University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
First Place Finishes from Málek and Weas Highlight Day One of the 49er Classic
03.16.2024 | Track and Field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville track and field team opened its 2024 outdoor season on Friday at the 49er Classic, hosted by UNC Charlotte.
Day one was highlighted by freshman Jan Málek, who locked down the men's 5000m Invite with his first-place finish and time of 14:37.10. Málek controlled the race from the start and clocked the fastest closing split of the event with a 1:02.05. He was joined by Daniel Hopkins (21st, 15:18.05) and Quinn Jacquez (25th, 15:38.84). Málek's finish placed him at No. 5 in program records.
After claiming a conference title at the Big South Indoor Championships, Senior Zac Weas continued his success into the outdoor season, winning the men's 110m hurdles with a time of 14.56. Weas holds the second-best time in program history in the 110m hurdles at 14.14, which he set last season. Weas' time of 14.56 is the fourth-best in program history.
Weas also competed in the 400m hurdles and finished 18th (58.56). He was joined by Adam Graham, who finished 38th in 1:04.85.
In the women's 400m hurdles, Asheville was led by Lee Kania (27th, 1:11.90), followed by Murielle Jeanite (29th, 1:12.81) and Chaniya Owens (37th, 1:16.57). Maya Dulaney represented in the women's 100m hurdles and finished 22nd (15.45).
In the 100m, Jalen Anderson and DaMarr Harvey finished sixth and seventh, respectively, with times of 10.69 and 10.71. The duo was joined by Braelin June (57th, 11.52) and Mason Bradley (72nd, 12.43). On the women's side, Francesca Cergol finished in 28th at 12.70, followed by Elyse Myles in 38th at 12.90.
Mallory Haney secured a top-ten finish in the women's 400m, taking seventh in 58.36. Zoe Bos finished 32nd with a time of 1:01.59. On the men's side, Christopher Owens finished 28th (50.71), Isaac Wright finished 31st (50.74), and Brandon Kalasnik finished 52nd (52.66).
In the 1500m for the women, Emma Kennett finished 33rd (4:50.79), Ella Moore finished 56th (4:56.92), and Emily Leo finished 75th (5:04.31). On the men's side, Alex Haines led the Bulldogs, finishing 22nd with a time of 3:57.75. He was joined by Jackson Core (49th, 4:08.42), Lance Sulres (57th, 4:10.91), and Brock Newsome (81st, 4:18.55).
In the 5000m, Sophie Lundin ran an outdoor personal best of 18:23.82 to finish 26th in the Invitational, and Madeline Wittchen took 11th place in the open with her time of 18:52.43. Yates Hockaday represented Asheville in the open 5000m with a 14th-place finish (15:19.70).
Brianna Moore placed fourth with a mark of 5.70m in the women's long jump. Mallory Haney locked in 12th with a jump of 5.16m, and Francesca Cergol took 38th by jumping to a mark of 4.41m. In the men's long jump, Bulldogs finished back-to-back, with Gabriel Mathews finishing in 45th (5.75m) and Mason Bradley in 46th (5.63m).
Madison Hannah represented the women's hammer throw with her distance of 35.55 meters (35th), and Daphne Bogert cleared 2.65 meters in the women's pole vault to secure an 11th-place finish. In the men's high jump, Gabriel Matthews cleared 1.65 meters to also take an 11th-place finish, and Eli Oeschger threw 20.62 meters in the men's javelin to finish 40th.
Hannah also represented Asheville in the women's discus, finishing 23rd at 37.21m. She was followed by Jaelin Arnold, who finished 31st (34.22), and Christina Jones, who finished 39th (31.62).
The Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow, March 16, for the final day of the 49ers Classic. For full event results, click here.
