare for the Big South meet in two weeks.
Sophomore Pablo Romero, the 2017 Big South Champion in the men’s indoor heptathlon, just missed the High Point record, placing second with 5,008 points. Tristan Faure holds the school record with 5,017 points in 2015.
In their first career heptathlons, freshman Gabriel Stainback and junior Brad Kanney finished ninth with 4,495 points and 16th with 3,937 points, respectively.
Romero won the 1,000 meters (the final event) in 2:45.86 and was second in the pole vault, clearing a height of 4.35m (14-3.25). Stainback posted PRs in the pole vault (3.45m – 11-3.75) and 1,000m (2:58.98), while Kanney had personal bests in all three events on the second day.
“Today our men showed some grit and kept grinding away after a couple setbacks in some of their events,” Hall said. “Pablo came away just short of the school record with a tough 1,000m. Gabriel completed his first heptathlon showing a lot of potential and Brad built off a strong first day to record three more PRs in his first heptathlon.”
Up next, the full Panther squads will compete at the Liberty Elite Invitational in Lynchburg, Va., on Feb. 10.