HPU Track & Field: Panther Men & Women Sit Second After Day One of Big South Championship

*** both men’s and women’s recaps included ***

Women’s Track & Field: Panther Women Sit Second Through Day One

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Collecting a new pentathlon record and a total of 46 points, High Point University track and field sit second overall after day one of the 2019 Big South Indoor Championship.

The meet began with the women’s pentathlon, where junior Anika Weisbrod had a career day. The Arizona-native set new personal records in four of five events while winning the long jump (5.60) and taking second in the 800m (2:30.28). Both of those marks, along with a 9.30 in the hurdles and a 1.56m in the high jump set new personal best for Weisbrod, finishing with a career-best 3,401 points in total. Weisbrod’s final tally beats the previous indoor Panther record by nearly 200 points, set just last year by HPU alum (3,266), giving her second place in the event overall.

Fellow multis athlete Madison Reynolds set a handful of PRs as well, clearing a field-best 1.62m in the high jump, and running a 9.18 in the hurdles for a fifth-place finish of 3,306 points overall.

A number of freshman Panther runners set new personal bests on the day, in addition to qualifying for finals on Saturday. Camryn Harper posted the top-time in the 800m after crossing the finish line in 2:18.19, while Taylor Arthur collected a 58.08 in the 400m. Nyile Facey continued to take time off her hurdle mark with an 8.88, but it would be Leah Bolden with the biggest freshman performance of the afternoon, qualifying to compete in both the 200m and the 60m finals on day two.

Posting a 7.60 in the 60m, Bolden tied the all-time indoor HPU record for the event, placing third in the field overall. Her 25.15 in the 200m set a new career-best for the first-year, while coming in sixth overall.

Finishing the individual events in the 5000m, Zoe Geis took home a Big South Championship win with her 17:53.90, coming in just two spots ahead of teammate Lindsey Ickes (18:14.70) in third.

In all, the Panther women collected 46 points this Friday, putting themselves less than 18 points off leaders Hampton University (63.50). The Purple & White’s highest point total came just the previous year, where the side collected 98.50 for a third-place finish.

COMING UP NEXT
Day two of the Big South Championship will commence with field events taking place at 1 PM, with track events scheduled for a 2 PM start time with the one mile event.

Top Performers
Pentathlon
2. Anika Weisbrod (3,401) – PR
5. Madison Reynolds (3,306) – PR

Pent. 60m Hurdles
7. Madison Reynolds (9.18) – PR
8. Anika Weisbrod (9.30) – PR

Pent. High Jump
1. Madison Reynolds (1.62m) – PR
T3. Anika Weisbrod (1.56m) – PR

Pent. Long Jump
1. Anika Weisbrod (5.60m) – PR

Pent. 800m
2. Anika Weisbrod (2:30.28) – PR

800m
1. Camryn Harper (2:18.19) – PR

5000m
1. Zoe Geis (17:53.90)
3. Lindsey Ickes (18:14.70)

60m
3. Leah Bolden (7.60) – PR

200m
6. Leah Bolden (25.15) – PR

400m
6. Taylor Arthur (58.08) – PR

60m Hurdles
7. Nyile Facey (8.88) – PR


Men’s Track & Field: HPU In Second After Day One of Big South Championships

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Collecting a new 200m record and a total of 46 points, High Point University track and field sit second overall after day one of the 2019 Big South Indoor Championship.

The Panther men opened day one in the heptathlon, with Pablo Romero (2,820) and Gabriel Stainback (2,674) sitting second and third respectively through the first four events of competition. Romero set a new personal record in the long jump after clearing a field-best 6.67m in the sand pit, while Stainback posted the top shot put mark at 12.19m.

The Panthers excelled on the track with multiple athletes qualifying for Saturday’s final. Sophomore Levi Williams will compete in both the 60m and 200m on day two after setting new carer-bests at 7.02 and 22.15. Freshman Daniel Bogle qualified with his career-best 6.88 in the 60m, but the story of the day would belong to fellow first-year Paul Gore.

After running the second-fastest time in the 60m field (6.85), Gore went on to set a new Panther record with an impressive 21.89 in the 200m. His pace in the latter beat the previous standing record by almost a tenth of a second, seeding him third overall in day two’s final.

The Panthers cleared the podium over in the pole vault, with Carter Clasper taking first at 4.95m. Teammate Jordan McClung followed up with a 4.65m, while Romero and Zane Griffith came in third and fourth at 4.50m overall.

Siro Pina Cardona (1:54.67) and Jake Dunn (1:55.68) will both compete in the 800m final, coming in third and seventh respectively, while freshman Bobby Dupell III came within a single spot of scoring points for the Panthers with his personal record of 50.15 in the 400m.

In all, the Panther men collected 46 points this Friday, putting themselves just 13 points off leaders Hampton University (59). The Purple & White’s highest point total came in 2016, where the side collected 148 points for a second-place finish.

COMING UP NEXT
Day two of the Big South Championships will start with the final three legs of the men’s heptathlon, where Romero will attempt to beat the program record he set just earlier this year at the same venue (5,222).

Top Performers
Hept. Long Jump
1. Pablo Romero (6.67m) – PR
6. Stephen Binkley (5.53m) – PR

Hept. Shot Put
1. Gabriel Stainback (12.19m)
3. Pablo Romero (11.18m) – PR

Hept. 60m Dash
7. Stephen Binkley (7.81) – PR

Hept. High Jump
7. Stephen Binkley (1.53m) – PR

Pole Vault
1. Carter Clasper (4.95m)
2. Jordan McClung (4.65m)
3. Pablo Romero (4.50m)
4. Zane Griffith (4.50m)

60m
2. Paul Gore (6.85) – PR
4. Daniel Bogle (6.88) – PR
6. Levi Williams (7.02) – PR

200m
3. Paul Gore (21.89) – PR & SR
7. Levi Williams (22.15)

800m
3. Siro Pina Cardona (1:54.67)
7. Jake Dunn (1:55.68)

400m
9. Bobby Dupell III (50.15) – PR