North Carolina
Notre Dame Invite
Tar Heels Close Out Weekend With Big Performances At Notre Dame & Clemson
January 20, 2018 | Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina track and field teams wrapped up competition at the Clemson and Notre Dame Invitationals Saturday with several personal bests and ACC-leading performances to cap the weekend. At Notre Dame, the women took second of seven teams just behind Louisville. The men finished fifth of six teams.
Freshman Anna Keefer and junior Zay Paschall finished the Notre Dame Invite with performances that rank best in the ACC this season. Keefer jumped 19-11 ¾ (6.09 meters) to win the long jump, and Paschall had a 50-9 ¼ (15.47 meters) jump to finish second in the triple jump. Paschall's jump is nearly eight inches farther than the next closest jump in the ACC. Both jumps rank in the top 15 in Division I.
"In the sand, we had Anna Keefer with her first collegiate win and jumping over six meters, first time as a collegian, is a really great performance for her," head coach Harlis Meaders said. "And then Zay in the men's triple jump from short approach, going over 50 feet from there. Some really good early-season performances."
Junior Nicole Greene jumped 6-0 ¾ (1.85 meters) in the high jump at the Clemson Invitational to claim second behind three-time Olympian Levern Spencer. Her 6-2 (1.88 meters) jump from the Dick Taylor Carolina Cup still ranks best in the ACC and the country after Saturday's results.
Three Tar Heels and the two 4x400-relay teams had performances Saturday that rank top-three in the ACC. Senior Carolina Alcorta finished second in the Notre Dame Invitational mile with a personal best 4:45.13, which ranks second in the conference. Redshirt-junior Alex Cooke threw for 64-3 ¾ (19.60 meters) to win the Notre Dame Invitational weight throw - also second best in the conference. Marcus Krah slightly improved his time in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the final in 7.91 - third fastest in the ACC.
"Alex, in the women's weight throw almost set a lifetime best on her sixth attempt against the young lady from Louisville [who was ACC runner-up in the shot put] last year and competed at the national championships ," Meaders said. "So, she's a very good competitor, and to have an early season win over her was quite an accomplishment."
The two 4x400 relays cruised to easy victories at the Notre Dame Invitational, the women finishing in 3:40.00 and the men in 3:09.73 - both are times thank rank only behind Clemson in the ACC.
Junior Morgan Ilse and sophomore Erin Edmundson completed the 2-3-4 finish in the mile behind Alcorta. Ilse turned in a personal-best 4:48.27 and Edmundson came in just off her PR in 4:54.13.
"In the women's mile, going two, three and four with Caroline, Morgan and Erin, that was pretty impressive," Meaders said. "We know that there's still more to take for all of those kids, and it's still not their primary events, but a very good competitive effort."
Senior Natisha Dixon helped complete the sweep of the hurdles events with her 60-meter hurdles victory in 8.39, just two hundredths off her personal-best.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKEND
Men
• Freshman Isaiah Palmer won the 600 meters in 1:17.70, and senior Kenny Selmon finished second in 1:18.35.
• Redshirt-freshman Brodie Modini and Alex Milligan turned in big personal bests in the 3,000 meters at the Notre Dame Invitational. Modini took third in 8:21.82 and Milligan finished fifth in 8:22.50. Redshirt freshman Mitch Resor also set a PR in the event, finishing in 8:37.11.
• Freshman Dontavian Smith finished second in the 200 meters in 21.87.
• Redshirt-sophomore Draven Crist tied his personal best from 2016 in the high jump at the Clemson Invitational, jumping 6-8 ¾ (2.05 meters) to finish sixth.
• Will Eskew finished fourth in heptathlon at the Clemson Invitational with the 4107.
Women
• Senior Cierra Dunston finished third out of 31 competitors in the 200 meters at the Notre Dame Invitational, clocking in at 24.68.
• Senior Blake Dodge finished second in the 800 at the Notre Dame Invitational, crossing the line in 2:10.08.
• McKinley McNeill took second in the 600 meters with a time of 1:30.98.
NEXT UP: The Tar Heels return to Clemson, S.C., for the Bob Pollock Meet Jan. 26-27. Follow the Tar Heels at @unctrack_field on Twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
