HPU Track and Field Wins Three Events on Day 2 of Big South Outdoors

*** Both men’s and women’s recaps included ***

HPU Men Win Two Events on Day 2 of Big South Outdoors

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men’s track and field team captured two event wins on the second day action of the Big South Outdoor Championships Thursday (May 10) at Vert Stadium.

After two days, the Panthers sit in second place with 55 points. Liberty leads with 101 points, while Charleston Southern is third with 49, followed by Campbell (39), Winthrop (32), Gardner-Webb (21) and UNC Asheville (14).

In the final event of the evening, senior Alejandro Juan Torres (9:10.22) and freshman Hocine Bouchrak (9:10.24) crossed the finish line together after they ran away from the field to go 1-2 in the 3,000m steeplechase.

Freshman Gabriel Stainback won the decathlon with a personal-best 6,792 points after recording PRs in the discus (38.45m – 126-1), pole vault (4.22m – 13-10), javelin (41.70m – 136-10) and the 1,500 meters (5:23.25). Junior Brad Kanney also had a career day, placing fourth with 5,545 points, including a three-bar personal best in the javelin (3.52m – 11-6.5).

“We’ve been talking about it all year, but with the opportunity to compete at home for the conference championships, just make it a special, special three days,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “Boy we had some special moments and not just the kids that won. We talked about since indoors where you can find one point and we did that today.”

“Our two big highlights were the steeplechase the decathlon. Gabe (Stainback) is really figuring things out and is a raw talent, but is very coachable and a great representative of our school. Our steeplechasers had the task of going 1-2 and they did just that. They have a great bond, are really fit and are ready to go in the 1,500 tomorrow. We had some really good performances across the board.”

In the shot put, junior Britton Mann placed sixth with a mark of 14.12m (46-4).

In the prelims of the 800 meters, freshman Siro Pina Cardona was the top qualifier in a personal-best time of 1:51.14.

Sophomore Pablo Romero advanced to the finals of the 400 meters after finishing sixth in the prelims in a time of 48.92. Senior James House advanced to the 100 meters final after placing sixth in 10.79.

The meet concludes Friday (May 11) with action starting at noon.


Records and Steeple Win Highlight HPU Women’s Day 2 at Big South Outdoors

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University women’s track and field team picked up an event win and two school records on the second day of the Big South Outdoor Championships Thursday (May 10) at Vert Stadium.

After two days of action, the Panthers sit in second place with 74.5 points. Liberty leads with 118, while Campbell is third with 41 points, ahead of Winthrop (23.5), Gardner-Webb (15.5), UNC Asheville (15), Charleston Southern (14.5) and Radford (10).

Freshman Famke Heinst led a great steeplechase for the Panthers, winning in a time of 10:47.53, while sophomore Zoe Geis was the runner-up in a big PR of 10:55.69. In addition, freshman Sydney Bagus had a great final lap to finish sixth in 11:43.20, shaving over 26 seconds off her previous best time.

“We’ve been talking about it all year, but with the opportunity to compete at home for the conference championships, just make it a special, special three days,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “Boy we had some special moments and not just the kids that won. We talked about since indoors where you can find one point and we did that today like when Sydney Bagus caught the Campbell girl at the line in the steeplechase.”

“Famke controlled the steeplechase and has a big day tomorrow with the 1,500 and 5,000. Zoe PR’d big a night after running the 10,000 last night. She ran last night for the team and was controlled so she would have more tonight and it paid off for her and Coach (Remy) Tamer.”

Senior CeAnna Soper broke the school record in the heptathlon with a score of 4,616 points, finishing as the runner-up. Soper finished three points ahead of her previous school record of 4,613 points, set at the Bill Webb Combined Events March 29-30 at Vert Stadium.

Sophomore Anika Weisbrod also placed on the podium in the heptathlon, finishing third with a personal-best score of 4,451, while sophomore Madison Reynolds placed fifth with 4,234 points.

Senior Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine placed sixth with a school record in the shot put of 13.34m (43-9.25).

“I can’t say enough about our heptathletes and the job Coach (Scott) Hall has done,” Esposito said. “CeAnna has been a really good team leader for us. Anika had the best second day of her life today with a big PR in the javelin and long jump. Makenzi PR’d in the shot put and we can’t ask for more than that.”

In the high jump, Reynolds placed fourth and junior Charlotte Marrow finished in a tie for fifth on misses in the high jump. Both cleared a height of 1.53m (5-0.25).

The Panthers qualified three for the finals of the 800 meters with junior Keaton Case (2:13.83) and freshmen Caroline Baudinet (2:15.93) and Franzi Jakobs (2:15.94) all advancing.

The meet concludes Friday (May 11) with action starting at noon.