Tar Heels Open Busy Week of Competition

Friday, February 14

Albuquerque, NM

11:30 A.M. ET

North Carolina

Don Kirby Elite Invitational

Madias Loper

Photo by: Pete Daugalis

February 14, 2020 | Track & Field

Tiger Paw Day One Results (PDF)Don Kirby Results (PDF)

Boston, Mass. / Clemson, S.C. / Albuquerque, N.M. - The University of North Carolina track & field program completed day one of an action-packed weekend Friday with athletes in competition at three meets around the country – Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitation, Clemson's Tiger Paw Invitation and New Mexico's Don Kirby Elite Invitation. Competition Friday was highlighted by personal-record performances by Dontavian Smith and Madias Loper.

Smith, a junior from Roxboro, N.C., ran a new personal-record time of 6.76 in the semifinal of the men's 60-meter dash at the Tiger Paw Invitational. With his performance Friday Smith moves from a tie to alone in third place in school history in the event. At the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, Loper, a junior from Fayetteville, Ga., set a new personal record in the men's shot put with a mark of 58-6.75 (17.85m). Five of Loper's six throws in the competition topped his previous best mark of 57-0.75 (17.39m).

Other Tar Heel Highlights:
• At the Tiger Paw Invitational, Isaiah Palmer, a junior from Plano, Texas, ran a season-best time of 47.08 in the men's 400 meters, finishing ninth of 68 finishers in the event. Palmer ranked second in the ACC in the even entering the weekend.
• Anna Keefer, a junior from St. Michael Albertville, Minn., finished tenth out of 48 athletes in the women's long jump with a mark of 19-11.75 (6.09m).
• Emerson Porter, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., tied for sixth in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 12-6.25 (3.82m).
• At the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Ashley Smith, a senior from Clemmons, N.C., ran a personal record-time of 9:55.43 in the women's 3,000 meters.
• Erin Edmundson, a senior from Prospect, Ky., ran a personal-record time of 4:49.34 in the women's mile, good for a heat victory. Emmeline Fisher, a junior from Morehead City, N.C., also set a personal record in the mile with a time of 4:52.91.