HPU Track & Field Panthers Excel In Pole Vault & 800m To Wrap Up VertKlasse

*** Men’s & Women’s recaps included ***

HPU Men’s Track: Clasper & Cardona Claim Victories On Day Two of VertKlasse

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Carter Clasper and Siro Pina Cardona claim event victories in the pole vault and 800m respectively, as the High Point University men’s track and field team finish the 11th annual VertKlasse meeting on Saturday.

“We had some event winners and had a ton of PRs this weekend,” said Head Coach Mike Esposito. “One of the things we ask our student-athletes after a meet is ‘did you do the most you can do to help the team get better today?’ If so, then that’s a win, and if not, then we have work to do. I think in that sense we had some that won and others where we need to get better.”

Britton Mann opened the Panthers’ day over in the hammer throw, coming within a meter of a personal best. Celebrating his final VertKlasse in Purple & White, Mann tossed a 44.21m to come in 12th among the collegiate field, as the HPU thrower already owns the program record for the event at 44.93m.

Staying in the field, junior Carter Clasper cleared 4.76m to tie with Charlotte’s Jacob Davis for the top-height in the pole vault, claiming an event victory on attempts. Clasper would not be the only Panther to get a win on Saturday, with Siro Pina Cardona crossing the finish line of the 800m in 1:51.19. The sophomore’s mark was within five-hundredths of a second of his career-best and beat the rest of the field by almost half a second.

Freshman Paul Gore would have another big day on the track as well, running a 10.56 in the 100m and a 21.61 over in the 200m. Gore’s time in the former was good enough for a podium spot in third-place, and set a new personal record in his second outdoor meet as a Panther.

Bobby Dupell III and Xavier Freeman both had positive days in the 400m. Dupell’s 51.05 placed the freshman fourth in the field, while Freeman’s 53.12 set a new PR for the first-year Panther.

COMING UP NEXT
The Panthers will stay in-state next weekend, taking a trip to NC State for Raleigh Relays, Friday March 29th through the 30th. HPU has competed at Raleigh Relays annually for the past ten-plus years, and has set two program records at the meet that still stand today.

Top Performers

Pole Vault
1. Carter Clasper (4.76m)

800m
1. Siro Pina Cardona (1:51.19) within .05 of PR

100m
3. Paul Gore (10.56) – PR
7. Daniel Bogle (10.77)

400m
4. Bobby Dupell III (51.05)
17. Xavier Freeman (53.12) – PR

200m
6. Paul Gore (21.61)

Hammer
12. Britton Mann (44.21m)


High Point Women’s Track Wrap Up 11th VertKlasse Meeting

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Nathalie Elliott turns comes second in the pole vault while Famke Heinst takes the runner-up spot in the 800m to close out action for High Point University track and field, in this year’s annual VertKlasse Meeting

“We had some event winners and had a ton of PRs this weekend,” said Head Coach Mike Esposito. “One of the things we ask our student-athletes after a meet is ‘did you do the most you can do to help the team get better today?’ If so, then that’s a win, and if not, then we have work to do. I think in that sense we had some that won and others where we need to get better.”

Delivering a 4.01m in the pole vault, Elliott tied the personal outdoor best she set at the Phoenix Invitational in 2018 to tie for first overall in the event. The junior finished even with vaulters from Wake Forest and North Carolina, while Panther freshman Mackenzie Horn came in fourth with a clearance of 3.86m. Competing in just her second meet in Purple & White, Horn came within a jump of tying for the top-spot, setting a new personal record in the process.

The Panthers posted some top performances over in the 800m, with Famke Heinst leading the way at 2:12.63. Her pace was good enough for the runner-up performance in the race, and finished just ahead of senior Keaton Case in third (2:13.15). Franzi Jakobs set a new personal record in the event as well, coming in seventh overall at a pace of 2:14.04.

Freshmen Leah Bolden and Nyile Facey collected a handful of PRs between the two of them, with Facey taking fourth in both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Her respective times of 14.18 and 1:02.59 were both new career bests, while Bolden’s 11.93 and 24.60 in the 100m and 200m sprints set new personal records as well.

Both of Bolden’s times came just short of setting new Panther program records, while the freshman already owns university bests in the indoor 60m (7.60) and 200m (24.87).

COMING UP NEXT
The Panthers will stay in-state next weekend, taking a trip to NC State for Raleigh Relays, Friday March 29th through the 30th. HPU has competed at Raleigh Relays annually for the past ten-plus years, and has set two program records at the meet that still stand today.

Top Performers

Pole Vault
1. Nathalie Elliott (4.01m) – ties outdoor PR
4. Mackenzie Horn (3.86m) – PR

800m
2. Famke Heinst (2:12.63)
3. Keaton Case (2:13.15)
7. Franzi Jakobs (2:14.04) – PR

400 Hurdles
4. Nyile Facey (1:02.59) – PR

100 Hurdles
4. Nyile Facey (14.18) – PR

100m
7. Leah Bolden (11.93) – PR

200m
9. Leah Bolden (24.60) – PR