Narramore, Miller lead HPU at Big South Tri Meet

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Senior Will Narramore enjoyed a breakout performance in the long jump and senior Austin Miller tied his own school record in the pole vault to lead the High Point University men’s track & field team at the Big South Triangular Friday in Vert Stadium.

Narramore won the long jump while putting together one of the best jumps performances of his career. The Nashville product notched a jump of 7.48m (24-6.50) to earn a mark that currently ranks 25th in the NCAA East Region and surpass his previous outdoor PR by close to two feet.

“Will’s an excellent competitor,” associate head coach Scott Hall said. “When he hit 6.90m on his first jump, he knew he could get to 7.50m. When you believe in yourself and believe in what you’re doing, you increase the chances of reaching your goals. Will is stronger, fitter and faster than he’s ever been in his life. He’s developed into a consistent jumper and he still has improvements to make where he could be even better moving forward.”

In addition to his exceptional efforts in the long jump, Narramore also won the triple jump with a mark of 14.72m (48-3.50).

Miller generated his best outdoor vault performance of the year Friday on his home turf, matching his outdoor school record of 5.07m (16-7.50) to finish as the top collegiate competitor in the event. His mark currently ranks as the No. 29 vault in the NCAA East Region this season and sets himself up well for an NCAA preliminary berth.

HPU vaults coach Scott Houston won the event unattached (5.50m, 18-0.5) while volunteer coach Sean Young was second (5.27m, 17-3.5). Sophomore Todd Uckermark finished as the No. 3 collegiate competitor (4.47m, 14-8) and junior Isaiah Henderson was fifth (5.32m, 14-2).

On the track, senior Vinny Todaro set a season-best time by more than 10 seconds while winning the 1500m run (3:50.10) and freshman Alejandro Torres placed second and set a new collegiate best by seven seconds (3:51.74) in the event.

Sophomore James House won the 100m dash with a time of 10.80 seconds to pick up seven points for the Panthers while freshman Sean Banda was right behind in second with a collegiate best time of 10.83 seconds.

HPU’s 4x100m relay team of House, Banda, Narramore and Kuras set a season-best time of 41.37 seconds while earning a second place finish in the event.

In throws action, senior Christian Spaulding placed second in the javelin with a mark of 65.21m (213-11) while junior Drew Francoeur placed fourth with a throw of 56.33m (184-10). Freshman Liam Onbashian was seventh with a mark of 44.38m (145-07).

Senior Cody Seymour crushed his PR by close to 20 seconds in the 3000m steeplechase, crossing the finish line in 9:46.64 to place second for the Purple & White.

Fellow senior Paul O’Donoghue finished third in the 800m run with a season-best time of 1:52.27 and Todaro placed eighth, also posting a season-best time (1:58.14).

Senior Jim Wilson finished third in the discus throw with a season-best mark of 46.01m (150-11) while sophomore Britton Mann placed sixth with a mark of 42.72m (140-2).

Mann also finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 13.53m (44-4.75) and Wilson was seventh with a throw of 13.36m (43-10). Mann also placed sixth in the hammer throw (40.87m, 134-01).

HPU finished third at the event with 115 points. Coastal Carolina just edged the Panthers for second (118) while Liberty placed first (133 points).

The Panthers return to action next weekend (Apr. 22-23) at the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C.