University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Outdoor Track and Field Season Opens up in Charleston
03.10.2011 | Track and Field
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field teams will open the 2011 season Friday at the Palmetto Classic Friday at the Park West facility in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The meet will be hosted by the College of Charleston.
Competition will start with field events at 1:30 p.m., with running events set to begin at 3:00p.m.
Fourth-year coach Jesse Norman plans to bring his entire roster to the meet. The Bulldog women's team is coming off a surprising third-place finish at the Big South Indoor Meet two weeks ago (Feb. 24-25). It was the highest finish ever for a Bulldog Track and Field team at a Big South Indoor or Outdoor Meet. Norman was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts. Asheville's men's team came in eighth place at the Indoor Meet.
"Our women had a great meet at Indoors," stated Norman. "Everything worked out perfectly. We had superb performances from everyone and got a point everywhere we could get one. I'm really proud of our team as they did an excellent job.
"But the Indoor season is behind us now," added Norman. "We need to put that behind us and get ready for our Outdoor season. I think both teams have the potential to have good years. Friday's meet will give us a good indication of what we have to work on for the year."
The Bulldog women's team will be led by senior sprinter Natalie Pearson. She finished runner-up in the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the Big South Indoor Event. Pearson didn't run for most of the Indoor season as she tried to rest up from an injury but was superb in the Big South meet. She'll try to go to Nationals for the second straight year.
The men's team will be led by senior thrower Simon Haake. Haake made the Regional last year in the javelin. He competed in both the shot put and discus during the Indoor campaign.
