In the track and field outdoor season opener, App State traveled to South Carolina to compete in the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge. The men’s team dominated, placing with an overall team score of 198, followed by Coastal Carolina University with 93 points. The women’s team placed second overall, with a team score of 160 points.
On the opening day, both the men’s and women’s teams began slowly, with few teams qualifying past the preliminaries. However, the women’s 4x800m was where the Mountaineers found success. A meet record was set by senior Addison Ollendick-Smith, freshman Josie Jackson, sophomore Savannah Moore and freshman Tessa Massa with a time of 9:03.60.
In the men’s 4x800m, the Mountaineers secured first and second place, with times of 7:36.86 and 7:47.78.
On Saturday, the Black and Gold made their mark, with Mountaineers placing in multiple events and setting two school records.
The first record was set by redshirt freshman Noah Martinson in the men’s 3,000m, who took first with a time of 8:21.03. Redshirt freshman Aaron Kidd followed in second with a 8:24.59 time.
Sophomores Harlee Fonville and Brittany Ellis both reached personal-best scores of 48.42m and 43.38m in women’s discus. Fonville not only took first place, but also broke App State’s previous school record, which was 43.44 meters.
In the women’s 4x100m, freshman Kelly MacBride, senior Damyja Alejandro-Ortiz, senior Daye Talley and sophomore Kaitlyn McLeod narrowly placed first with a time of 46.42.
On Thursday, men’s and women’s track and field head to Charlotte to compete in the 49er Classic.
