University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, March 15
Virginia Beach, Va.
All Day
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NCAA Indoor Championships
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Strand & Paige Win Individual National Championships
March 15, 2025 | Track & Field
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - North Carolina track & field put a bow on its indoor season with two individual national championships as Ethan Strand won the 3000m and Makayla Paige won the 800m within three hours of each other.
For the second time in program history, the men's team has posted back-to-back top-ten finishes as they tied with Texas Tech for eighth with 22 points. The Tar Heels did it first in 1992-93. The women took 23rd with 10 points, which was the first time since 2003 in which both genders finished in the top 25.
Strand is the first men's indoor NCAA Champion for Carolina since Adam Shunk in the High Jump in 2003. Paige is the first NCAA Champion for the women since Nicole Greene in the High Jump in 2018.
Paige (2:00.39) jumped out to the front of the pack from the shots of the starting gun and held on to win the 800m National Championship while also setting the facility record. Despite getting clipped in the middle of the race, the senior was able to power through and win the national championship. She never gave up the lead during the entire race.
Strand battled one of the fiercest 3000m fields in recent history, with nine of ten fastest collegiate times ever. The leader of the race changed six different times with Strand hitting a major kick to cut in front of Gary Martin from Virginia to take the lead as he had the fastest final split in a time of 25.39. Parker Wolfe (7:53.98) also earned First-Team All-America honors as he took sixth. Colton Sands (8:00.29) earned Second-Team All-America honors.
Tommy Kitchell (19.19m) earned First-Team All-America honors after he finished in eighth. Kitchell landed his best throw of the day in his final throw of the prelims keeping his day alive, ultimately ending it with honors.
Saturday, March 15:
Women's 800m Finals
1. Makayla Paige, 2:00.39 [First-Team All-America]
Men's Shot Put:
Tommy Kitchell, 19.19m (62-11½ )[First-Team All-America]
Men's 3000m
1. Ethan Strand, 7:52.03 [First-Team All-America]
6. Parker Wolfe, 7:53.98 [First-Team All-America]
15. Colton Sands, 8:00.29 [Second-Team All-America]
For all the latest UNC Track and Field news, photos, and videos, follow on X, Instagram, and Facebook
For the second time in program history, the men's team has posted back-to-back top-ten finishes as they tied with Texas Tech for eighth with 22 points. The Tar Heels did it first in 1992-93. The women took 23rd with 10 points, which was the first time since 2003 in which both genders finished in the top 25.
Thanks for having us, Virginia!#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/NxuAE0vt7L
— UNC Track & Field • XC (@UNCTrack_Field) March 16, 2025
Strand is the first men's indoor NCAA Champion for Carolina since Adam Shunk in the High Jump in 2003. Paige is the first NCAA Champion for the women since Nicole Greene in the High Jump in 2018.
Paige (2:00.39) jumped out to the front of the pack from the shots of the starting gun and held on to win the 800m National Championship while also setting the facility record. Despite getting clipped in the middle of the race, the senior was able to power through and win the national championship. She never gave up the lead during the entire race.
There's a new queen on the track and her name is Makayla Paige
— UNC Track & Field • XC (@UNCTrack_Field) March 15, 2025
Makayla wins the national championship in 2:00.39 setting a facility record! #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/pbmWH2u5D6
Strand battled one of the fiercest 3000m fields in recent history, with nine of ten fastest collegiate times ever. The leader of the race changed six different times with Strand hitting a major kick to cut in front of Gary Martin from Virginia to take the lead as he had the fastest final split in a time of 25.39. Parker Wolfe (7:53.98) also earned First-Team All-America honors as he took sixth. Colton Sands (8:00.29) earned Second-Team All-America honors.
ETHAN HIT THE AFTERBURNERS TO TAKE HOME THE NATTY!
— UNC Track & Field • XC (@UNCTrack_Field) March 15, 2025
⏱️7:52.03#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/4ZJcNe3Hrx
Tommy Kitchell (19.19m) earned First-Team All-America honors after he finished in eighth. Kitchell landed his best throw of the day in his final throw of the prelims keeping his day alive, ultimately ending it with honors.
Saturday, March 15:
Women's 800m Finals
1. Makayla Paige, 2:00.39 [First-Team All-America]
Men's Shot Put:
Tommy Kitchell, 19.19m (62-11½ )[First-Team All-America]
Men's 3000m
1. Ethan Strand, 7:52.03 [First-Team All-America]
6. Parker Wolfe, 7:53.98 [First-Team All-America]
15. Colton Sands, 8:00.29 [Second-Team All-America]
For all the latest UNC Track and Field news, photos, and videos, follow on X, Instagram, and Facebook
Players Mentioned
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Distance
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Distance
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