The track & field team traveled to Chapel Hill over the weekend to compete indoors at the Carolina Classic. Several N.C. State athletes came out on top in the team’s second weekend in a row at North Carolina.
By competing in their respective events, these athletes were able to prove themselves in one of the earliest meets of the indoor season.
“You’re just trying to go out there and run a good time and you want to help the team, but track & field is more of an individual race,” redshirt freshman runner Bobby Moldovan said. “You’re kind of just out there running by yourself.”
Freshman Tiayonna Blackmon placed first in the women’s 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 17.92 seconds in only her second meet of the season.
“I was surprised, especially since I’ve only ran in a few meets so far” Blackmon said. “I’m trying as hard as I can to hit those [NCAA qualifying] marks”
Blackmon’s older sister, Angelina also claimed unofficial victories in the one mile run and 3000-meter run.
“She did excellent. That’s just what is expected of her,” Tiayonna Blackmon said of her sister. “She’s always pretty competitive in her running.”
Angelina Blackmon had to run unattached since her four years of eligibility are up for the indoor season. Her participation in the meet last weekend was intended to keep her ready for when she returns to uniform during the outdoor season.
Aside from Angelina, State had top finishers in the 3000-meter run, with unattached runner Emily Pritt (9:56.44) and freshman Andie Cozzarelli (10:01.32) placing second and third, respectively.
“They’ve both been working hard and achieving what they set out to do,” Blackmon said.
Meanwhile, versatile athlete Mattie Bethea competed in the pentathlon, earning first place honors in the high jump with a season-high distance of 5’07.75″. As part of the pentathlon, Bethea also participated in the shot put (third, 10.44m), long jump (third, 5.37m), 60-meter hurdles (fourth, 9.10 seconds) and 800-meter run (ninth, 2:43.60). She finished fourth overall in the multi-faceted event with 3,521 points.
In addition, freshman Lawanda Henry remained perfect in five outings this season, securing the crown in the weight throw with her throw of 60’11.50″ Friday. Henry would go on to win the shot put with a distance of 15.40m Saturday.
Sophomore Ashley Neal also won in the triple jump on opening day with a distance of 36’09.00″.
On the men’s side, Bobby Moldovan won the one mile run, crossing the finish line in 4:15.60.
“I wanted my time to be a little quicker,” Moldovan said. “Just because the race went out a little slow, I’m kind of pleased with where I ran.”
Moldovan’s finish was six hundredths of a second quicker than Charlotte’s Dakota Lowery.
“It was pretty close. He wasn’t too far behind me,” Moldovan said. “I was in about fourth with 100 meters or so to go, but then I just outkicked everybody and pulled ahead.”
Aside from Moldovan, jumper Lamont Savage posted a distance of 7.18m in the long jump, also good for first place.
Junior Jason Jones, who finished fourth at the ACC Indoor Championships in 2008, showed off his throwing prowess at the meet, taking titles in both the shot put (16.64m) and the weight throw (16.87m).
