This weekend, NC State track and field traveled to Clemson, South Carolina to compete in the annual Bob Pollock Invite. The meet featured numerous ACC foes and other top-ranked programs.
Competitors included No. 4 Alabama, No.12 Virginia Tech, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, UNC-Chapel Hill, Tennessee and Wake Forest. In a dense field, the Pack was able to hold its own.
On the women’s side, the team was led by a strong presence in the distance events.
Redshirt sophomore Ryen Frazier provided a gold-medal performance in the 3,000-meter run. The Raleigh native completed the race in a swift time of 9:25.76; winning by almost 15 seconds.
Joining her was the duo of redshirt senior Bethany Neeley and redshirt junior Megan Rempel. The pair placed second and fifth, respectively, in the mile run, recording times of 4:51.09 and 4:52.85.
This distance success transferred over to the track where junior Gabriele Cunningham continued her solid form. The Charlotte native earned fifth in a highly-contested 60-meter dash and finished eighth in the 200-meter. Her 60m mark of 7.34 was also enough for a personal best.
In the field, redshirt junior Lauren Evans continued to impress; bringing home bronze in the shot put with her 49’11.75” attempt.
Accompanying Evans was the duo of sophomore Lauren White and freshman Michelle Cobb.
White placed seventh in the long jump; leaping a distance of 19’0.50”. Meanwhile, Cobb brought home fifth in the triple jump, soaring to a personal best of 41’1.75”. The mark also qualifies her for the ACC conference meet.
On the men’s side, the distance crew also led the way. The mile was dominated by redshirt freshmen Joe Bistritz and Tim Bason, as well as redshirt sophomore Ben Barrett. The trio finished fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively. Bistritz’s mark of 4:08.46 qualified him for the ACC Championship meet as well.
The lone first-place finish of the weekend for the men came from redshirt senior Josh Davis who continued his winning pattern. The Pelham, N.C. native heaved the weight throw to an impressive mark of 73’11”; besting the rest of the field by over 2 feet.
In the sprints, sophomore Cravont Charleston continued his progression. The Mallard Creek alumnus finished third in the 60-meter dash, posting a scorching time of 6.69.
Additionally, the Charlotte native teamed up with senior Shannon Patterson in the 200-meter, with Charleston taking eighth with a time of 21.51 and Patterson bringing home seventh at 21.46.
Up next, the Pack will be on the road again, as it ventures to Ann Arbor, Michigan to compete in the Michigan Power 5 Invitational.
