University of North Carolina Athletics
Kenny Selmon
Photo by: PrettySporty/Cheryl Treworgy
GoHeels Exclusive: Selmon Doesn't Disappoint, Olympic Sports Notes
April 16, 2018 | General, Track & Field, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Kenny Selmon bided his time, waiting for the right opportunity to compete in the 400-meter hurdles, his primary event, for the first time this spring.
Finally, on Saturday at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla., that time arrived. And in his season debut in the event, Selmon didn't disappoint.
Competing in the 400-meter hurdles for the first time since the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last June, Selmon ran a 49.00, the fastest time in the nation and the fifth-fastest time in the world so far this outdoor season.
Selmon's time fell just short of his lifetime best. He set that at the 2017 NCAA Championships, when he ran 48.60 to break Ken Harnden's 22-year-old school record and place fourth in the 400-meter hurdles.
Still, Selmon's desire is to become an NCAA champion. And he showed he's capable of accomplishing that with Saturday's strong performance.
Freeman's hot hitting
Although his six-game hitting streak ended in the baseball team's 4-1 win over Appalachian State on Tuesday, Ike Freeman hasn't slowed down at the plate.
In UNC's 2-1 weekend series win at Virginia, Freeman went 6-for-12 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He especially proved key in the Tar Heels' 8-6 victory in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, when he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Over his last 10 games, Freeman is batting .424 (14-for-33) with seven RBIs and nine runs scored.
Gavin's big game
After playing in only one of the men's lacrosse team's first 11 games of the season, Matt Gavin tied for the team lead in scoring for the second straight game Saturday.
In UNC's 13-12 overtime loss at sixth-ranked Syracuse, Gavin was one of four Tar Heels who scored two goals. He also added an assist, giving him three points. Andy Matthews and Alex Trippi also had three points.
Over the last two games, Gavin has five goals and two assists.
Klages' career performance
The fifth-ranked women's lacrosse team entered halftime of Saturday's 20-11 win at No. 15 Syracuse with an 8-5 lead. But after the Orange scored the first goal of the second half, UNC seized the game's momentum, thanks largely to Kara Klages.
Klages answered Syracuse's goal with one of her own just 42 seconds later. The goal sparked a 7-2 run by the Tar Heels. Klages scored three goals during that stretch.
With two first-half goals, Klages finished with a career high of five. Her previous career high of two was set on four occasions over the last two seasons.
Murray returns
After missing the softball team's previous five games, Leah Murray returned to the lineup Friday and played a key role in UNC's 6-0 win over N.C. State.
In the series opener against the Wolfpack, Murray went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. She reached first base on a throwing error in the first inning and ultimately scored the game's first run on a wild pitch.Â
Murray then went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 10-1 loss. The Tar Heels and N.C. State conclude their three-game series at 7 p.m. Monday.
Kelly's Senior Day
The lone senior on the men's tennis team, Robert Kelly was honored in Senior Day ceremonies during Sunday's 4-0 win over Clemson.
On Saturday, Kelly played a key role in UNC's 4-1 victory over Georgia Tech. Although he and William Blumberg, the nation's top-ranked doubles team, didn't finish their point before the the Tar Heels clinched the doubles point, he went on to win his singles match 6-4, 6-3 on Court 3.
With that win, Kelly improved his career record to 113-33 in singles; his singles match against Clemson went unfinished. He's also 106-28 in doubles, where he's earned All-America honors in 2016 and 2017.
Jones shines at No. 1
Before this season, women's tennis coach Brian Kalbas said his team would be "much deeper than we've ever been." But he also recognized that no player could likely replicate the same sort of singles success that Hayley Carter experienced on Court One in previous seasons.
For much of this season, that's proven to be the case. Yet recently, Makenna Jones has provided the Tar Heels consistency on Court One.
Jones, ranked No. 18 nationally in singles, improved to 12-0 in ACC play in UNC's 7-0 victories over Virginia and Clemson on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Against Clemson, she defeated No. 19 Marie-Alexandre Leduc in straight sets.
