University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Final Day Full of Podiums for UNC Asheville at Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships
05.12.2017 | Track and Field
Final Results (Click Link to Access)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The final day of the 2017 Big South Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by UCS and Musco Lighting on Friday, May 12, at the Bagwell-Settle Stadium Track on the campus of Charleston Southern was a day full of podiums for UNC Asheville men's and women's track and field.
UNC Asheville freshman Matthew Harding followed up his win earlier this year in the 800 meters at the league Indoor Track and Field Championships by winning the 800m at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 1:49.92. The time was the second-best in program history in the event.
It was the first of two podiums on the day for Harding as he anchored the Bulldogs' 4x400 team to a second-place all-league finish with a time of 3:18.26. The time was the second-best in program history in the event.
Hunter Koike picked up an all-conference spot of his own by finishing third in the 200 meters with a time 21.93. The time was the third-fastest in the event in program history just behind Koike's 21.73 he ran in the 200m trials at the league championship on Wednesday, May 10.
Koike also set the new program-record in the 100 meters finals with a time of 10.82.
In the women's 100m hurdles, Kayli Nichols bested her own school-record time to finish fifth with a time 14.12. Patrick Johnston was eighth in the men's 110m hurdles with a time of 16.80.
In the women's 400m hurdles, Nichols finished fifth with a time of 1:02.03. The time is the third-best in program history in the event. Johnston posted a seventh-place finish in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 56.84.
The UNC Asheville women's 4x100 team finished fifth in the event with a time of 48.21. The time was the fifth-best time in school history in the event.
In the men's 1,500 meters UNC Asheville's Blanton Gillespie finished eighth with a time of 4:02.81, while Kamryn DeCarmo ended her efforts in sixth in the women's 1,500 meters with a time of 4:46.89.
UNC Asheville's Desire Brown finished just off of the podium in the women's 400 meters with a time of 56.91. The time was the second-best in the event in women's program history. On the men's side, Tyree McFalling finished seventh in the 400m with a time of 50.63.
In the women's 5,000 meters, Kelley Coleman ended her strong league championships by finishing fifth with a time of 18:36.06.
BULLDOGS BITES
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: In addition to winning the 800 meters, Matthew Harding was also chosen as the Big South Men's Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year. Harding swept the league's Freshman of the Year awards in track as he was also tabbed the Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year earlier this year.
ACADEMICALLY STRONG: UNC Asheville's Kayli Nichols was chosen to the Big South Women's Track and Field All-Academic Team, while Chase Stevens was selected to the Big South Men's Track and Field All-Academic Team.
QUOTABLES – Head Coach Jesse Norman
Opening thoughts
"We did pretty well in some different areas. We had a couple of hiccups here and there like you usually always will have in track, especially in three-day events like this. Probably the highlight is Matthew Harding winning the 800 meters as well as the big leg for him on the 4x400 to help us get second place there. Hunter Koike had a big day and we felt like we got the types of performances out of him that we expected all along, so it was pretty awesome to see that."
On men's performance
"That's the highest points scored that we've had since I've been here. We're going to bring back everybody next year, and we'll add some more into the mix, and I think we can make a run and start beating a couple of teams."
On women's performance
"On the women's side we'll bring everybody back but one in Argia Gibson. She'll be the only one we're losing, so we're excited about next year. Today was a pretty good day. Kelley Coleman had some huge performances."
Overall thoughts
"This is the best we've done overall since I've been here, so it's exciting and we have some good pieces to build off of going forward."
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The final day of the 2017 Big South Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships presented by UCS and Musco Lighting on Friday, May 12, at the Bagwell-Settle Stadium Track on the campus of Charleston Southern was a day full of podiums for UNC Asheville men's and women's track and field.
UNC Asheville freshman Matthew Harding followed up his win earlier this year in the 800 meters at the league Indoor Track and Field Championships by winning the 800m at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 1:49.92. The time was the second-best in program history in the event.
It was the first of two podiums on the day for Harding as he anchored the Bulldogs' 4x400 team to a second-place all-league finish with a time of 3:18.26. The time was the second-best in program history in the event.
Hunter Koike picked up an all-conference spot of his own by finishing third in the 200 meters with a time 21.93. The time was the third-fastest in the event in program history just behind Koike's 21.73 he ran in the 200m trials at the league championship on Wednesday, May 10.
Koike also set the new program-record in the 100 meters finals with a time of 10.82.
In the women's 100m hurdles, Kayli Nichols bested her own school-record time to finish fifth with a time 14.12. Patrick Johnston was eighth in the men's 110m hurdles with a time of 16.80.
In the women's 400m hurdles, Nichols finished fifth with a time of 1:02.03. The time is the third-best in program history in the event. Johnston posted a seventh-place finish in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 56.84.
The UNC Asheville women's 4x100 team finished fifth in the event with a time of 48.21. The time was the fifth-best time in school history in the event.
In the men's 1,500 meters UNC Asheville's Blanton Gillespie finished eighth with a time of 4:02.81, while Kamryn DeCarmo ended her efforts in sixth in the women's 1,500 meters with a time of 4:46.89.
UNC Asheville's Desire Brown finished just off of the podium in the women's 400 meters with a time of 56.91. The time was the second-best in the event in women's program history. On the men's side, Tyree McFalling finished seventh in the 400m with a time of 50.63.
In the women's 5,000 meters, Kelley Coleman ended her strong league championships by finishing fifth with a time of 18:36.06.
BULLDOGS BITES
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: In addition to winning the 800 meters, Matthew Harding was also chosen as the Big South Men's Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year. Harding swept the league's Freshman of the Year awards in track as he was also tabbed the Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year earlier this year.
ACADEMICALLY STRONG: UNC Asheville's Kayli Nichols was chosen to the Big South Women's Track and Field All-Academic Team, while Chase Stevens was selected to the Big South Men's Track and Field All-Academic Team.
QUOTABLES – Head Coach Jesse Norman
Opening thoughts
"We did pretty well in some different areas. We had a couple of hiccups here and there like you usually always will have in track, especially in three-day events like this. Probably the highlight is Matthew Harding winning the 800 meters as well as the big leg for him on the 4x400 to help us get second place there. Hunter Koike had a big day and we felt like we got the types of performances out of him that we expected all along, so it was pretty awesome to see that."
On men's performance
"That's the highest points scored that we've had since I've been here. We're going to bring back everybody next year, and we'll add some more into the mix, and I think we can make a run and start beating a couple of teams."
On women's performance
"On the women's side we'll bring everybody back but one in Argia Gibson. She'll be the only one we're losing, so we're excited about next year. Today was a pretty good day. Kelley Coleman had some huge performances."
Overall thoughts
"This is the best we've done overall since I've been here, so it's exciting and we have some good pieces to build off of going forward."
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldThursday, June 18
Wednesday, March 18
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Friday, February 06