Keefer, Towns Highlight Day One at Power Five Invite

Friday, January 31

Ann Arbor, MI

11 a.m.

North Carolina

Power 5 Invitational

Anna Keefer

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

January 31, 2020 | Track & Field

Day One Results (PDF)

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The University of North Carolina track & field program completed day one of the Power Five Invitational Friday at the University of Michigan Indoor Track in Ann Arbor, Mich. Day one of the two-day meet was highlighted for the Tar Heels by strong showings from Anna Keefer and Qhiyal Towns.

Keefer, a junior from St. Michael Albertville, Minn., set a new personal record to win her preliminary heat in the women's 60-meter dash. Keefer's time of 7.40 seconds moves her from third to second place in the UNC record book in the event. Keefer will return to competition Saturday in the women's 60-meter final as well as the women's long jump.

Towns, a sophomore from Newport News, Va., led a trio of Tar Heels in the men's 60-meter prelims matching his personal best in the event for the fourth time this season, finishing in 6.81 seconds to win his heat. Dontavian Smith and Saypadia DeSaussure II finished third and fourth in the same heat to qualify on time for Saturday's final. Smith, a junior from Roxboro, N.C., finished with a time of 6.84 seconds while DeSaussure, a sophomore from Apopka, Fla., ran 6.88. Towns' time keeps him in a tie for sixth in school history in the 60-meter dash.

Competition is set to resume Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on the field and 12 p.m. on the track. Day two of the two-day meet is set to conclude with the women's and men's 4x400m relays at 3:06 and 3:13 p.m., respectively.

Other Tar Heels in Action:
• Lauryn Hall and Kayla Hunt competed in the qualifying round of the women's 60-meter dash. Hall, a sophomore from Harvest, Ala., won her heat with a time of 7.61 seconds while Hunt, a freshman from Atlanta, Ga., also took a qualifying round win, finishing with a time of 7.63 seconds.
• Ashley Smith and Camryn Petit competed in the women's 5,000 meters. Petit, a sophomore from Braselton, Ga., finished second in the event with a time of 17:29.98 while Smith, a senior from Clemmons, N.C., ran a personal record in the event, indoor or outdoor, finishing third with a time of 17:34.68.
• Matt Thornton and Jake McEneaney competed in the men's 5,000 meters. Thornton, a senior from Cary, N.C., finished second with a time of 14:37.19 while McEneaney, a junior from Naperville, Ill., took fourth in 15:14.00.