CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Buoyed by a pair of school-record efforts from freshmen, the Anderson University women's and men's track and field teams wrapped up the 49er Classic, hosted by Charlotte at the Irwin Belk Track & Field facility on Saturday.
On Friday, freshman Sherin Malone posted a new school record in the women's 100 meter hurdles, while newcomer Ben Boerma posted a new school record in the men's 5000 meter run.
Freshman Lauren Averitt finished 63rd in the 100 meter prelims on Friday in a time of 13.49, while Malone claimed 28th in the 100 meter hurdle prelims with her record-setting time of 15.36.
The 1500 meter finals saw junior Sydney Hazel earn 58th, with freshman Bari Robinson just behind in 59th, with times of 5:02.73 and 5:02.83, respectively. Sophomore Devan Fisher claimed 83rd in a time of 5:28.04.
A trio of freshmen paced the Trojans in the 5000 meter finals, as Olivia Gardner (18:33.03) collected 31st, with Grace Gerlock (19:35.77) crossing the line in 56th. Mia Swierzs (20:16.94) placed 70th in the event. Freshman Megan Shahoud brought home 39th in the long jump with a distance of 4.69 meters and Baxter collected 28th in the javelin throw with a toss of 28.05 meters.
Juniors Brooklyn Watt (34.90 meters) and Savanna Keese (30.61 meters) brought home 25th and 34th, respectively in the discus throw.
On the men's side, freshman Caleb Knight took 99th in the 200 meter prelims with a time of 23.94, while crossing the line in 64th in the 400 meter prelims in a time of 52.28.
The 1500 meter finals saw freshmen Thomas Garrigan (4:10.28) and Jesse Patrick place 63rd and 104th, respectively. Freshman Jonathan Shorter finished 38th in the 400 meter hurdle prelims in a time of 1:00.79, with freshman Eric Hoover claiming 43rd in the discus throw by tallying a distance of 29.84 meters.
Shorter (18.17) finished 44th in the 110 meter hurdles prelims, with freshman Malik Brown (18.22) just behind in 45th.
Boerma crossed the finish line in a school-record time of 15:35.98 in the 5000 meters to garner 48th, with senior Parks Edwards bringing home 60th in a time of 15:48.69. Freshman Ned Kennedy (15:51.94) claimed 63rd, while junior Westley Wilson (16:04.58) and newcomer Michael Burch (17:14.47) finished 74th and 90th, respectively.
"I was very pleased with our performances," said Anderson head coach Randy Greer following Friday's events. "The kids came out and performed well after the break from our last indoor meet."
In Saturday's events, senior Madison Guest finished 51st in the 800 meter finals in a time of 2:26.42, while Robinson placed 60th in a time of 2:29.18. Baxter and Shahoud shared 27th in the high jump with a height of 1.50 meters.
Sophomore D'Yandra Morris (12.34 meters), Watt (11.73 meters) and Keese (11.11 meters) placed ninth, 18th and 27th, respectively in the shot put.
Junior Joshua Visi-Clark claimed 38th in the men's 800 meter finals in a time of 1:59.33, with Hoover garnering 28th in the triple jump with a distance of 12.33 meters.
The Trojans return to action on April 5 at the Wingate Invitational.
