University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
ACC Outdoor Championships
Rahn Takes Heptathlon Title At ACC Championships
May 16, 2015 | Track & Field
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of North Carolina women's track team leads the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships heading into day three after a lifetime performance from Xenia Rahn. Rahn scored a career best 6,057 points in the heptathlon, becoming the first ACC athlete to reach the 6,000 point threshold. Her point total is a facility, school, ACC and ACC meet record and ranks her second in the nation this year.
“We are extremely pleased with the effort the women put in today,” Meaders said. “Going into the final day in the top spot is where we haven't been in some time and it will take work to keep us there, but we're up to the challenge. We're excited for tomorrow and ready for the opportunity to compete.”
“It feels great,” Rahn said about claiming the title and records. “From indoor to outdoor it was kind of what we were expecting and hoping for. It just feels good that we were able to execute everything we had planned for.”
Rahn dominated the competition all day taking first in two of the remaining three events. She came into the day with 3,551 points and added 946 points in the long jump. Rahn jumped 20-8 ½ (6.31 meters) to lead the pack and threw for a personal best 145-10 (44.46 meters) in the javelin to top the competition. Heading into her final event, Rahn led the rest of the competition by nearly 500 points and needed to run a 2:25.5 in the 800 to eclipse the 6,000 mark. Rahn ran a season-best 2:21.24 to sweep the competition, beating second place by an overall amount of 506 points.
“Langley came up to me and told me I needed to run 2:25 to break 6,000, so I told Emily [Godwin] I just wanted to chill on the 800, but she told me I had to go for it. Our group of girls were sticking together and supporting each other all day. It's good to have someone competing with you who's on your side. It really helped out a lot today.”
“I was extremely pleased,” multi coach Josh Langley said of Rahn's performance. “She was just on a mission. From the moment she walked into the stadium she was all business. I told her what she needed to run to break 6,000 and we had our typical exchange of 'Xenia, you can run this,' and her saying 'Yeah, but I don't have to, so why would I?' But in her last 300 she took off and ran a great time for her.”
Rahn wasn't the only heptathlete to have a lifetime best performance for Carolina. Emily Godwin, a sophomore, also posted a career best score of 5,367, which ranks third all-time in Carolina history. Godwin jumped 18-3 ¼ (5.57 meters) in the long jump, threw 110-4 (33.64 meters) in the javelin and ran 2:18.82 in the 800 today.
“Xenia did an amazing job today breaking many records,” Meaders said of the star. “She's an incredible athlete and a great addition to our team. Emily Godwin also had a great performance today and Coach Langley has done an amazing job with them.”
Sarah Howard ended tonight's competition with another All-ACC honor. Howard finished second in the women's shot put competition at 55-7 ¾ (16.96 meters). Howard was in the lead with just Emmonnie Henderson of Louisville left and Henderson threw 56-1 (17.09 meters) to claim the title.
“It was a tough loss for Sarah,” Meaders said of his pupil. “She was the leader going into round six, but she had a great performance and came within centimeters of her personal best.”
Steve Dunbar cleared a collegiate best 6-8 ¾ (2.05 meters) in the high jump to take third overall. Dunbar, a freshman, took third on misses and earned All-ACC in his first ACC Championships.
“Steve Dunbar did a fantastic job getting third in his first ACC meet,” Meaders said. “He's going to be able to do a lot for us later down the road.”
Paul Haley finished the final five events in the decathlon and ended the competition in fourth. Haley had the fastest time in the 110-meter hurdles, being the only decathlete to finish under 15.00 at 14.75. In the discus Haley threw 106-8 (32.52 meters) on his only legal attempt. He cleared 13-4 ¼ (4.07 meters) in the pole vault and threw 155-2 (47.29 meters) in the javelin. Haley finished with the 1,500 running a personal best 4:48.38 to finish with an overall score of 7,098, a career best.
“Haley broke the 7,000 landmark to finish fourth in a talented field,” said Meaders. “That's a landmark that a lot of heptathletes try to reach.”
Stella Radford, a freshman from Melbourne, Australia, posted a fourth-place finish in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a career best time. Radford's 10:14.61 race ranks third all-time in UNC's history.
Meaders was impressed with her performance: “Stella just joined us in January and to come to this conference with limited training as a freshman and finish fourth just means that she is extremely talented and Coach VanAlstyne has done a great job working with her.
Brooke Rowland contributed to the women's team's point total with a fifth-place finish in the javelin. Rowland threw 144-8 (44.11 meters) on her first attempt and it held through her final five throws. Rowland is a heptathlete and was the only heptathlete competing in the open javelin.
Lizzy Whelan claimed a spot in the final of the 800 after winning her heat at 2:06.51. Whelan will go into the final tomorrow with the fifth-fastest prelim time.
Javonte Lipsey had a big PR in the men's 400 running 46.43 to qualify for the final. Lipsey also qualified for the 400-meter hurdles final yesterday and will run both races tomorrow.
“Javonte has a tough day tomorrow,” Meaders said. “But he's a veteran and a phenomenal competitor. We're lucky to have him on the team and I know he'll be great tomorrow.”
In his last ACC Championships, Roy Smith ran 13.97, only 0.03 off a personal best, in the 110-meter hurdles to qualify for the final.
O'Neal Wanliss qualified for the men's final of the 800 after winning his heat in 1:50.17. Wanliss was in second the whole race until the final 100 meters where he outkicked first and held off the rest of the competition.
Natisha Dixon ran a personal best 13.79 in the 100-meter hurdles to qualify for the final. The freshman had the seventh-fastest time in the prelims.
“Tish did a great job making it to the final as a freshman. You don't see many freshman in that final and she'll be a great competitor for many years to come,” Meaders said.
Inclement weather caused the women's pole vault, which was scheduled to go off today at 5:30 p.m., to be postponed to tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. Amanda Benninghoff and Cameron Overstreet will take on the competition tomorrow in that event.
The Tar Heel men are tied for seventh with 17 points heading into the final day of the championships. A recap of performances and results will be available on GoHeels.com at the conclusion of the meet. For instant updates, follow @UNCTrack_Field on Twitter. Live stats can be found here and an ESPN3 stream starting at 6 p.m. tomorrow can be found here.
CAROLINA ALL-ACC HONOREES
Xenia Rahn – Heptathlon, 1st
Sarah Howard – Shot Put, 2nd
AJ Hicks – Weight Throw, 3rd
Avana Story – Weight Throw, 3rd
Steve Dunbar – High Jump, 3rd
Players Mentioned
