HPU Track and Field: Geis Sets New HPU 10,000m Record

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

HPU Women’s Track & Field: Geis Sets New HPU 10,000m Record

Duke Invitational Results

CHARLOTTEVILLE, VA./DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Zoe Geis set a new program record in the 10,000m while Famke Heinst posted a qualifying time in the women’s 3000m steeplechase this Saturday, representing High Point University track and field at this year’s Virginia Challenge. With just three Panthers making their way to Charlottesville, the bulk of the Purple & White competed in the Duke Invitational this Friday and Saturday, claiming a pair of top-five finishes at the meet on the final day of competition.

“With the women’s distance I have complete faith in [Assistant Coach] Remy [Tamer] and what he’s doing with them,” said Head Coach Mike Esposito. “I know that he’s going to get them ready…and I trust our coaches to get our athletes prepared and in the position that they need to be in.”

After some inclement weather forced a rescheduling of the bulk of the events in both Charlottesville and Durham, Heinst took to the track at approximately 4:30 PM Saturday afternoon, crossing the finish line in 10:20.93 during the 3000m Steeplechase Invite. The sophomore’s time was good enough to finish fifth among the field, and ranks as high as 11th in the NCAA East Region, barring incoming marks from around the country. Heinst already holds the steeplechase program record, after collecting a time of 10:11.03 at last year’s NCAA East Prelims.

Geis rounded out the Panthers’ performances on the night, with a new program record in the Virginia Challenge 10,000m. The junior’s pace of 34:53.92 in the event reset the mark that she tallied at Raleigh Relays earlier this year, as she continues her reign as the top High Point athlete in the event all-time. Geis’ time earned the distance runner a fourth place finish in the field, and a third place finish among attached runners in the event. Her new pace beats the old HPU record by nearly 10 seconds, and places her within the qualifying field for this year’s NCAA East Regional in May.

“[Zoe Geis] went out really aggressively,” said Esposito. “The original plan was to not be quite as aggressive, but you can’t fault her for that. She actually rallied late in the race, in around the last 1200m, but she’s a tough kid and that’s what training and hard work does.”

Teammate Keaton Case raced to 12th among attached athletes in the 800m Invite, running in a time of 2:09.69, while her season-best pace of 2:08.61 at last week’s Aggie Invitational sits just along the cusp of qualifying as well.

The Panther women garnered a pair of top-five finishes at the Duke Invitational in the same afternoon, with sophomore Nathalie Elliott coming in fourth among college competitors in the pole vault. Elliott cleared a height of 3.95m in Durham, while the 4.03m outdoor PR she set in Greensboro last week earned Big South Field Athlete of the Week honors, and ranks 21st in the NCAA East.

Freshman Nyile Facey had another career day in the hurdles, posting the first sub-14 time of her career in the 100m hurdles. The first-year’s time of 13.94 claimed fifth among attached athletes and is the fastest mark in the Big South this 2019 season.

Emmy Geis produced her team’s third top-10 finish in the 400m hurdles, coming in eighth with a time of 1:02.89, while teammates Franzi Jakobs and Camryn Harper set personal records in the 1500m (4:40.33) and 800m (2:15.33) respectively.

Top Performers – Virginia Challenge

10,000m
3. Zoe Geis (34:53.92) – SR & PR

3000m Steeplechase
5. Famke Heinst (10:20.93)

800m
12. Keaton Case (2:09.69)

Top Performers – Duke Invitational

Pole Vault
4. Nathalie Elliott (3.95m)

100m Hurdles
5. Nyile Facey (13.94) – PR

400m Hurdles
8. Emmy Geis (1:02.89)

4x400m Relays
9. High Point (3:56.59)

1500m
25. Franzi Jakobs (4:40.33) – PR

800m
29. Camryn Harper (2:15.33) – PR


Panther Men Wrap Up Duke Invitational

DURHAM, N.C. – After inclement weather forced some restructuring to this weekend’s Duke Invitational schedule, High Point University men’s track and field brought home a trio of top-10 finishes in this Saturday’s events.

Starting the Panthers’ day on the track, junior TJ Morales set a new personal record in the 3000m steeplechase, crossing the finish line in 10th at 9:40.83. Morales is one of just three Big South athletes to run a sub-10 minute pace in the event this year, as he currently ranks second in the conference heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

“That was a good step for [TJ Morales] going forward…,” said Head Coach Mike Esposito. “Our big thing is that we have to sharpen some of our top kids and they have to be ready to perform when we go to [Big South] Championships, and at the same time get some of our other athletes prepared to steal some points when the time comes.”

HPU’s Siro Pina Cardona continues to prove himself as one of the best 800m athletes both in the Big South and in the NCAA East Region. The sophomore finished in 1:51.09 to take fifth among the attached field in Durham, while the 1:50.63 he recorded at Raleigh Relays currently sits as a qualifying time for this year’s East Prelims.

“[Cardona] did everything right, he just didn’t close as well today,” said Esposito “But he’s going to be fine going into conference, and that men’s 800m group is going to be a big part of what we accomplish going into Big South Championships.”

Carter Clasper had another impressive day for the Purple & White in the field. The junior cleared a height of 4.75m to come in eighth among the collegiate field, as his season-best of 4.87m remains the top mark in the Big South by 30 centimeters.

Freshman Bobby Dupell III had a career day in the 400m, running a career-best 49.66 in his first year of college competition.

Top Performers

800m
5. Siro Pina Cardona (1:51.09)

Pole Vault
8. Carter Clasper (4.75m)

4x400m Relay
9. High Point (3:23.10)

3000m Steeplechase
10. TJ Morales (9:40.83) – PR

400m
Bobby Dupell III (49.66) – PR