First-year Sydney Banks won her second consecutive women’s high jump, leading the Tar Heels in a two-day outing for the North Carolina track and field team at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va., on Friday and Saturday.
What happened?
North Carolina traveled light — only 11 members from the team competed in the weekend competition — but still performed well in the events UNC took part in.
Friday was the busiest day for the Tar Heels, and they had some impressive showings from multiple athletes. Junior Emerson Porter and first-year Jaren Holmes highlighted the field events for UNC. Porter finished seventh in the women’s pole vault with a mark of 3.98 meters, matching her indoor personal best. Holmes set a personal record in the men’s triple jump with his leap of 15.37 meters, good enough for second place.
In the running events, two Tar Heels ran season-best times in the men’s mile. First-year Michael Spragley placed fifth in the third heat with a time of 4:19.29, and first-year Dalton McGlamery placed third in the fourth heat with 4:24.59, both season bests.
In the men’s 1,000 meter, redshirt junior Brandon Tubby finished fifth with a time of 2:24.99. Shortly after, redshirt junior Alex Milligan ran in 2:25.37 and finished seventh. In the second heat, sophomore Jesse Hunt rounded out the event for UNC with a time of 2:26.27, good enough for third place in his heat.
Banks' victory in the women’s high jump with 1.73 meters highlighted Saturday’s performances for North Carolina.
Other notable performances in the field were first-year Matthew Harris and senior Zay Paschall in the men’s long jump. Harris finished fourth and Paschall sixth with jumps of 7.28 meters and 7.09 meters, respectively. Harris competed in the only running event on Saturday for North Carolina as he finished third in the fourth heat with a time of 22.59 in the men’s 200 meter.
In the men’s pole vault, first-year Ben Finger tied for 13th with 4.67 meters.
