Record-Setting Day For Distance Runners In Boston

Saturday, December 3

Boston, Mass.

All Day

North Carolina

Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

Brynn Brown

Photo by: Tom Connelly

December 3, 2022 | Track & Field

BOSTON—Distance runners from the University of North Carolina had a record-setting day on Saturday in the team's first competition of 2022-23 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener hosted by Boston University.

It's hard to imagine a stronger start to the season for runners from a Tar Heel program coming off what is likely the top cross country campaign in school history.

The 5,000-meter run on the men's and women's sides featured some of the best distance runners in the NCAA, including many top finishers from last month's NCAA Cross Country Championships and last year's NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Tar Heels Brynn Brown, Kelsey Harrington, Jack Aho and Parker Wolfe all eclipsed the previous UNC program record in the women's and men's 5000 meters.

On the women's side, Brown finished 19th in a time of 15:43.09, while Harrington was 28th in 15:51.87. Both bested Morgan Ilse's previous school record of 16:16.77, set in 2018.

Wolfe finished Saturday's men's race in 13:19.73, smashing his own school-record time of 13:48.15 from 2022. Wolfe's time also set a new American Junior record (runners under 20 years old).

Aho wasn't far behind in 19th place in a time of 13:31.23, the best finish of his career.

The Tar Heels will return to action on January 14 at home in Chapel Hill at the Dick Taylor Challenge.

Men's 5000 Run Results
13. Parker Wolfe, 13:19.73
19. Jack Aho, 13:31.23

Women's 5000 Run Results
19. Brynn Brown, 15:43.09
28. Kelsey Harrington, 15:51.87