Since moving from Court Two to Court One for the Virginia Tech match on March 25, Jones is 6-0 in singles.
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Kenny Selmon bided his time, waiting for the right opportunity to compete in the 400-meter hurdles, his primary event, for the first time this spring.
Finally, on Saturday at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla., that time arrived. And in his season debut in the event, Selmon didn't disappoint.
Competing in the 400-meter hurdles for the first time since the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last June, Selmon ran a 49.00, the fastest time in the nation and the fifth-fastest time in the world so far this outdoor season.
Selmon's time fell just short of his lifetime best. He set that at the 2017 NCAA Championships, when he ran 48.60 to break Ken Harnden's 22-year-old school record and place fourth in the 400-meter hurdles.
Still, Selmon's desire is to become an NCAA champion. And he showed he's capable of accomplishing that with Saturday's strong performance.
Freeman's hot hitting
Although his six-game hitting streak ended in the baseball team's 4-1 win over Appalachian State on Tuesday, Ike Freeman hasn't slowed down at the plate.
In UNC's 2-1 weekend series win at Virginia, Freeman went 6-for-12 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He especially proved key in the Tar Heels' 8-6 victory in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, when he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Over his last 10 games, Freeman is batting .424 (14-for-33) with seven RBIs and nine runs scored.
Gavin's big game
After playing in only one of the men's lacrosse team's first 11 games of the season, Matt Gavin tied for the team lead in scoring for the second straight game Saturday.
In UNC's 13-12 overtime loss at sixth-ranked Syracuse, Gavin was one of four Tar Heels who scored two goals. He also added an assist, giving him three points. Andy Matthews and Alex Trippi also had three points.
Over the last two games, Gavin has five goals and two assists.
Klages' career performance
The fifth-ranked women's lacrosse team entered halftime of Saturday's 20-11 win at No. 15 Syracuse with an 8-5 lead. But after the Orange scored the first goal of the second half, UNC seized the game's momentum, thanks largely to Kara Klages.
Klages answered Syracuse's goal with one of her own just 42 seconds later. The goal sparked a 7-2 run by the Tar Heels. Klages scored three goals during that stretch.
With two first-half goals, Klages finished with a career high of five. Her previous career high of two was set on four occasions over the last two seasons.
Murray returns
After missing the softball team's previous five games, Leah Murray returned to the lineup Friday and played a key role in UNC's 6-0 win over N.C. State.
In the series opener against the Wolfpack, Murray went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. She reached first base on a throwing error in the first inning and ultimately scored the game's first run on a wild pitch.Â
Murray then went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 10-1 loss. The Tar Heels and N.C. State conclude their three-game series at 7 p.m. Monday.
Kelly's Senior Day
The lone senior on the men's tennis team, Robert Kelly was honored in Senior Day ceremonies during Sunday's 4-0 win over Clemson.
On Saturday, Kelly played a key role in UNC's 4-1 victory over Georgia Tech. Although he and William Blumberg, the nation's top-ranked doubles team, didn't finish their point before the the Tar Heels clinched the doubles point, he went on to win his singles match 6-4, 6-3 on Court 3.
With that win, Kelly improved his career record to 113-33 in singles; his singles match against Clemson went unfinished. He's also 106-28 in doubles, where he's earned All-America honors in 2016 and 2017.
Jones shines at No. 1
Before this season, women's tennis coach Brian Kalbas said his team would be "much deeper than we've ever been." But he also recognized that no player could likely replicate the same sort of singles success that Hayley Carter experienced on Court One in previous seasons.
For much of this season, that's proven to be the case. Yet recently, Makenna Jones has provided the Tar Heels consistency on Court One.
Jones, ranked No. 18 nationally in singles, improved to 12-0 in ACC play in UNC's 7-0 victories over Virginia and Clemson on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Against Clemson, she defeated No. 19 Marie-Alexandre Leduc in straight sets.
Since moving from Court Two to Court One for the Virginia Tech match on March 25, Jones is 6-0 in singles.
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