University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NCAA Indoor Championships
Henning And Sossah Break School Records At NCAAs
March 15, 2008 | Track & Field
March 15, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Freshman Walter Henning made a great first impression at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday when he finished third in the weight throw in Fayetteville, Ark. Henning's throw of 22.02m (72-3) set a new Carolina indoor mark as he picked up six points for the men's total. Brie Felnagle moved Carolina up the team standings as she finished second in the 3000 en route to setting the second-best mark in school history. The men finished in a tie for 38th, while the women finished 21st.
Henning's the throw, the best of his young career, placed him third in the event after entering with the fifth-best toss of the year. The lone freshman entry in the weight throw fell to a pair of seniors, despite besting Nick Owen's school record throw of 72-2.75 set just a year ago.
Fellow freshman Austin Davis wrapped up a solid indoor season as he finished 14th recording a mark of 15.24m (50-0). Mateo Sossah closed out the heptathlon early in the day and finished 10th overall setting a new school record with 5,621 points.
Sossah claimed 11th in the 60-meter hurdles clearing the course in 8.36 to earn himself 893 points. A vault of 4.25m (13-11.25) in the pole vault added 688 points to his total with the 15th place finish. Sossah saved his best for last though, as the sophomore ran the 1000 in 2:32.64 to claim the win, nearly three seconds faster than his nearest competitor. His time contributed 957 points to his final total of 5,621, the best in school history. Sossah now owns the top three heptathlon marks in school history (5,621 - 3/15; 5,546 - 2/2; 5,454 - 3/1) all set this season.
On the women's side, Carolina's star distance runner Brie Felnagle was back in action in the 3000. The three-time national champion fell just two seconds shy of claiming her fourth as she took home second. Felnagle was facing a familiar foe in Florida State's Susan Kuijken as the duo would battle from start to finish. Kuijken was a shade ahead of Felnagle after the opening 1,000 meters (2:58.89-2:59.15) but Felnagle closed the narrow gap running the second 1,000 in 3:00.52 besting Kuijken's time of 3:00.58. Kuijken would close in a hurry again claiming the national title in a time of 8:58.14. Felnagle would take home second in a time of 9:00.31, which was .09 shy of Shalane Flanagan's school record.
Felnagle's eight points in the event gave Carolina 9.50 for the weekend and a 21st overall finish. Henning's six points in the weight throw were the only men's points of the championships as the Tar Heels finished in a tie for 38th.
Players Mentioned
