CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina earned three field event wins Friday on the opening day of the Catamount Classic at the newly resurfaced Catamount Athletic Complex.
Thomas Martin won the men's pole vault with a season-best height of 4.25 meters (13'11.25").
Jonathan Lehe was fourth after clearing the bar set at 3.95 meters (12'11.5").
Shon Pratcher was the winner in the men's long jump with a leap of 7.18 meters (23'6.75"). WCU took three of the top four finishing positions as
Brandon Harvey finished third and
Tyler Rodriguez fourth with marks of 6.67 meters (21'10.75") and 6.66 meters (21'10.25") respectively.
Jay Stanley was the runner-up in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 50.68 meters (166'3").
Mac Bennett placed fourth with a top throw of 46.04 meters (151') followed by
Adam Hart in fifth with a throw of 45.68 meters (150'5").
Martin recorded his second top-five of the day with a fourth-place finish in the men's javelin thanks to a personal best throw of 45.76 meters (150'1"). Competing unattached,
Brett Lemmons was the runner-up with a mark of 52.30 meters (171'7").
WCU had three student-athletes qualify for the men's 200-meter dash finals in
Michael Harris (21.76), Pratcher (21.80), and
Tyler Manigault (21.89).
For the women's team,
Victoria Solheim earned the win in the women's hammer throw with a season-best distance of 46.62 meters (152'11'').
Lesleigh Tabor finished in fourth place with a top throw of 45.27 meters (148'6").
On the track,
Kate Mattison finished second in the women's 1,500-meter run with a personal best time of 4:38.55.
Carter Unger was the runner-up in the women's pole vault with a season-best height of 3.50 meters (11'5.75").
Maddy Sherwood tied for fourth place after she cleared a personal-best height of 3.05 meters (10').
Erin Willard earned a fifth-place finish in the women's javelin with her personal best throw of 31.57 meters (103'7").
The Catamounts had two qualifiers in the women's 200-meter preliminaries.
Marissa Blakely ran the fifth-fastest time at 24.99 while
Makaila McIntyre advanced to Saturday's finals with the seventh-fastest time, 25.29. In the 100-meter hurdle preliminaries,
Ronje Williams advanced to Saturday's final with a time of 14.65.
The Catamount Classic continues Saturday at Noon with the men's shot put, women's discus, and women's high jump with track action commencing at 12:10 p.m. with the women's 4x100-meter relay. Prior to the beginning of Saturday's competition, WCU will honor 14 senior student-athletes in a ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m.
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