University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Hilton Garden Invite/Camel City Elite
Tar Heels Tackle Garden City Invite
January 30, 2016 | Track & Field
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina track and field teams traveled to the JDL Fastrack in Winston-Salem and competed in the Hilton Garden Invite on Friday. A couple Tar Heels reached the podium in their respective events.
"This was the toughest competition we've seen so far," head coach Harlis Meaders said. "I was really proud of the way Nicole Greene held her own competing against a professional athlete. Alex Cooke had a 3-foot PR in the weight which was huge for her. Overall it was a good day and we're looking forward to more competition tomorrow."
Freshman Nicole Greene finished second in the high jump with a clearance of 5-10 (1.78 meters). Greene was the best collegian there and placed only second to Brianne Theisen-Eaton, a world championship silver medalist in the heptathlon.
AJ Hicks finished second in the men's weight throw with a solid throw of 68-1.50 (20.76 meters). Hicks has been in the top three of every competition he's competed in so far this year.
Alex Cooke finished the day in sixth place in the women's weight throw, but she managed to throw 58-6 (17.83 meters). That mark is nearly three feet beyond her previous personal best.
Cierra Dunston ran a solid race in the women's 400 earning a sixth place finish with a time of 56.88.
Natisha Dixon finished ninth in the women's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.56.
The competition continues tomorrow with the addition of the Camel City Elite Races which feature some of the best collegiate athletes pitted against professional athletes in several races. Mark Derrick will compete in the men's 3,000 while Lizzy Whelan has a crack at the 800. These races have proven to be great chances for the collegians to earn NCAA Championship qualifying times. A recap of performances and results will be on GoHeels following the conclusion of the meet.
Players Mentioned
