RALEIGH, N.C. — The High Point University Men’s Track & Field team competed in the Raleigh Relays at NC State on Friday and Saturday, getting its top finish from sophomore Patrick Crawford in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Crawford placed sixth in 9:15.91.
“It was Patrick’s first steeplechase of the season, he mixed it up and ran very well,” said HPU head coach Mike Esposito. “I’m convinced that his training is really going in the right direction. For Dakota Peachee, it was good to get him through the race in one piece after the injuries he has had. I was also very pleased with our two hurdlers — Ryan Venable had a PR and Alex Fisher was very close to his.”
It was Crawford’s first steeplechase of the season and his 9:15.91 beat his previous career best of 9:25.82 from last year’s Big South Championship. Crawford ran a career-best 14:38.44 in the 5,000-meter at the VertKlasse Meeting last weekend. Junior Dakota Peachee also raced in the steeplechase at the Raleigh Relays, placing 10th in 9:27.75.
High Point’s 4×100-meter relay team placed third in its heat and 13th overall on Saturday, finishing in 43.06. The team was comprised of Ryan Venable, Justin Doehr, Alex Fisher and Evan Emery.
Fisher ran a season-best 14.68 to place 18th in the 110-meter hurdle preliminaries on Friday, just missing the finals. The time was one 100th off his career best 14.67 from last season. Venable placed 19th in the preliminaries in 14.83, a new career best for him.
High Point had seven runners in the 1,500-meter led by senior Jevin Monds and freshman Jeff LaCoste. Monds placed 14th in his section of the 1,500-meter, coming in at 3:56.37. LaCoste placed seventh in his section in 3:59.27. Freshman Evan Gingrich placed 29th in 4:04.52 and freshman Michael Colven placed 33rd in 4:04.94.
Senior Neal Darmody placed fourth in his section of the 5,000-meter on Friday, finishing in 15:17.39. Sophomore John Yankello placed 14th in that section. Senior Mike Feroe placed 14th in his section of the 5K.
Freshman Justin Doehr was the only Panther in the individual sprints. He ran the 100-meter dash for the first time, placing 59th in 11.39.
HPU also sent several field event competitors to the Wilbur Ross Invitational on Saturday at Winston-Salem State. Next weekend, junior Jacob Smith will be competing in an elite 5,000-meter at the Colonial Relays at William & Mary and sophomore Evan Emery will compete in loaded 100-meter and 200-meter dashes at the Florida Relays. Most of HPU’s other competitors will be at the Duke Invitational.