University of North Carolina Athletics
Nicole Greene & Draven Crist
GoHeels Exclusive: Microcosm
January 12, 2018 | Track & Field, Featured Writers
by Pat James, GoHeels.com
Standing beside each other on the high jump pit and stretching, Draven Crist and Nicole Greene couldn't go unnoticed during the North Carolina track and field team's Thursday practice at Eddie Smith Field House.
It wasn't just that they hovered above everyone else. But with about 90 student-athletes and coaches scattered throughout the complex, working individually or in groups of four or more, Crist and Greene stuck together, two high jumpers at vastly different stages in their careers.
Greene, a junior, has twice earned indoor All-America honors. A fifth-place finisher in last season's NCAA Indoor Championships, she enters this indoor campaign – which UNC opens at noon Saturday by hosting the Dick Taylor Carolina Cup – looking to become the Tar Heels' first national champion since 2007.
She's proven. But the same can't be said for Crist, a redshirt sophomore who sat out last season after transferring from Western Carolina.
Still, Crist boasts potential. His personal-best indoor jump of 6 feet, 8 3/4 inches, which he registered at Western Carolina, would be the best by a UNC man since 2013. About two years have passed, though, since his last college meet.
So together, he and Greene train, one eyeing further success and the other hoping to reach his teammate's status.
"It helps to have a training partner," Crist said. "I find her (approach) very similar to the way I carry myself. She doesn't really rely on anyone, is very hardworking, competitive, very diligent. She's a really good person to train with."
In many ways, the contrasts between Crist and Greene is a microcosm of the Tar Heels' roster. They feature several established upperclassmen, such as Alexis Gannon, Emily Godwin, Cory Nicholls and Kenny Selmon. Yet, less experienced student-athletes – such as Brianna Duncan, Anna Keefer, Marcus Krah and Dontavian Smith – could provide significant contributions.
UNC has traditionally excelled in the high jump, horizontal jump and long hurdles. But with this combination of leadership and youth, Harlis Meaders, now in his sixth season as the director of track and field and cross country, said the team has more balance than its recently had.
"We've got talent now in the short sprints," he said. "We've got more talent in the horizontal jumps. We've got some young talent in the throws, and, of course, our distance crew continues to get better. It's really about not having many weaknesses as opposed to really having one single strength."
"You usually see schools where they're only like sprints or distance or jumps," Greene said, "whereas we have a little bit of everything, especially since there are so many freshmen and different event groups. It's nice to see what everyone can do and what they can contribute."
Fans will get firsthand knowledge of that Saturday in one of the Tar Heels' two home meets during the 2018 indoor and outdoor seasons. The construction of a new outdoor complex is ongoing, and Eddie Smith Field House borders the construction site of the football practice facility and soccer and lacrosse stadium.
Meaders said the student-athletes have handled the challenges that come with practicing at alternative venues because of the construction. Their focus, instead, is on Saturday's meet with Duke, East Carolina and N.C. State.
"I'm like nervous yet excited just because I've done so much training in the summer and the fall for this," said Greene, who was named preseason indoor All-America in the high jump by FloTrack. "It's like, 'Wow, this is the season opener.'Â
"I'm really excited just to see what I can start off with and grow from with this meet."
Â
Standing beside each other on the high jump pit and stretching, Draven Crist and Nicole Greene couldn't go unnoticed during the North Carolina track and field team's Thursday practice at Eddie Smith Field House.
It wasn't just that they hovered above everyone else. But with about 90 student-athletes and coaches scattered throughout the complex, working individually or in groups of four or more, Crist and Greene stuck together, two high jumpers at vastly different stages in their careers.
Greene, a junior, has twice earned indoor All-America honors. A fifth-place finisher in last season's NCAA Indoor Championships, she enters this indoor campaign – which UNC opens at noon Saturday by hosting the Dick Taylor Carolina Cup – looking to become the Tar Heels' first national champion since 2007.
She's proven. But the same can't be said for Crist, a redshirt sophomore who sat out last season after transferring from Western Carolina.
Still, Crist boasts potential. His personal-best indoor jump of 6 feet, 8 3/4 inches, which he registered at Western Carolina, would be the best by a UNC man since 2013. About two years have passed, though, since his last college meet.
So together, he and Greene train, one eyeing further success and the other hoping to reach his teammate's status.
"It helps to have a training partner," Crist said. "I find her (approach) very similar to the way I carry myself. She doesn't really rely on anyone, is very hardworking, competitive, very diligent. She's a really good person to train with."
In many ways, the contrasts between Crist and Greene is a microcosm of the Tar Heels' roster. They feature several established upperclassmen, such as Alexis Gannon, Emily Godwin, Cory Nicholls and Kenny Selmon. Yet, less experienced student-athletes – such as Brianna Duncan, Anna Keefer, Marcus Krah and Dontavian Smith – could provide significant contributions.
UNC has traditionally excelled in the high jump, horizontal jump and long hurdles. But with this combination of leadership and youth, Harlis Meaders, now in his sixth season as the director of track and field and cross country, said the team has more balance than its recently had.
"We've got talent now in the short sprints," he said. "We've got more talent in the horizontal jumps. We've got some young talent in the throws, and, of course, our distance crew continues to get better. It's really about not having many weaknesses as opposed to really having one single strength."
"You usually see schools where they're only like sprints or distance or jumps," Greene said, "whereas we have a little bit of everything, especially since there are so many freshmen and different event groups. It's nice to see what everyone can do and what they can contribute."
Fans will get firsthand knowledge of that Saturday in one of the Tar Heels' two home meets during the 2018 indoor and outdoor seasons. The construction of a new outdoor complex is ongoing, and Eddie Smith Field House borders the construction site of the football practice facility and soccer and lacrosse stadium.
Meaders said the student-athletes have handled the challenges that come with practicing at alternative venues because of the construction. Their focus, instead, is on Saturday's meet with Duke, East Carolina and N.C. State.
"I'm like nervous yet excited just because I've done so much training in the summer and the fall for this," said Greene, who was named preseason indoor All-America in the high jump by FloTrack. "It's like, 'Wow, this is the season opener.'Â
"I'm really excited just to see what I can start off with and grow from with this meet."
Â
Players Mentioned
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Multis/Jumps
/ Track & Field
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & FieldWednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 25
Monday, August 24