DURHAM, N.C. — The High Point University men’s track & field team got a win from Christian Spaulding to highlight competition at the Duke Twilight Meet on Sunday in Durham, N.C. Spaulding won the javelin with throw of 60.77 meters (199-4).
Also in the field events, freshman Austin Miller took second in the pole vault with a height of 4.45 meters (14-7.25) and freshman Jim Wilson took third in the shot put with a throw of 12.24 meters (40-2). Wilson also took ninth in the discus with a throw of 42.49 meters (139-5).
Sophomore Jeff LaCoste ran a collegiate-best 3:53.29 to lead three Panthers in the 1,500-meter on Sunday. He placed 12th overall. Freshman Paddy Grandinali placed 23rd in 4:01.06 and freshman Cody Seymour took 31st.
Senior Dakota Peachee and freshman Benji Szalai both started the 3,000-meter steeplechase and ran a time trial for the first half of the race before dropping out. Senior Jacob Smith, running unattached, placed fourth with a time of 9:10.10.
Spaulding ranks 22nd in the East with his career-best and HPU-record throw of 66.65 meters (218-8) from the VertKlasse Meeting on March 22. He’s one of four Panthers who are in position to compete in the NCAA Preliminary, which will be held May 23-25 at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. The top 48 entrants in each event qualify for the NCAA Preliminary. The top 12 finishers from each event qualify for the NCAA Final.
Along with Spaulding, Peachee ranks seventh and Szalai ranks 12th in the East in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Peachee won the Big South Championship with a time of 8:51.00 and Szalai was runner-up in 8:55.16. Both of those times were season bests. Peachee is also on the bubble in the 1,500-meter, where he ranks 51st with his season-best time of 3:46.45
Junior sprinter Evan Emery ranks 18th in the East in the 200-meter and 20th in the 100-meter. He will most likely only run the 200-meter, where he set the HPU record of 20.84 earlier this season.
Miller ranks 81st in the pole vault with this season best of 4.80 meters (15-9). He is close to the No. 48 ranking of 4.95 meters (16-2.75). He and the Panthers will have two more chances to improve their marks. The Panthers will compete in last chance meets on Friday at NC State and Sunday at North Carolina A&T.