Highlights from the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The UNCW track and field team showcased an impressive performance at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge, securing seven event victories, highlighted by a groundbreaking achievement in the women’s 4x200m relay. The talented quartet of Avery Rueckert, Nasiah Ferguson, Ella Jane Osada, and Janiyah Fields shattered the previous record, clocking in at 1:37.73.
Competing over two days at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, the men’s team emerged as the runner-up among 30 teams, accumulating 89 points, just behind Appalachian State. Meanwhile, the women’s team achieved six new personal bests, finishing fifth out of 31 teams with a total of 80 points. Collectively, both teams celebrated 20 top-five and 33 top-ten finishes.
In the standout relay, Rueckert, Ferguson, Osada, and Fields not only clinched victory but also broke a nearly 12-year-old program record of 1:38.00, previously set by a formidable team of Maleena Reid, Sarah Whitman, Hailey Blackburn, and Krista Mangum.
The women’s pole vault “A” flight witnessed a remarkable 1-2-3 finish for the Seahawks. Lakelyn Bass, who previously set the program record of 4.05m at the Seahawk Invitational, took first place with a clearance of 3.75m. Bailey Tart matched the same height, securing second place, while Carly Gordinier made an impressive entry into the program’s top 10, soaring to a collegiate-best 3.60m, marking the ninth-best pole vault performance in the school’s history.
In the women’s pole vault “B” flight, Wren Usiatynski triumphed with her collegiate best of 3.45m.
Brylee Montanari continued to shine, following her previous victory in the 100m hurdles at the Seahawk Invitational with a stellar performance and a new collegiate best of 14.14, surpassing her earlier mark of 14.26, securing the sixth-best time in program history.
Furthermore, senior Nasiah Ferguson dominated the women’s 400m event, achieving a personal best of 55.68, which places her fourth on the program’s all-time list. Ferguson was the sole athlete among 70 competitors to finish the race in under 56 seconds.
On the men’s side, Cameron Wright marked an event victory for UNCW in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.28, improving his prior record from the Seahawk Invitational by over a second.
The men’s 4x400m relay team, composed of Justin Bryant, Braxton Ware, Lucas Smith, and Dalton Zimmerman, concluded the competition with a commendable win, finishing in 3:17.43.
Excitingly, the Seahawks will continue their journey in Myrtle Beach, participating in the upcoming three-day Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium starting March 20.
UNCW Women’s Competitors | Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge l Final Results
Event Win
SCHOOL RECORD
Program Top 10
Collegiate Best
4x200m Relay
1
Rueckert, Ferguson, Osada, Fields
1:37.73
UNCW Men’s Competitors | Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge | Final Results
Event Win
SCHOOL RECORD
Program Top 10
Collegiate Best
4x800m Relay
4
Potter, Marish, Wade, Wald
7:56.21
4x400m Relay
1
Bryant, Ware, Smith, Zimmerman
3:17.43
7
Hillman, Wade, Wald, Marish
3:27.00
