Running into strong headwinds and jumping in changing weather conditions, the circumstances at the 2014 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., were far from perfect.
But junior Xenia Rahn maintained her composure through early ups and downs to earn first team All-American status, setting a personal record and placing eighth in the women’s heptathlon.
“You never really expect to PR at championships, but on the other hand, what I had performed before wasn’t what I was capable of,” Rahn said.
It was her third appearance in nationals, but first as a Tar Heel at outdoors, and she placed 10 places higher than she did last year.
Like Rahn, the team overall showed improvement compared to past national meets. Rahn scored one point for the women’s team, while sophomore RJ Alowonle added four for the men — marking the the first since 2011 both the men and women's teams have scored points.
The women finished tied for 59th, and the men tied for 55th.
Alowonle, who placed fifth in the men’s 400-meter hurdle race after racing in the 4x400-meter relay and in the 400-meter hurdle prelims, also earned first team All-America honors.
“Running the finals I felt pretty good. I felt confident, I felt ready,” he said. “The race that I wanted to run really wasn’t there. I made a lot of technical errors within the race. But, I can’t be all that disappointed with the place my first time at nationals. It was unbelievably amazing.”
Eight Tar Heels competed at nationals, which lasted from Wednesday, June 11 to Saturday, June 14.