DURHAM, N.C. — High Point University junior Lynee Pina threw the javelin a career-best 40.72 meters (133-07) to highlight the women’s track & field team’s performance on the first day of the Duke Invitational on Friday in Durham, N.C. Senior Manika Gamble was runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles.
Pina placed eighth in the javelin with her throw of 40.72 meters. That was way ahead of her previous best of 36.92 meters (121-1), which she set during the Big South Championship last season.
Gamble placed second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.79. She came in behind North Carolina’s Danielle Brock, who finished in 1:00.30. She will run the 100-meter hurdles and 4×400 relay on Saturday. Sophomore Colleen Hollowood placed fourth in her heat and 25th overall in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 1:09.96.
Also on Friday, sophomore Shannon Corbett placed fourth in her heat and 11th overall in the developmental section of the 400-meter, finishing in 1:01.19. Freshman Lauren Blackwell placed seventh in the 5,000-meter in 18:5.39 and freshman Krista Willard placed 21st.
On Saturday, senior Shamia Brown will make her track debut in the 200-meter dash and 4×100 relay. She joined the HPU women’s track team after four seasons of basketball in which she earned All-Big South honors. She is High Point’s Div. I-era leader in scoring and rebounding. Brown competed in track & field in high school.
Brown will run the 4×100 relay along with sophomores Kaitlin Whittington and Corbett and freshman Emily Fischer. Fischer will also compete in the 400-meter.
Also on Saturday, freshman Sarah Dorrell and Hollowood will run the 800-meter and Kelsey Hunt will run in the 3,000-meter. The Panthers have three competitors in the steeplechase: Kelsey Fraser, Audrey Malloy and Kelsey Hinchliffe. High Point closes out the meet with Gamble, Whittington, Fischer and Dorrell in the 4×400 relay.