North Carolina
Battle Of The Blues
Duncan Becomes Fastest Woman In UNC History
April 7, 2018 | Track & Field
DURHAM, N.C. - Brianna Duncan broke the 27-year-old 100-meters school record at the Battle of the Blues Friday when she won the race in 11.35 during her 2018 outdoor debut at Duke's Morris Williams Stadium.
The original record of 11.37, set by Kendra Mackey in 1991, stood for nearly three decades before Duncan took it down Friday afternoon. The sophomore from Cambridge, Mass., set the 60 meters school record in her 2018 indoor season debut earlier this year, breaking the 20-year-old record previously set by Crystal Cox in 1998.
By breaking the record, Duncan becomes the undisputed fastest woman in UNC history. Her time not only ranks at the top of school history, but it is also the second-fastest time run in the ACC this season, it is top 10 in the east region and top 20 in the nation.
"The next step for her will be championship performances," Meaders said. "Whether it is the ACC meet or NCAA championship meets, that will really be the next step. But we feel like she has all of the tools. She has demonstrated that she has the ability, and that will be the next measuring stick for her."
Several other Tar Heels also had performances Friday that moved them up or into the top-five rankings in UNC history.
In the women's hammer, freshman Jill Shippee (Clifton Park, N.Y.) nearly took down the school record in the event. She threw for 202-10 (61.83 meters) to take second, set a new lifetime best and move from third to second in UNC history in the event. She is less than three feet away from breaking Laura Gerraughty's 2003 record of 205-8. Her throw is fourth best in the ACC, seventh in the region and 18th in the nation this season.
Redshirt-junior Alex Cooke (Lowgap, N.C.) moved into the top-five in UNC history in the hammer throw for the first time. She threw for 196-7 (59.91 meters), which ranks fifth in UNC history. The throw is seventh best in the ACC this season.
On the track, junior Morgan Ilse (Dunwoody, Ga.) ran 9:24.88 in the women's 3,000 meters, which is the fourth-fastest time in school history and an outdoor personal best for her by 26 seconds. Ilse took second in the race only to All-America distance runner Erin Finn of Michigan.
Duke claimed the women's Battle of the Blues title and Michigan took home the men's title.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Men
• Freshman Dontavian Smith won the 100 meters in a personal-best 10.48. The time is fourth best in the ACC this season.
• Senior Brandon Reddick won the 200 meters in a lifetime-best 21.11. The time is fourth best in the ACC this season.
• Redshirt-freshman Marcus Krah made his collegiate debut in the 110-meter hurdles, winning the event in 14.21. The time is sixth-best in the ACC this season.
• Freshman Isaiah Palmer won the 400 meters in 47.03. The time is sixth in the ACC this season.
• Redshirt-senior Cory Nicholls held on to win the 800 meters in 1:50.88, fending off two challenging Blue Devils. The time is tied for fifth in the ACC this season.
• The 4x100 of Brandon Reddick, Dontavian Smith, Ryan Saint-Germain and Isaiah Palmer won in 40.63. The time is third best in the ACC this season.
• Redshirt-sophomore Draven Crist picked up his second victory of the season in the high jump, leaping for 6-9 ½ (2.07 meters).
• Junior Darryl Shaw won the triple jump with his leap of 49-0 ¾ (14.95 meters). The jump is sixth-best in the ACC this season.
• Sophomore Daniel McArthur won the shot put for the third time this season, throwing for 57-6 ¼ (17.53 meters)
• Redshirt-Sophomore Jared Martin threw over 60 meters in the javelin for the first time, throwing a lifetime-best 198-3 (60.43 meters).
Women
• Freshman Anna Keefer set a new lifetime best in the long jump, leaping for 20-9 (6.32 meters) on her sixth attempt. The jump is the top mark in the ACC this season, it is fourth in the east region and sixth in the country. Keefer also set a personal best in the 100 meters, running 11.59 to take second. The time is eighth in the ACC.
• Senior Cierra Dunston set a new outdoor personal best in the 400 meters, clocking 53.38 to take second. The time is fourth in the ACC this season and is top 20 in the region.
• Freshman Lindsey Lanier set a personal best in the 3,000 meters by 28 seconds, running 9:43.36.
• Emily Godwin matched her season best of 5-6 (1.68 meters) in the high jump to win the event. She also thew a personal best 122-0 (37.20 meters) in the javelin to take second.
• The 4x400 of Katlin Sherman, Cierra Dunston, Natisha Dixon and McKinley McNeill ran a season-best 3:40.10.
• Freshman Emerson Porter crushed her lifetime best in the pole vault, jumping 12-10 ¼ (3.92 meters). The jump is top 10 in the ACC.
• Redshirt-junior Nicole Kiszenia threw for a big personal best of 137-1 (41.78 meters) to win the discus.
NEXT UP: The Tar Heels head to Miami, Fla., for the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational on April 14th. Follow the Tar Heels at @unctrack_field on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates all season long.
Players Mentioned
