Mill Spring, N.C. – Western Carolina track and field enjoyed a successful meet to open the 2026 calendar year, recording a trio of second place finishes and 15 total top-five placements during the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at the Tryon International indoor facility.
"Had a decent start to the true indoor season today. It was good to get an idea where we are after our winter break. Had a few top two finishes like Kendal Hudson and Kolton Weaver in the field events," said head coach Jesse Norman. "We used this meet to get those competing back into meet speed and meet mode. It'll be exciting to see how we progress this week in practice and back at the Tryon facility next week."
The Catamount field squads won the day in Mill Spring, contributing nine of the Catamount top-five finishes and all three of the runner-up postings. Kolton Weaver, Dakota Sorrells, and Anthony Hawkins Jr. were particularly effective in the men's shot put, as the trio of Catamounts went second (15.42m), fourth (14.75m), and fifth (14.74m), respectively, in the event.
Kendal Hudson and Hannah Kline recorded WCU's other second-place finishes on the day, with Hudson setting a new PR in the long jump with a 5.73m bound, while Kline posted a 1.52m clear in the high jump.
Morgan Edwards and Bella Hilleary also represented the Catamounts well in the women's pole vault, taking fourth and fifth place, respectively. Edwards cleared 3.34m in setting a new PR in the event.
On the track, the Catamounts claimed six top-five finishes with Ian Hicks' third-place finish in the 300m (34.86s) representing the highest. Matthew Womack (men's mile | 4:26.50), Ashlyn Watkins (women's mile | 5:18.64), Trevor Williams (men's 400m | 50.62s), Delton Jones (men's 300m | 31.15s), and Jada Erwin (Women's 200m | 25.35s) all finished fourth in their respective events.
Up Next for the Catamounts:
Western Carolina returns to the Tryon International indoor facility for the next two weeks, as the Catamounts take on the Tryon International Winter Invitational on Jan. 16-17 and the ECE Banked is Best Invitational on Jan. 30.
Top Five Performances:
Kendal Hudson – 2nd Long Jump (5.73m)
Hannah Kline – 2nd High Jump (1.52m)
Kolton Weaver – 2nd Shot Put (15.42m)
Ian Hicks – 3rd 300m (34.86)
Colby Capps – 3rd Pole Vault (3.95m)
Celia Gully – 3rd Triple Jump (11.21m)
Matthew Womack – 4th 1 Mile (4:26.50)
Ashlyn Watkins – 4th 1 Mile (5:18.64)
Trevor Williams – 4th 400m (50.62)
Delton Jones – 4th 300m (31.15)
Jada Erwin – 4th 200m (25.35)
Morgan Edwards – 4th Pole Vault (3.34m)
Dakota Sorrells – 4th Shot Put (14.75m)
Bella Hilleary – 5th Pole Vault (3.19m)
