Track and Field Teams Get Season Started, Set High Standard

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C./SEWANEE, Tenn. – Both Reinhardt track and field teams started their seasons over the weekend as split squads spent time in both North Carolina (Montreat Kickoff Meet) and Tennessee for the Sewanee Early Bird Invitational.

"Great start to our indoor track and field schedule as we got in some quality reps very early in our season," head coach Jordan Turner said. "I tried something new with our track and field squads this year and got 27 members, 10 of which were freshmen, some valuable meet experience before we depart for break. It paid off, with 20 of those members hitting AAC indoor qualifying marks at these two meets. 

"Thanks to Coach Lewkowicz (Montreat) and Coach Roberts (TWU) for putting together these meets and providing some great competition that we hope to compete against for many months to come." 

Montreat Kickoff Meet Highlights (Results)
The throws group lead the way with seven Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) qualifying marks and two new school records from Alex Majeed – Shot Put (14.22m - 46' 8") – and Carson Ivester – Weight Throw (15.50m - 50' 10.25").

Johnny Paolozzi (14.81m) and Andrew Hodgins (14.76m) both had really good days in the weight throw and have worked really hard this fall for these results. Pole vault saw Austin Woods notch a new indoor school record of 4.35m (14' 3.25") and had a couple good looks at 4.65m, which is a national-qualifying mark.

Carly Harrison (Women's 5K) and Brian Vincent Jr. (Men's 1000m) both got AAC marks in really good efforts coming off great cross country seasons.  

Sewanee Early Bird Invitational Highlights (Results)
Sprints and jumps were the highlights of the day in a very competitive environment with AAC foe Tennessee Wesleyan. Both groups went to head-to-head with some of the AAC's best in those events and had a really impressive day.

ZayQuan Graham had a very impressive debut, besting the school record in the 55m (6.52), to place third overall and a close miss at a school record in the long jump – missed it by .25" – with a jump of 6.67m (21' 10.75").

Jalen Everett notched indoor qualifying marks in all three off his events (55m, Long Jump and Triple Jump). Freshman Ibn Irons had a really impressive day with a great day in long jump and a close miss at the 60m-AAC standard.

Both clubs will enjoy the holidays as they have over a month off before the Emory CrossPlex Showdown in Birmingham, Ala., on Jan. 19, 2020.

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For more information on Reinhardt Men's Indoor Track & Field, please click here, and Women's Indoor Track & Field here.