CULLOWHEE, N.C. — The Tusculum University men’s and women’s track and field teams are each in fourth place after Friday’s first day of the Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina University.
Tusculum’s men set two school records on Friday, as freshman Lansford Cunningham broke his own mark in the long jump and freshman Pau Valdepenas posted a new school record in the 1500 meters. In women’s competition, freshman Caley Sosnowski picked up another victory in the javelin for the Pioneers.
The meet will resume on Saturday at noon at the Catamount Athletics Complex.
MEN’S RECAP
Cunningham set the school record in the long jump for the second time this season as he posted a winning mark of 7.14 meters (23 feet, 5 1/4 inches), breaking his record of 6.96 meters set at the Blue Bear Invite on March 30. Sophomore Daryl Smith Jr. was fourth place with a career-best mark of 6.82 meters (22 feet, 4 1/2 inches) and junior Joshua Stephens added yet another career best as he took fifth at 6.80 meters (22 feet, 3 3/4 inches).
Valdepenas finished fifth in the 1500 meters with a school-record time of 3:54.57, breaking the old record of 3:59.71 set by Kyler Hodges three years ago at the Catamount Classic. Freshman Sam Shipp also broke Hodges’ record and took 10th place overall at 3:59.35.
Tusculum advanced four runners to Saturday’s finals in the 100 meters, led by sophomore Isaiah Olson who posted a personal best time of 10.46 seconds to earn the top seed. Also advancing were senior Jordan Taylor (10.65), senior Marquel Pittman (10.58) and Cunningham (10.66).
The Pioneers placed five runners inside the top 10 in the 200 meters, led by Taylor who ran 21.11 seconds to place second overall with the third-fastest time in program history. Pittman was fifth at 21.48 seconds, followed by Olson in sixth at 21.63 seconds, Cunningham in seventh at 21.66 seconds, and grad student Zack Nelson who was ninth at 21.98 seconds.
Freshman Dylan Horne was Tusculum’s top finisher in the javelin, placing fifth at 49.79 meters (163 feet, 4 inches) for the fourth-best mark in program history. Freshman Noah Girard was 11th overall at 40.58 meters (133 feet, 1 inch) and sophomore Gavin Rowell took 13th overall at 39.19 meters (128 feet, 7 inches).
Host Western Carolina is atop the team standings after six events with 51 points, followed by Wofford in second with 32 points, ETSU in third with 30 points and the Pioneers in fourth with 25 points.
WOMEN’S RECAP
Sosnowski again dominated in the javelin, winning for the fifth time in as many meets this season with a throw of 45.86 meters (150 feet, 5 inches). All six of Sosnowski’s throws were further than the best throw of runner-up Isa van Sintemaarten of Gardner-Webb (42.27 meters). Sosnowski entered the weekend ranked first in Division II in the javelin with a mark of 48.55 meters.
Sophomore Theresa Green-White advanced to the finals of the 100 meters and the 100 hurdles, taking third overall in the 100 meters at 12.20 seconds and first in the 100 hurdles at 14.06 seconds, her second-fastest time of her career.
Sophomore Kiera Taylor was the top qualifier in the 100 meters at 12.09 seconds, and set a career best in the 200 meters with the second-fastest time in program history at 24.79 seconds to place third overall. Freshman Alonda Shelton was fifth in the 200 at 24.93 seconds, and junior Jada Martin took ninth at 25.54 seconds.
Junior Amber Hogan was sixth in the hammer throw at 41.61 meters (136 feet, 6 inches) for the third-best mark in program history in the event.
ETSU is the team leader through six events with 66 points, with Tennessee Tech second at 43 points. Gardner-Webb is third with 26 points, with the Pioneers tied with host Western Carolina for fourth with 25 points.
