BOONE, N.C. - The App State track and field team delivered a memorable Sunday night at the Randy Marion Track & Field Facility, setting a pair of new program records as well as a facility record, claiming multiple first-place finishes and earning a USATF qualifying mark in the Sunday Night Qualifier. The Mountaineers notched 11 top-48 marks in the Sunday's meet across all events and teams.
The Mountaineers saw sophomore Matthew Gray soar to a new personal best, program and facility record in the men's pole vault, clearing a bar of 5.43m (17' 9.75"). His performance eclipsed the previous program record of 5.38m (17' 7.75"), which he set at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships and the facility record of 5.35m (17' 6.5"), which he jointly held with graduate student Patrick Freeman. The Mountaineers also the women's pole vault program record fall as freshman Lilly Nichols cleared a personal best of 4.16m (13' 7.75") to place second. Nichols had set the previous pole vault record at 4.11m (13' 5.75") at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. In Sunday's competition, junior Ava Studney also set a personal best at 4.11m (13' 5.75"), finishing third overall.
The Mountaineers also achieved numerous personal bests across various events, totaling 12 on the day. In the men's hammer throw, junior Jacob Stanley recorded a mark of 49.86m (163' 7") for third place, while freshman Owen Dunn finished fourth with a throw of 41.09m (134' 9"), also a personal best. Sophomore Dianna Boykin added to the personal-best tally in the women's hammer throw, reaching 42.77m (140', 4").
On the runway, freshman Kendred Walker tied a personal best leap of 13.86m (45' 5.75") in the men's triple jump. Fellow freshman Jahaila Wright recorded a season best mark of 11.98m (39', 3.75") in the women's triple jump.
Senior Mariah McCord clocked a personal best time of 11.51 in the women's 100 meters, finishing third and moving into fourth place on the program's all-time list. In the men's 100 meters, sophomore Armonté Ferguson and freshmen Brandon Parker and Jonathan Wilson clocked season bests to place third (10.43), fourth (10.55), and fifth (10.66), respectively.
In the women's discus, freshman Brittany Ellis achieved a personal best toss of 37.91m (124' 4"). Junior Jeremiah Burch Jr. placed second in the men's discus with a throw of 44.58m (146' 3"), followed by freshman Owen Dunn, who placed third with a mark of 41.93m (137' 6").
Up Next
The Mountaineers will travel to Jacksonville, Fla., for the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 28-31.
