BOONE, N.C. – In the final meet on the Ike Belk Track, the Appalachian State men's track and field team won seven total events (six individual, one relay) at the Mountaineer Outdoor Meet on Saturday.
The Ike Belk Track served as the home for the Mountaineer track and field program for over 50 seasons and has served as host to numerous meets since its opening in 1966.
Sophomore
Jalen Virgil (Lawrenceville, Ga./Mountain View) continued to climb the record book in the 100-meter dash. He posted a time of 10.44 in the preliminary round, which tied his season-best mark that was fourth on the all-time list. In the finals, Virgil crossed in 10.32 seconds, which now ranks as the third fastest time in the event in program history.
Sophomore
Elliott Graves (Reidsville, N.C./Rockingham Early College) swept both the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles. He posted a time of 14.17 seconds in the 100-meters hurdles and crossed in 53.89 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles to win both events. Graves' mark in the 100-meter hurdles sits as the ninth fastest time in the event in program history.
Senior
Ryan Hastings (Matthews, N.C./Porter Ridge) captured the 800-meter run in 1:49.83 and junior
Brandon Smith (Fayetteville, N.C./Douglas Byrd) crossed first in the 400-meter dash in 48.17 seconds.
Senior
Isaiah Relliford (Winston-Salem, N.C./White Oak) took home first-place honors in the triple jump, covering a new PR distance of 49-3.50. Relliford also notched a third-place finish in the long jump with a PR mark of 22-7.75, while freshman
Senico Haines (Charlotte, N.C./Berry) also set a new PR in the triple jump, placing sixth with a mark of 21-9.00.
The 4x100-meter relay tandem of sophomore
Jabari Johnson (Yokosuka, Japan/Nile C. Kinnick), freshman
Brenton Ervin (Charlotte, N.C./Mallard Creed) Virgil and Graves were first in 40.99 seconds.
Jabari Johnson also notched a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash in 21.32 seconds.
Junior
Peter Kenn (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) posted a new PR toss in the hammer throw, covering 164-9, which was good for third-place. Sophomore
Michael Albert (Buchanan, Va./James River) was fifth in the event with a toss of 143-4.
Kenn also registered a second-place finish in the discus, covering 150-11 with his throw. Albert placed fourth in the discus, setting a new PR with a toss of 149-2.
Junior
Michael Utecht (New Hill, N.C./Apex) notched a third-place finish in the pole vault, clearing 16-0.50. Sophomore
Jackson Widener (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) placed fifth in the event with a mark of 14-6.75.
In the high jump, sophomore
Jordan Dale (Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford) finished second, tying his season-best mark of 6-8.00. Sophomore
Daniel Lauffenburger (Winston-Salem, N.C./Forsyth Country Day) notched a new PR height of 6-5.50, which was good for third-place.
Senior
Evan Georges (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) placed third in the 1,500-meter run on 3:54.87. Freshman
Zachary Mercer (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville Senior) clocked a new PR in the event with a time of 4:01.75.
After taking next weekend off, the Black and Gold will return to competition on May 11 through May 13 at the Sun Belt Championships hosted by Texas State.
