HUNTINGTON, W.VA. - Appalachian State University men's track and field snatched three first-place victories on the final day of the Thundering Herd Invitational in Huntington, W.Va on Saturday.

The Mountaineers had many top-five performances on the track in West Virginia. In the 60-meter hurdles, the Apps finished with a one-two punch with freshman Elliott Graves  winning his second hurdle competition of the year with PR of 8.13 and Brandon Smith landing in second with a PR of 8.19. In the 60 meters, William Buckley stormed across the finish line in 6.88 to grab second place. For the 200-meter race, Jabari Johnson clocked a time of 21.73 to finish third, and Buckley produced a time of 21.89 to place fourth.

In the middle distance races, App State ran the fastest times in the 800 meters and the mile run. Sun Belt Champion Ryan Hastings ran a season's best of 1:52.43 to win the 800 meters and broke the meet record. Junior Evan Georges snagged his first victory of the year with a personal-best time of 4:15.56. Finishing in third was Jacob Sears with a PR of 4:16.95 and Ian Foley ran a PR of 4:19.81 to take sixth.

In the field events, Phillip Thomas continued his record-breaking streak by winning the pole vault with a jump of 16-0.75 (4.90m) which broke the meet record. In the horizontal jumps, Tylen Noel landed in fifth with a leap of 21-8 (6.60m) and Jordan Johnson flew 21-2.75 (6.47m) to take eighth. Lastly, the shot put duo of Nathan Milch and Ellsworth Parham seized their third straight top-three finish with Milch tossing out the implement 55-10.25 (17.02m) for second and Parham chucking out the shot put 53-7 (16.33m) for third.

1/28 Thundering Herd Invitational Results

60m (prelims)- 6. William Buckley, 6.97q; 20. Antonio Marcano Jr., 7.16; 28. Tylen Noel, 7.34

60m (finals)- 2. William Buckley, 6.88 (sb)

60H (prelims)-2. Elliott Graves, 8.31q; 5. Brandon Smith, 8.37q; 14. Andrew Spear, 8.78

60H (finals)-1. Elliott Graves, 8.13 (pr); 2. Brandon Smith, 8.19 (pr)

200m- 3. Jabari Johnson, 21.73; 4. William Buckley, 21.89; 17. Jordan Johnson, 22.66; 19. Antonio Marcano Jr., 22.69; 22. Elliott Graves, 22.88

400m-10. Brandon Smith, 49.67 (pr); 16. Josh Hanna, 50.32; 24. Andrew Spear, 50.97 (pr)

800m- 1. Ryan Hastings, 1:52.43 (sb); 21. Sean Doyle, 1:58.58 (pr)

Mile- 1. Evan Georges, 4:15.56 (pr); 3. Jacob Sears, 4:16.95 (pr); 6. Ian Foley, 4:19.81 (pr); 20. Chris Anderson, 4:30.24

4x400 Relay- 3. Appalachian A (Hanna, Smith, J. Johnson, Hastings), 3:17.36 (sb)

Pole Vault- 1. Phillip Thomas. 16-0.75 (4.90m); NH. Tristian Shaver and Michael Utecht

Long Jump- 5. Tylen Noel, 21-8 (6.60m); 8. Jordan Johnson, 21-2.75 (6.47m)

High Jump- T10. Jordan Dale, 6-2.75 (1.90m); NH. Nick Hinton 

Shot Put-2. Nathan Milch, 55-10.25 (17.02m) (sb); 3. Ellsworth Parham, 53-7 (16.33m)

Up Next

Appalachian will compete in Johnson City, Tenn. for the second time this season at the Buccaneer Track & Field Invitational Feb. 2-4.