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Track and Field (M)

CAROLINA UNIVERSITY INDOOR TRACK & FIELD MAKES HISTORY IN PROGRAM’S FIRST-EVER MEET

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Carolina University Indoor Track & Field officially opened a new chapter in program history on Saturday, November 15, as the Bruins made their debut at the ASICS Get Your Marks meet held at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The inaugural competition marked a milestone moment for the University, featuring standout performances, national-qualifying marks, and a strong foundation for what promises to be an exciting first season.

National Standards Hit in Opening Meet

CU wasted no time announcing its arrival on the indoor scene. Two Bruins punched their tickets to NCCAA Nationals with impressive early-season marks:

  • Jaylen Killiens-McIntyre soared to a 6.40m mark in the long jump—surpassing the NCCAA qualifying standard of 6.20m.
     

  • Lamine Diop cleared 1.90m in the high jump to secure second place overall, surpassing the national standard of 1.80m.
     

Both performances set a powerful tone for the young program's trajectory.

Strong Debuts From Freshman Class

Carolina University's inaugural roster showed tremendous promise, particularly among its talented freshmen:

  • Jerrod McClain ran a 7.30 in the 60m dash, finishing just 0.10 shy of the NCCAA standard.
     

  • Jakori Taylor clocked a 7.44 in the 60m before posting a competitive 23.62 in the 200m dash.
     

  • In the distance events, Jose Gomez Baltazar delivered a strong performance in the 3,000m, stopping the clock at 9:37.96.
     

These marks highlight a group that is rapidly gaining confidence and establishing its competitive edge.

Coach Thornburg's Thoughts on a Historic Beginning

Reflecting on the team's debut, Head Coach Caleb Thornburg shared his excitement about the launch of Carolina University's indoor track program:

"It was an awesome, historic first indoor meet for CU. The team has been training for months and it was great to see the fruit of their labor. It's great to hit some national standards early on, the inaugural season is just beginning for this hungry group!"

Next Up

Carolina University returns to action on January 17 at JDL Fast Track, competing in the Mondo College Invitational. With early momentum and a determined roster, the Bruins are ready to continue building their inaugural indoor season.


 
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