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University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Doc Hale VT Meet
School Records from Hessler and Anderson Highlight Bulldogs' Performance at Doc Hale VT Meet
02.03.2024 | Track and Field
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The UNC Asheville track & field team traveled to Blacksburg, Va., this weekend for the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Invitational Meet, which saw 39 Bulldogs compete in the two-day competition with four top-five finishes recorded.Â
FRIDAY'S EVENTS
The Asheville Bulldogs worked well as a team across the men's and women's Distance Medley Relay (DMR). The men finished first in 10:13.54. Not only was this a win for the Bulldogs, but the DMR team also ran the second-fastest time in school history. The squad included senior Alex Haines (1200m), senior Anthony Mason (400m), graduate senior Brock Newsome (800m), and freshman Jan Malek (1600m).Â
The women also turned in a solid performance to finish in second with a compiled time of 12:36.27. The line-up for the women included freshman Isabel Richardson (1200m), senior Amanda Orban (400m), junior Alison Graf (800m), and sophomore Emma Kennett (1600m).Â
In the open 3000m, a personal best was run by sophomore Sophie Lundin, who finished in 20th (10:27.32). Lundin was closely followed by freshman Ella Moore (10:42.21, 25th) and Madeline Wittschen (10:45.18, 26th), who achieved a season's best. Also with a season's best in the 3000m was senior Daniel Hopkins, who led the Bulldogs at 8:55.71. In the same heat as Hopkins were teammates Andrew Okon (9:09.17, 21st), Alex Haines (9:12.58), and Jonas Roach, who ran 9:23.06 in his first collegiate 3000m event.Â
In the 60m hurdles, Zac Weas qualified for the finals with a time of 8.38 and finished in seventh with a time of 8.32.
Inside the track, senior Brianna Moore jumped a personal best of 5.62 meters in the women's long jump. Senior Mallory Haney also competed in the long jump and increased her personal best to 5.14 meters.
SATURDAY EVENTS
Jalen Anderson and Adam Hessler highlighted day two for Asheville as both earned school records in their respective events. In the men's 200m, Anderson finished third and broke the school record, which he set in the Bulldogs' last meet, with a time of 21.58. Also in the top ten was senior Anthony Mason, who crossed the line in 21.99 to take ninth place. They were joined by sophomore DeMarr Harvey (22.26, 13th) and freshman Braelin June (23.13, 25th), who both ran personal bests.ÂIn the 5000m, Hessler finished first at 14:15.92 to break the program record.
Other top performances on Saturday included Newsome earning a season's best of 1:55.66 (12th) in the men's 800m. Joining Newsome was freshman Jaheem O'Hara, who claimed the first PR of the day with his time of 1:56.67 (16th). Hot on his heels was graduate Tom Germann, who also ran a PR of 1:56.9 (18th).Â
Junior Alison Graf finished fifth in the women's 800m with a time of 2:16.85 to put her fifth on UNC Asheville's All-Time best list. Following suit were freshman Zoe Bos and sophomore Emily Leo, who ran 2:20.3 (PR) and 2:24.48 (PR), respectively.Â
The Bulldogs also had a strong showing in the open mile, with freshman Jàn Malek leading the pack at 4:14.48. Senior Jackson Core moved up the field in the fourth heat to finish in second at 4:20.11. Core was joined by freshman Lance Surles, who ran 4:42.83 (44th) in his first mile of the 2023-24 season.
Freshman Isabel Richardson secured a second-place spot on the All-Time best list in the mile with her time of 5:00.04 (23rd). Also in the mile was sophomore Emma Kennett, who ran 5:28.58 to place 52nd.Â
Full results from the weekend can be found HERE.Â
The Bulldogs have a quick turnaround as they close their 2024 regular indoor season in Lynchburg, Va., on Friday, Feb. 9, at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational Meet.Â
Players Mentioned
