Pirates Post Big Performances At Carolina Challenge

Friday, January 31

Columbia, S.C.

TBA

East Carolina University

Carolina Challenge

February 01, 2020 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

Full Meet Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The East Carolina track and field program turned in another highly-successful effort at the Carolina Challenge this weekend, setting two indoor school records inside the Carolina Indoor Track and Field Complex.

Against an impressive field, junior Sommer Knight improved her own program indoor pole vault standard, clearing 4.15 meters to take the American Athletic Conference lead, while senior Ryan Davis posted a facility record in the weight throw at 22.20 meters to better his own school record and move into fourth place nationally. Knight is also now among the top 20 in the country at 19th.

"We are super excited about another great weekend of track and field for both teams," Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Curt Kraft said. "We set two school records and had numerous personal bests set once again. It is very gratifying as a coaching staff to see that all the effort and hard work pay off on meet day. Every weekend it's been somebody new that has stepped up and contributed to the team effort."

Sophomore Matthew Russell and senior Dean Abushouk posted the fourth and sixth-fastest 5,000-meter times in program history at 14:52.65 and 14:59.48. Freshman Jake Justice also moved into fifth place on the ECU top 10 list in the pole vault with a mark of 4.70 meters.

On the women's side, junior Tavia Ranger won her section of the shot put with a toss of 13.23 meters. Freshman Rosalynd Hollingsworth notched the seventh-fastest 60-meter dash time in the program annals, crossing the finish line in 7.51 seconds. She would finish fourth in the finals in a time of 7.53. Senior Nuria Tillo-Prats captured third place in the mile with a solid time of 4:53.59 while, additionally, the women's 4x400 relay squad of Brooke Stith, D'Nia Freeman Mariah Atwater and Shellbi Chapman completed the race in 3:44.24 to finish fourth and record the fifth-fastest showing in school history.

The Pirates will attend two meets next weekend – the Doc Hale Elite Meet in Blacksburg, Va., and the Camel City Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C.

"We are four weeks away from the AAC Indoor Championships and we have two final meets to fine tune things," Kraft added. "It's very important that we continue to stay healthy and work hard at all the little things that contribute to being successful teams."