Pirates Post Stellar Opener to Begin Their 2024 Indoor Season

Friday, January 19

Blacksburg, VA

East Carolina University

Hokie Invitational

Pirates Post Stellar Opener to Begin Their 2024 Indoor Season

January 20, 2024 | Track & Field

Final Results (PDF)

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The East Carolina track & field program opened its 2024 indoor season with a bang on Friday and Saturday at the Hokie Invitational hosted by Virginia Tech. Two school records went down, the Pirates posted eight podium finishes and a whopping 14 performances which rank in the top 10 in program history.

On Friday it was the ECU sprint squad which earned the headlines. Royal Burris showed he hasn't missed a step as he absolutely blasted the program record in the 300m as he lowered the mark from 34.38 to 33.79 seconds. That record had stood for 16 years before Burris knocked it down by over a half-second. That wasn't all that the senior did, though, as he notched himself a PR in the 60m with a time of 6.71 seconds which was good for second place in the event. That result also moved Burris into fourth in program history in the event.

Not to be outdone, Melicia Mouzzon lowered her own ECU record in the 60m from 7.30 to 7.29 seconds on her way to winning the event at the meet. Mouzzon is now a full tenth of a second clear of second in program history in the event.

Sydni McMillan also had a stellar opener on Friday as she took the win in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.27. It was a huge PR which moved the senior into third in East Carolina history in the 60m hurdles, up six spots and now just 0.03 behind the program record.

On the distance side, Alex Sawyer took a big swing at the program record, finishing with the fourth-fastest 1,000m in ECU history in 2:27.45.

Nate Williams was the highlight of the day on Saturday as he leapt his way to fifth in program history in the triple jump, setting a personal best by over half a meter with his 15.23m (49-11.75) result. On the women's side, L'Nya Carpenter took third in the event with a 12.61m (41-4.50) leap.

Quotable
"Both teams had a fantastic opening weekend to the indoor track and field season," said Director of Track & Field Curt Kraft. "This was probably one of our best opening track and field meets for an indoor season in a long time. We set two school records and had numerous personal best all across the board on both teams. We competed with a lot of energy and excitement all weekend long. This sets the tone and the foundation for the rest of the indoor season. We just had a team meeting and I told them to enjoy and celebrate these victories, but we have to move on and get better each and every weekend. We have to stay focused and remain healthy."

ECU Results
Men
60m: Royal Burris, 6.71 (2^nd) | Carlmelo Martin, 6.80 (6^th) | Everton Muir, 6.94 (12^th) | Cameron Moore, 6.96 (16^th)
200m: Terence Booth, Jr., 22.88 (23^rd)
300m: Royal Burris, 33.79 (1^st) | Blake Moody, 34.33 (4^th) | Jaelyn Green, 34.50 (7^th) | Everton Muir, 35.18 (12^th)
800m: Alex Sawyer: 1:55.59 (5^th), Cooper Kleckner, 1:58.81 (9^th) | Zach Willer, 2:01.02 (11^th)
1,000m: Alex Sawyer, 2:27.45 (22^nd) | Cooper Kleckner, 2:33.82 (31^st) | Zach Willer, 2:34.01 (32^nd)
1 Mile: Elliott Kleckner, 4:34.59 (46^th)
3,000m: Colin McCauley, 8:41.01 (15^th)
60mH: Terence Booth, Jr., 8.14 (9^th) | Starrett Vesper, 9.59 (19^th)
Long Jump: Jared Harrell, 7.26m (23-10) (5^th)
Triple Jump: Nate Williams, 15.23m (49-11.75) (2^nd) | Javariante Core, 14.13m (46-4.25) (9^th)
Shot Put: Shakiel Dacres, 14.89m (48-10.25) (8^th) | Starrett Vesper, 11.65m (38-2.75) (13^th)
Weight Throw: Brock Lasure, 16.39m (53-9.25) (10^th)
Pole Vault: Starrett Vesper, 4.75m (15-7) (3^rd)

Women
60m: Melicia Mouzzon, 7.29 (1^st) | Calandra Henry, 7.50 (5^th) | Rosalynd Hollingsworth, 7.69 (17^th) | Makhia Jarrett, 7.89 (29^th)
200m: Teliyah James, 25.05 (7^th) | Naturi Robinson, 26.01 (25^th)
300m: Melicia Mouzzon, 39.30 (5^th) | Calandra Henry, 40.61 (16^th) | Makhia Jarrett, 40.97 (22^nd) | Natalie Mial, 40.98 (23^rd)
400m: Jordyn Jeffers, 1:01.69 (21^st)
600m: Lily Schlossberg, 1:37.98 (16^th) | Sarah Ann Miller, 1:38.90 (22^nd)
800m: Lily Schlossberg, 2:16.45 (10^th)
1,000m: Abrielle Schweitzer, 3:06.35 (21^st) | Brianna Winsett, 3:15.86 (23^rd)
3,000m: Hayley Whoolery, 10:06.27 (7^th) | Navaya Zales, 10:24.86 (18^th)
60mH: Sydni McMillan, 8.27 (1^st) | Naturi Robinson, 9.46 (19^th)
4x400: 3:57.24 (7^th) | 4:03.75 (8^th)
DMR: 12:48.26 (2^nd)
Weight Throw: Nyah Edwards, 19.34m (63-5.50) (4^th) | Naadiya Faison, 17.36m (56-11.50) (9^th) | A'riana Crumpler, 16.60m (54-5.50) (14^th) | Rebekah Bergquist, 15.55m (51-00.25) (16^th)
Long Jump: Elizabeth Taylor, 5.74m (18-10) (7^th) | Skyler Harrelson, 5.55m (18-2.50) (10^th)
Triple Jump: L'Nya Carpenter, 12.61m (41-4.50) (3^rd) | Elizabeth Taylor, 12.08m (39-7.75) (6^th)
Shot Put: Naadiya Faison, 14.91m (48-11) (7^th) | Jocelyn Pringle, 10.88m (35-8.50) (24^th)
Pole Vault: Rileigh Cardin, 3.40m (11-1.75) (7^th) | Sarah Smith, 3.25m (10-8) (9^th)