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University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, January 14
Johnson City, TN
UNC Asheville
at
ETSU Track & Field Invitational
Bulldogs complete day one of ETSU Track & Field Invitational
01.14.2022 | Track and Field
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – After a layoff of over a month, the UNC Asheville track & field programs turned in a stellar showing during the first day of the ETSU Track & Field Invitational. Overall, the Bulldogs tallied three podium finishes and had four student-athletes qualify for the finals in their respective events that will be contested on Saturday.
"It was clear that we were glad as a team to get back to competing today," said Head Coach Joel Williams. "We had some top-five performances, an event win, and some qualify for finals tomorrow."
Bryson Riddick tallied the lone event victory for Asheville on Friday as he logged the top time in the 400-meter dash (49.35). Riddick was not the only Bulldog near the top of the pack in that event, as Anthony Mason placed third (50.30). In the women's 400-meter run, the Bulldogs showed some stellar depth as they had three of the top six finishers. Leading this group was Elyse Myles, with a time of 1:01.38 that ranked fourth in the field.
In other action on the track, the Bulldogs had a few athletes show well in the prelims for 60-meter hurdle and 60-meter dash events. First, Zac Weas led all competitors with an 8.36 time in the 60-meter hurdles, and that time ranks as the third-fastest in the school history during an indoor season. Nick Roberts was not too far behind Weas as he placed second with a time of 8.54. Friday's time for Roberts was just .01 off his personal best for the event, which he set on another trip to Johnson City in January 2020.
The tandem of Jurnee Coleman (60-meter hurdles) and Claudia Prieto (60-meter dash) also qualified for Saturday's finals in their events. Coleman's time of 9.17 placed fourth and ranked as the second-fastest in the program's indoor record book, ranking only behind the time of 8.86 Kayli Nichols set back in 2017. Prieto, meanwhile, matched a personal-best time clocking in at 7.79, which ranked fifth. Furthermore, Prieto's time Friday also ranks as the second-fastest in school history.
Asheville also had some standout outings in the field events on Friday. The duo of Solomon McDonald (16.12-meters) and Jack Choiniere (16.07-meters) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the weight throw. Perhaps the more impressive note on McDonald's and Choiniere's outings is that before this season, only two Bulldogs ever surpassed the 16-meter mark in the weight throw in Kurt Hibert (17.59m – 2013) and Clint Barden (16.22 – 2002). In the 2021-22 campaign alone, McDonald and Choiniere have matched that.
Noela Moraga also had a breakthrough performance on Friday in the women's weight throw. She not only shattered her previous personal best with a toss of 13.75-meters (previous best – 12.17-meters). Friday's mark for Moraga ranks fourth in the program's indoor record book and placed her fifth on the day.
Asheville will be back in action on Saturday morning as it resumes the ETSU Track & Field Invitational. The first event is scheduled to get underway at 8:30 a.m., and results can be tracked throughout the day HERE.
"It was clear that we were glad as a team to get back to competing today," said Head Coach Joel Williams. "We had some top-five performances, an event win, and some qualify for finals tomorrow."
Bryson Riddick tallied the lone event victory for Asheville on Friday as he logged the top time in the 400-meter dash (49.35). Riddick was not the only Bulldog near the top of the pack in that event, as Anthony Mason placed third (50.30). In the women's 400-meter run, the Bulldogs showed some stellar depth as they had three of the top six finishers. Leading this group was Elyse Myles, with a time of 1:01.38 that ranked fourth in the field.
In other action on the track, the Bulldogs had a few athletes show well in the prelims for 60-meter hurdle and 60-meter dash events. First, Zac Weas led all competitors with an 8.36 time in the 60-meter hurdles, and that time ranks as the third-fastest in the school history during an indoor season. Nick Roberts was not too far behind Weas as he placed second with a time of 8.54. Friday's time for Roberts was just .01 off his personal best for the event, which he set on another trip to Johnson City in January 2020.
The tandem of Jurnee Coleman (60-meter hurdles) and Claudia Prieto (60-meter dash) also qualified for Saturday's finals in their events. Coleman's time of 9.17 placed fourth and ranked as the second-fastest in the program's indoor record book, ranking only behind the time of 8.86 Kayli Nichols set back in 2017. Prieto, meanwhile, matched a personal-best time clocking in at 7.79, which ranked fifth. Furthermore, Prieto's time Friday also ranks as the second-fastest in school history.
Asheville also had some standout outings in the field events on Friday. The duo of Solomon McDonald (16.12-meters) and Jack Choiniere (16.07-meters) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the weight throw. Perhaps the more impressive note on McDonald's and Choiniere's outings is that before this season, only two Bulldogs ever surpassed the 16-meter mark in the weight throw in Kurt Hibert (17.59m – 2013) and Clint Barden (16.22 – 2002). In the 2021-22 campaign alone, McDonald and Choiniere have matched that.
Noela Moraga also had a breakthrough performance on Friday in the women's weight throw. She not only shattered her previous personal best with a toss of 13.75-meters (previous best – 12.17-meters). Friday's mark for Moraga ranks fourth in the program's indoor record book and placed her fifth on the day.
Asheville will be back in action on Saturday morning as it resumes the ETSU Track & Field Invitational. The first event is scheduled to get underway at 8:30 a.m., and results can be tracked throughout the day HERE.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles, Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
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