Asheville, N.C. – Western Carolina monitor and discipline had a number of spectacular performances throughout Friday’s first day of the Big South vs. SoCon Conference Challenge, claiming 5 of a attainable six first-place finishes to open the occasion being held at UNC Asheville’s on-campus Karl Haus Track.
WCU’s Lexie Durban, Austin Cline, Ericka Jackson, Jackson Livingston, and Madeline Hladik all claimed occasion wins of their respective occasions, with Catamounts moreover inserting second in 4 of those self same occasions.
The Catamounts return to motion in Asheville on Saturday as the ladies’s discus is slated for a 9 a.m. begin. Event protection on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) begins at 1 p.m.
Lexie Durban opened the day with an occasion win within the ladies’s hammer throw, because the sophomore was the one student-athlete with an try additional than 46 meters. She set a private report with a 49.34m toss to safe the win. Durban was adopted within the order by Emmie Finley, who took second with a 44.84m try.
Similarly, Austin Cline took first within the males’s hammer throw with a private report of 54.91m. Cline was already fifth within the WCU prime 5 efficiency listing, however furthered his season’s finest with the attempt. Dominick Dale claimed second within the occasion with a 48.18m throw on his second try.
Jackson Livingston led the boys’s staff within the javelin throw, securing first with a 54.57m launch on his fifth throw of the day. Dale added to his strong opening-day efficiency with a second-place displaying within the javelin as effectively. Livingston and Dale have been the one student-athletes with throws over 52 meters within the occasion. Dale took second with a 52.04m try, whereas Winthrop’s Boyd Brackett was third with a forty five.78m toss.
After incomes a win within the javelin throw final week through the USA invite, Ericka Jackson claimed her second consecutive occasion win in Asheville. Her finest distance got here on her remaining throw, successful the occasion with a 41.11m try, the one entrant with a mark over 40 meters, which she broke on 4 of her six makes an attempt.
On the monitor, Madeline Hladik made her WCU monitor and discipline debut, racing to the win within the 5,000m. Hladik missed the indoor season for the Catamounts, however made her influence felt instantly with an 18:29.75 end to climb atop the rostrum. She was adopted by Braelyn-Shae Wahy, who took second with a time of 18:46.73.
Chase Thurber posted the highest Catamount end within the males’s 5,000m, setting a brand new PR with a 14:51.05 race. He now ranks fifth on WCU’s all-time efficiency listing, taking second within the occasion.
