University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNC Invitational
Owens, Ryncavage Lead Way At UNC Invite
March 30, 2007 | Track & Field
March 30, 2007
CHAPEL HILL --- Riding individual titles in four events Friday, the North Carolina men's and women's track teams opened impressively during the first day of competition at the UNC Invitational. Justin Ryncavage and Nick Owens each added their second wins of the outdoor season for Carolina, while Alex Ray and Vanneisha Ivy also picked up event crowns to help pace the host Tar Heels.
Ryncavage and Owens both narrowly missed setting new school-records in improving the automatic NCAA regional qualifying marks they set last week in the javelin and hammer throw, respectively. The javelin crown went to Ryncavage with a 240-6 toss - the farthest throw in the nation this year. Ryncavage set the school record (243-4) in winning the national championship last year. Adam Montague (223-7) also posted a regional qualifying mark in taking second, and Erek Latzka posted a new personal best (191-9) to give the Tar Heels the top three finishers in the event.
Owens unleashed a 228-8 toss, just shy of his school-best 229-9 mark, to win the men's hammer throw. The heave also gives him the best mark in the nation so far this year.
The third individual title for the men came from Alex Ray, who claimed the crown in the men's 1,500-meter run with his 3:55.01. Jeremy Hyder was hot on his heels, clocking a 3:55.74 to finish second, and Cody Harper came in fourth in 3:56.26.
Ivy was the only event winner on the day for the UNC women, taking the 100-meter hurdles in 14.12. Alexandra Coppadge posted a 14.87 to finish third.
Jocelyn White added a second-place finish in the women's hammer throw for the Tar Heels, launching a 160-9 toss, and Riana Lynn posted a 121-4 mark in the javelin to place third.
In the women's 1,500-meter run, Laura Cummings ran a 4:35.29 and Addie Bracy was shortly behind her in 4:38.27 to give Carolina the third- and fifth-place finishers, respectively. UNC added two more top-five showings in the high jump as well, with Ashley Haislip earning fourth with a 5-6 effort and La'Shonda Carter coming in fifth with a 5-4 1/4 clearance.
Erika Foushée continued the Tar Heel success in the jumps, placing second in the triple jump with her 39-10 3/4 mark.
Other standouts for the UNC men were Samuel Bryan, who finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:46.34, as well as Gareth Keah (45-3 1/2) and Wesley Scercy (43-1 1/2), who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the triple jump. Daniel Keller (15.64) and Matthew Villemain (16.79) added third- and fifth-place showings in the men's 110-meter hurdles.
Additionally, the UNC women advanced six student-athletes out of the 100-meter dash preliminaries on Friday. Competition continues Saturday.
Players Mentioned
