University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Hurricane Collegiate Invitational
Selmon Runs Fifth-Fastest 400-Meter Hurdles In The World; Best In Nation
April 14, 2018 | Track & Field
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Kenny Selmon ran the fastest time in the nation and the fifth-fastest time in the world in his season debut in the 400-meter hurdles, and Brianna Duncan broke yet another UNC sprints record at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational at Cobb Stadium on the campus of the University of Miami Saturday.
Selmon, a senior from Mableton, Ga., had appeared in limited action so far in 2018, running the indoor open 400 meters and in the 4x400 on multiple occasions, but was waiting for the right time to compete in his primary event, the 400-meter hurdles.Â
Selmon's debut did not disappoint, as he smoked the competition and clocked 49.00. The time doesn't quite equal his personal-best time of 48.60 (his school record in the event that he ran last June at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships), but as it stands now, the effort is good for best in the nation and the fifth-fastest time in the world so far this outdoor season.
Also on the track, sophomore Brianna Duncan (Cambridge, Mass.) made her lifetime debut in the 200 meters, having never raced at the distance. She certainly couldn't have performed better, crossing the finish line in 23.13 to brake the 21-year-old school record in the event (LaTasha Colander - 23.21).
Having already set school records in the 60 meters (7.29) and 100 meters (all conditions - 11.35) earlier this year, there is certainly no disputing which Tar Heel is the fastest in program history.
"Those two are exceptional, exception kids," head coach Harlis Meaders said. "Brianna is consistently performing at a high level week in and week out, and we are still looking forward to championship-level performances in the championships competitions from her. Of course Kenny was fourth in the 400 hurdles at the 2017 NCAA Championships, he has been on the award stand out there twice, but his ultimately goal is to be an NCAA champion. What a statement for his first meet to come out and run the No. 1 time in the country."
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Men
• Daniel McArthur won the discus and the shot put. He won the discus for the first time as a Tar Heel, throwing for a personal-best 184-1 (56.10 meters) in the event - fifth-best in the ACC. His winning throw in the shot put was for 59-5 ¾ (18.13 meters).
• Zay Paschall jumped an outdoor personal best of 50-7 ½ (15.43 meters) in the triple jump to take second. That is fifth-best in the ACC
• Dontavian Smith set a lifetime best of 10.47 in the 100 meters and a lifetime best of 21.20 in the 200 meters. Both times are top 10 in the ACC.
• The 4x400 squad of Brandon Cachon, Isaiah Palmer, Jadon Johnson and Kenny Selmon won the 4x400 in a season best time of 3:08.56. That time is second in the ACC.
• Draven Crist tied for first in the high jump at 6-7 (2.01 meters).
• Jared Martin won the javelin with a throw of 193-3 (58.60 meters).
• Liam Dixon won the pole vault at 15-8 ¼ (4.78 meters).
Women
• The 4x100 group of Brianna Duncan, Katlin Sherman, Anna Keefer and Cierra Dunston ran the fifth-fastest time in school history and the fastest since 1998, clocking 44.29. The time is the third fastest in the ACC this season.
• Cierra Dunston dropped below 53 seconds in the 400 meters for the first time in her career to come back and win the race. Her time of 52.99 is second in the conference, 13th in the east region and 30th nationally. Jewel Christian also set a lifetime best in the event, dropping below 55 second for the first time in her career to run 54.87.
• Anna Keefer ran a lifetime-best 23.89 to take eighth in the 200 meters.
• Jill Shippee won the hammer with a throw of 201-08 (61.47 meters), which was just off her lifetime best.
• Peighton Simmons finished second in the triple jump with her fourth attempt of 40-9 ½ (12.43 meters). Janice Ezenwa set a lifetime best in the event, jumping 39-10 ½ (12.15 meters).
• Emerson Porter won the pole vault at 12-6 ¼ (3.82 meters).
"It was almost the perfect day for track and field down in Coral Gables," Meaders said. "I'm really happy with the results for our kids across the board. Brianna Duncan in the 200 was a amazing and Cierra Dunston in the 400 - what a fantastic race for her. Probably the highlight of it all was Kenny Selmon in his senior debut, running 49 seconds flat - the No. 5 time in the world we believe at this time. I don't know that we could have asked for much better."
NEXT UP: The Tar Heels make the first of two consecutive trips to Charlottesville, Va. next Friday and Saturday (April 20-21) as they compete in the annual Virginia Challenge on the campus of the University of Virginia. Follow the Tar Heels at @unctrack_field on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates all season long.
"I think things are falling into place," Meaders said "I'm really happy with what we accomplished down here, and I'm looking forward to Virginia next week and moving on into the championship part of the season."
Players Mentioned
