BOONE, N.C. – Freshman
Noah Straley earned the win in his collegiate debut in the men's long jump to highlight Western Carolina's performances in the indoor track season-opening John Weaver Invitational hosted by Appalachian State this weekend. Combined, WCU finished with one event win and 15 top-five finishes.
Straley took the men's long jump with a leap of 7.23 meters (23'8.75"). His mark would have earned him a runner-up finish at last year's Southern Conference championship.
Tyler Rodriguez finished in fourth place with a top mark of 6.80 meters (22'3.75") followed by
Javon Brown in fifth at 6.78 meters (22'3").
Jonathan Lehe finished third in the men's pole vault after he cleared a height of 4.15 meters (13'7.5").
David Miles finished fourth in the men's 55-meter dash with a time of 6.44 seconds followed by
Teddy Ayden in fifth at 6.46.
Michael Harris finished fourth in the men's 300-meter dash, crossing the finish line with a time of 35.16 followed by Straley in fifth at 35.21, Miles in sixth at 35.33, and Ayden in eighth at 35.36.
Kaleb Ambrose placed fifth in the men's 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.77 seconds.
Joshuah Glyn-Williams finished seventh in the men's triple jump with a leap of 12.24 meters (40'2").
In the men's weight throw,
Riley Center earned an eighth-place finish with a top mark of 14.04 meters (46'1").
Jasmine Smith earned a runner-up finish in her collegiate debut in the 400-meter dash, finishing the race with a time of 1:00.92.
Clara Root finished sixth as she crossed the finish line in 1:04.79.
Jennifer Wagner cleared a personal best height of 3.27 meters (10'8.75") to finish in third place in the women's pole vault.
Sydney Gallant finished sixth after she cleared a bar set at 3.12 meters.
The Catamounts took four of the top eight finishing positions in the women's 300-meter dash.
Mekyll Robinson finished fourth with a time of 40.71 followed by
Nytrinitey Jenkins in fifth at 40.76.
Taja Booker was sixth after crossing the finish line with a time of 41.06 followed by
Mikayla Turner in seventh at 42.32.
Sadler Miller finished fourth in the women's high jump, clearing a height of 1.52 meters (4'11.75").
Jasmine Greene led three WCU student-athletes in the top eight of the women's triple jump, finishing fifth with a mark of 11.64 meters (38'2.25").
Derica Currie finished sixth with an indoor personal best leap of 11.59 meters (38'0.25").
Erica O'Neal was eighth thanks to her leap of 10.71 meters (35'1.75").
Green picked up her second top-eight finish of the meet in the women's long jump, finishing sixth with a mark of 5.35 meters (17'6.75").
Mallory Lowe finished in sixth place in the women's 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.87.
WCU is back in action at the Carolina Challenge on Jan 20-21 in Columbia, S.C.
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