University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Jeju Resets School Record and Grabs One of Three Podium Finishes to Highlight Day One of Big South Outdoor Championships
05.12.2025 | Track and Field
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville Track and Field team battled the elements on Monday to open the Big South Outdoor Championships, and after day one, the men's team is in fourth with 23 points and the women are in fifth with eight points.
PODIUM FINISHES
Nkosi Jeju jumped to new heights in the men's long jump final, resetting his school record to 7.35 meters to take silver overall on his third attempt. Jeju grabbed eight points for the Bulldogs.
Fifteen points were added to the Bulldog tally after the men's 10,000m final, as Paul Kiprotich kicked the hardest he had all season to take silver in 30:34.95. Adam Hessler crossed the line hot on his heels to take bronze in 30:37.01.
ASHEVILLE SCORERS
Sophie Lundin set a 20-second personal best in the women's 10,000m final to place sixth (+3pts) in 37:19.24. In her first 10,000m, Ella Moore placed seventh (+2pts) with 37:29.46.
Chaniya Owens secured sixth place (+3pts) in the women's long jump final, locking her furthest distance of 5.29 meters after one attempt.
Quinn Jacquez placed eighth (+1pts) to join Kiprotich and Hessler at 31:38.77.
QUALIFIERS AND CONTINUATIONS
After four events, Lee Kania currently holds the fifth spot (2265 points) in the women's heptathlon. Kania had a standout shot put, taking second place with 9.07 meters on her first attempt.
Murielle Jeanite joins Kania in the women's heptathlon, standing in seventh place (1963 points) after day one. Jeanite soared in the women's heptathlon 200m, crossing the line in first place at 25.90, only .14 away from her best. Kania and Jeanite will tackle the women's heptathlon long jump, javelin throw, and 800m tomorrow on the final day of the heptathlon.
Blake Hawks leads for Asheville in sixth place in the men's decathlon with 2928 points. His best performance came in the men's decathlon shot put, where he placed fifth with 10.57 meters. Hawks also competed in the open men's long jump final, taking 15th place with a jump of 5.79 meters.
Noah Henthorn sits in eighth, with his best finish of the day being in the shot put with a throw of 11.92 meters to take third place and add 602 points to his total of 2760 points. Henthorn and Hawks will complete the men's decathlon, competing in the 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1,500m.
Jan Málek controlled the men's 1,500m prelim, crossing the line with the fastest qualifying time of 3:58.95. Andrew Okon also qualified with a personal best of 4:0.35, closely followed by Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland, whose personal best of 4:00.75 earned him a spot in Wednesday's final.
DaMarr Harvey cruised to the final of the men's 200m, taking second place in heat one with 21.12. Shemarr Session qualified in fourth place with 21.27.
In the women's 1,500m prelim, three Bulldogs secured spots in Wednesday's final, with Isabel Richardson leading the charge in fourth place (4:42.86). Next across the line in fifth was Ella Warren, with a personal best of 4:51.78. Payton Murphy also qualified in 5:00.52.
Adam Graham placed fifth in the men's 400m hurdles prelims, securing a spot in the final with 56.23.
LOOKING AHEAD
The UNC Asheville Track and Field team will return to the Karl Straus track tomorrow, May 13, for the second and penultimate day of the Big South Outdoor Championships.
For full results from DAY ONE, click HERE.
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