University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships
UNC Concludes Very Successful ACC Indoor Championship
February 28, 2015 | Track & Field
BLACKSBURG, VA. – The University of North Carolina track and field teams concluded a very successful ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. The men's team finished the meet in fourth with 67 points, while the women finished in fourth with 62.5 points.
“The fourth place finish on the men's side wasn't what we wanted, but we just didn't have a couple things go our way,” head coach Harlis Meaders said. “Overall our kids showed up each day and competed at an extremely high level. The difference between third and fourth is a few points and the difference between third and second is only a few points. We know that if a couple things went our way we could hang with anyone in the conference. We've got an exceptional group of kids on both the men's and women's teams and we know that we belong at the top of the conference and I'm certain we're going to get there.
There are multiple opportunities for us on both the men's side and the women's side for us to lower our shoulders and let the meet get away from us, but no one did that. I'm very, very proud of them.”
Lizzy Whelan broke UNC's record in the 800 by posting a blazing 2:03.85, beating out former Tar Heel great Alice Schmidt. The time ranks fifth overall in the NCAA this year and earned her third place and All-ACC honors. In the last 400 meters, Whelan came from seventh to third, out-kicking most of the competition. She earned six points for the women's team.
"It's very exciting for sure," Whelan said. "I watched Alice Schmidt race in the Olympics and to know that I beat that woman's record... It's a really cool feeling. I'm really pleased with my race and so grateful for my coaches."
“Lizzy's race was a highlight for the day,” distance coach Mark VanAlstyne said. “She pretty much solidified her position in the NCAAs.”
Cory Nicholls had a huge PR and the race of his life today in the men's 800 en route to a second-place finish. Nicholls, half of the “Gruesome Twosome” ran a 1:49.51, which is the fifth-best time in UNC's history. Nicholls came from seventh to second in the last 200 meters and nearly caught up to first place. He earned eight points for the men's team.
The men's 4x400 of Sean Sutton, O'Neal Wanliss, Kenny Selmon and Javonte Lipsey took the silver medal in the men's 4x400 relay. The team ran the event in 3:10.18, only 0.18 seconds behind first place.
Annie LeHardy was another Tar Heel who reached the podium on the final day of competition. LeHardy took third in the women's 3,000 at 9:16.37. Caroline Alcorta was also in the final and finished with a PR at 9:27.18 and in 10th.
“Annie LeHardy bounced back from a disappointing performance last night for her and ran a gutsy race today to get third,” VanAlstyne said.
Ceo Ways ran an indoor PR in the men's 200 to take silver in the event. Ways' time of 21.14 is 0.02 seconds faster than his previous best. He earned eight points for the men's team.
Annie LeHardy took on the competition in the 3,000 trying to defend her title from last year. She was able to medal with a third-place finish at 9:16.37 and earn six points for the women's team.
Javonte Lipsey and Sean Sutton competed in the final of the men's 400-meter dash. Lipsey ran 47.39 taking fourth in the competition while Sutton ran 47.65 to finish fifth. The two combined for nine team points.
Mark Derrick had a PR of nearly 20 seconds better than his previous best in the 3,000 at 8:06.76 on the way to finishing sixth in the event. Ryan Walling was able to nab eighth at 8:09.56 while John Raneri finished 13th at 8:14.59. Derrick and Walling combined for four points for the men's team.
“Mark Derrick capped off what I thought was a great meet for him with a gutsy run in the 3k,” said VanAlstyne. “You know you're not supposed to be able to run as hard as he did in the 5k and then come back and set an 18-second PR in the 3,000. Walling gave a valiant effort and went after the leader in the 3k and I think it left him vulnerable and cost him a couple spots to the kickers. We preach 'make them beat you,' and that's what he did.”
Lianne Farber was the first Tar Heel to score today. She placed seventh in the mile at 4:46.76, earning two points for the women's team. Karley Rempel took 10th at 4:56.34.
The women's 4x400 team of Natisha Dixon, Jewel Christian, Blake Dodge and Cori Floyd ran 4:48.13. The relay squad finished second in their heat and ninth overall, missing out on earning points by one place.
AJ Hicks was able to place 10th in the men's shot put at 55-7 ½ (16.95 meters).
Ryan Ramsey looked to try and score points in the men's open vault and attempted to clear 16-5 ½ (5.02 meters), but came up just a little short after a great effort. 16-5 ½ is above Ramsey's PR and he finished 11th at 15-11 ¾ (4.87 meters).
Alexis Gannon was able to finish 11th in the women's triple jump. Gannon's best jump of 38-11 (11.86 meters) was only 3 inches short of making the finals.
D'Monte Farley finished 16th in the men's triple jump with a best jump of 45-3 ½ (13.80 meters).
CAROLINA'S ALL-ACC FIRST TEAM PERFORMERS
Xenia Rahn – Pentathlon, 1st
Xenia Rahn – Long Jump, 3rd
Paul Haley – Heptathlon, 1st
Cameron Overstreet – Pole Vault, 2nd
Cory Nicholls – 800, 2nd
Ceo Ways – 200, 2nd
Ryan Ramsey – Heptathlon, 3rd
AJ Hicks – Weight Throw, 3rd
Emily Godwin – High Jump, 3rd
Mark Derrick – 5,000, 3rd
Lizzy Whelan – 800, 3rd
Annie LeHardy – 3,000, 3rd
Players Mentioned
