Pirates Sweep Long Jump at Dick Taylor Challenge

Friday, January 16

Chapel Hill, NC

East Carolina University

Dick Taylor Challenge

January 17, 2026 | Track & Field

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The East Carolina track and field team produced several standout performances and personal records at the Dick Taylor Challenge, hosted by North Carolina, highlighted by event wins in the long jump and strong showings in the middle-distance races.

The Pirates were led by dominant performances in the horizontal jumps. Kira Hawaaboo captured first place in the women's long jump with a personal-best mark of 5.89 meters, a performance that currently ranks her among the top 100 athletes in Division I at No. 92 nationally. On the men's side, Jared Harrell also claimed first place in the long jump, posting a season-best mark of 7.21 meters to secure the event victory for East Carolina.

In the middle distances, senior Alex Sawyer delivered a strong performance in the men's 1000 meters, with a second overall finish with a time of 2:29.77. The women's mile also featured notable efforts from the Pirates, as Katrina Ford recorded a personal best of 4:56.96, placing her seventh in ECU history, while Kaylee McCullough followed closely with 4:57.51, placing her ninth overall in the record books.

The Pirates also posted strong results in the throwing events. Shakiel Dacres finished fourth in the men's shot put with a personal-best mark of 16.74 meters and added another fourth-place finish in the weight throw at 14.86 meters. Zion Glover placed fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 14.71 meters. In the women's shot put, Macy Dulaney earned a third-place finish with a personal-best throw of 13.40 meters, while Anika Dupreez placed ninth. Lydia Simmons led the women's weight throw for ECU with a sixth-place finish at 16.98 meters, followed closely by Anna Baylor in seventh with a personal-best 16.81 meters.

Final Results

Men's