WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- The UVA Wise men's and women's track & field programs opened their indoor campaign on a strong note Saturday at the Asics Get Your Marks Meet, hosted at the JDL Fasttrack. The early-season competition provided an opportunity for the Cavaliers' freshmen and transfer field event athletes to secure legal marks for championship-qualifying purposes, and the group responded with an impressive collection of wins, top-five finishes, and new program records.

Carter Secures Event Win as Women Lead the Day
Sophomore Lexi Carter headlined the women's performances, capturing the shot put title with a throw of 12.33m (40-5.5)—a mark that also established a new UVA Wise school record. Carter added a second-place finish in the weight throw with a 13.01m (42-8.25) effort, setting a sophomore class record in the event.

The Cavaliers continued stacking top marks in the throws, as freshman Hadaya Abshire placed fourth in the weight throw at 12.50m (41-0.25), breaking the freshman class record.

In the vertical jumps, sophomore Jordyn Taylor cleared 3.05m (10-00) to finish second in the pole vault—also a new school record—while freshman Fairyn Meares placed third with 2.75m (9-0.25), setting a freshman program record. Sophomore Kaylee Cooper added a fourth-place finish in the high jump at 1.30m (4-3.25), securing the sophomore class record.

Freshman Jocelyn Aldrich made an immediate impact in the horizontal jumps, placing fifth in the long jump (5.06m / 16-7.25) and third in the triple jump (10.49m / 34-5). Her long jump performance set a freshman school record.

Men Collect Four Runner-Up Finishes and Multiple Records
The men's squad also posted a productive opening outing, highlighted by four second-place finishes and three new program records.

Freshman David Williams cleared 4.25m (13-11.25) in the pole vault to finish second and establish a new UVA Wise school record. In the weight throw, freshman Ronald Gray also placed second with a throw of 14.15m (46-5.25), breaking the freshman record.

Freshman Landon Steele finished second in the shot put with a throw of 12.30m (40-4.25), setting the freshman shot put record. Freshman Brayden Houchins placed fifth in the high jump, clearing 1.80m (5-10.75), while sophomore Henry McFarlin set a sophomore triple jump school record with his mark of 12.90m (42-4).

School Records Set – JDL Fasttrack

• Women
  • Shot Put: Lexi Carter – 12.33m
  • Pole Vault: Jordyn Taylor – 3.05m
• Men
  • Pole Vault: David Williams – 4.25m
  • Triple Jump: Henry McFarlin – 12.90m

Class Records Set

• Freshman:
  • Pole Vault – Fairyn Meares (2.75m)
  • Long Jump – Jocelyn Aldrich (5.06m)
  • Weight Throw – Hadaya Abshire (12.50m)
  • Shot Put – Landon Steele (12.30m)
  • Weight Throw – Ronald Gray (14.15m)
• Sophomore:
  • Weight Throw – Lexi Carter (13.01m)
  • High Jump – Kaylee Cooper (1.30m)
  • Long Jump – Henry McFarlin (6.30m)

 
Up Next
UVA Wise will return to action on Saturday, December 6, traveling to Centre College for the Centre First Chance Invitational in Danville, Ky. The meet will feature the full roster and will serve as the final competition of the fall semester.