University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UCS Invitational Day 2
Tar Heels Capture Pair Of Wins in Regular-Season Finale
February 17, 2018 | Track & Field
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In the final tune-up of the indoor regular season before next weekend's ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, North Carolina's track and field teams departed the UCS Invitational Saturday with victories in the women's triple jump by freshman Peighton Simmons and in the women's 60 meters by sophomore Brianna Duncan.
On her third attempt, Simmons (High Point, N.C.) lept for 40-7 (12.37 meters) to claim her first collegiate win, a collegiate best and a mark in the event that qualifies her for next weekend's conference championships.The mark is also the fifth best in the ACC so far this season.
On the track, Duncan (Cambridge, Mass.) continued her winning ways, picking up her third victory on the season and second in the women's 60 meters with her time of 7.42.
"This weekend at the JDL fast track, we got accomplished everything we needed to get accomplished," head coach Harlis Meaders said. "The women's DMR ran a fantastic race last night, and today we had Peighton Simmons get a qualifying mark in the women's triple jump. She's been on the cusp of doing some good things, so that's really good for her to get. Really happy with the progress of the team, everybody is healthy and we're off to Clemson in a few days."
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHT
North Carolina's distance medley relay of Erin Edmundson, Cierra Dunston, Blake Dodge and Caroline Alcorta ran 11:17.78 to take second at the UCS Invitational at the JDL Fast Track Friday evening.
The adjusted time of 11:10.60 is the second-best time in the ACC this season and is the ninth-fastest time in the NCAA.
Edmundson, a sophomore from Prospect, Ky., led off the relay for the 1,200 and took to the front of the pack through 600 meters. Over the final 400, UPenn took over the lead to gain a sizable advantage by the first handoff.Â
Then Dunston, a senior from Powder Springs, Ga., received the baton and brought he Tar Heels right back to the lead pack by the end of her 53.47 400-meter leg.
Dodge, a senior from Beaufort, N.C., was up next for the half-mile leg. Running her best 800 meters of the season in 2:08.27, Dodge brought Carolina into second before making the final baton exchange.
Alcorta, a senior from Springfield, Va., reclaimed the lead for the Tar Heels shortly after receiving the baton and led for nearly 1200 meters. However with 400 meters to go, Villanova took the lead and would go on to win in 11:13.65.
NEXT UP: With the final meet of the regular season in the books, the Tar Heels now turn their sights towards the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held in Clemson, S.C. from Feb 22-24. The Championships kick off Thursday with the heptathlon and pentathlon beginning at 11:30 a.m., and the distance medley relays at 6 p.m.
"This week we just need to sharpen up, get everybody healthy and get everybody mentally prepared to go into the championships," Meaders said. "It's going to be a great competition. There's a number of teams that are ranked nationally in our conference, and a lot of individual athletes from different programs that are ranked highly. We feel like we've got a really competitive team, and we're looking forward to seeing what we can do."
Junior Nicole Greene (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) will also compete in the women's high jump at the USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday (Feb. 18) at 4:25 p.m.
Follow the Tar Heels at @unctrack_field on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
