University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gamecock Challenge
Richardson’s School Record and 16 PRs Highlight Asheville’s Day at Gamecock Challenge
02.01.2025 | Track and Field
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Isabel Richardson set a new school record in the 3000m that had been held for 21 years, and a total of 16 personal bests were achieved by the UNC Asheville Track and Field team at the Gamecock Challenge on Saturday.
RECORD BOOK ADJUSTMENTS
Richardson placed 11th overall in the women's 3,000m event, setting a new school record of 9:58.35. The previous record had been standing since 2004, set by Micki Logue with her time of 10:05.18. Ella Moore followed, clocking a personal best of 10:19.64 (seventh place in the third heat).
Jalen Anderson earned a spot in the 60m final, producing a personal best of 6.87 to place fourth overall, moving himself into a tie for No. 2 on the All-Time best list. Anderson was joined by freshmen duo Aaron Higgins (24th, 7.18) and Gabriel Buie (25th, 7.19).
In the 600m, Nikole Baikova placed second overall with her time of 1:37.12, entering herself at No. 2 on the All-Time best list after just one race over the distance. For the men, Ethan Acosta placed 18th with his time of 1:30.70.
In the final sprint event of the day, Shemarr Session locked a fifth-place finish in the men's 200m with a personal best time of 21.27. His time sends him straight to a comfortable No. 2 on the All-Time best list. He was joined by Anderson, who finished in sixth place in 21.33, and Joseph Oliver, who placed 12th in 21.89.
Paul Kirpotich placed 26th in the men's 1 mile with a personal best of 4:14.69, entering at No. 4 on the all-time list. Adam Hessler crossed the line next in 4:15.79 (29th). Hessler still holds the record in the event with 4:11.72. Logan Russo finished in 42nd with 4:30.93.
FIELD EVENTS
Asheville had a productive field day, earning two personal bests and one season best.
In the men's high jump, Kellan Ferrell and Gabe Matthews cleared 1.77m on their first attempt, but both had near misses when the height increased to 1.82m. Matthews was just .23m off his personal best height.
Switching to the sand, Murielle Jeanite secured a personal best jump of 5.29m to place 11th. Aaron Higgins represented the Bulldog men, placing 19th with a distance of 6.14m. Higgins was joined by Blake Hawks, who jumped to 21st with a distance of 5.70m.
Jaelyn Arnold set the mark for Asheville by finishing 9th in the women's shot put, throwing 11.11m. She was closely followed by Neely Rogan (12th, 10.88m) and Renae Younce (13th, 10.60m). In the weight throw, Arnold placed 12th (13.59m, SB), Madison Hannah placed 13th (13.22m), and Christina Jones set a PR of 13.19m to place 14th.
Chad Lasher placed 22nd with a throw of 10.58m in the men's weight throw and 18th (13.48m) in the men's shot put. Gabe Matthews placed 14th in the men's triple jump with 12.74m. He was joined by Blake Hawks, and Chaniya Owens competed in the women's section but, unfortunately, couldn't put a mark on the board.
Noah Henthorn placed 27th in the men's shot put with a personal best of 11.84m.
TRACK EVENTS
The Bulldogs worked the curves to have a strong showing on the track.
Nate Sullivan ran his debut indoor race in the men's 5,000m, placing 9th at 15:19.71. He was closely followed by fellow sophomore Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland, who locked a 10th-place finish in 15:45.12. In the women's section, Lauren Sochia represented the Bulldogs solo, placing seventh in 19:49.06 as her debut at this distance.
Turning attention to the women's section of the 60m, Alexis Vaughan and Zoey Marrero finished back-to-back in 32nd (8.333) and 33rd (8.334, PR).
Keeping the distance short, Shemarr Session clocked a time of 8.37 to finish ninth over the 60m hurdles. Adam Graham placed 17th with a personal best of 9.02. Murielle Jeanite led the Bulldog women, placing 33rd in 11.08.
In the men's 3,000m, Quinn Jacquez took a late lead to win his heat in a season's best of 8:43.23, 19th, SB). He was closely followed by Jonas Roach, who crossed the line in a 34-second personal best of 8:43.81 (20th), and Lance Surles, who also secured a personal best of 8:48.07 (22nd).
The 800m was highly contested by the Bulldogs, with Jacoby Ennis leading with a PR of 1:56.88 (17th). On his heels was Jaheem O'Hara, who ran 1:57.22 (18th). For the women, Zoe Bos took the Bulldogs out in a season's best of 2:23.58 (18th). Also with a season's best was Maddie Hamuka (22nd, 2:30.14), followed by Payton Murphy (25th, 2:35.99).
On the women's side of the 800m, Lily Kelpin set the pace for Asheville with her time of 5:21.04 (21st). She was joined by Addi Corl (25th, 5:28.63).
Adam Graham set a personal best of 50.79 (22nd) in the men's 400m. Christopher Owens placed 25th (51.20), and Braelin June placed 33rd (55.26).
Andrew Okon earned a fourth-place finish in the men's 1,000m with his time of 2:37.53. Sam Hulsey placed eighth in 2:44.90. Maddie Hamuka and Payton Murphy raced in the women's section, placing 11th (3:21.35) and 12th (3:33.27).
Chaniya Owens charged for the Bulldogs in the women's section of the 200m, placing 32nd in 26.77. She was followed by Alexis Vaughan, who placed 35th in 27.22.
RELAY EVENTS
Asheville put together two strong men's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) teams, with the A team placing third overall with a total time of 10:24.33. Their time is a new No. 46 for D1 this year. Asheville's B team placed sixth overall in 10:36.78. The women placed seventh overall in 12:34.23, a new No. 75 for D1.
Men's A Team: Hessler, Ennis, Russo, Kiprotich
Men's B Team: Jacquez, O'Hara, Surles, Roach
Women's A Team: Richardson, Bos, Kelpin, Moore
The Bulldogs will hit the final stop of their indoor regular season on Feb. 14 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational, hosted by Liberty University.
For a complete look at meet results, click HERE.
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Players Mentioned
