The Bruins track and field team conquered the wind, rain, and freezing temperatures and came away from the Asheville Bulldog Invitational with quality results, some personal bests, and even a couple school records.

"Through the wind and cold, the team really came together and encouraged each other," team captain Misha Gray said. "The team made light of the conditions and found ways to enjoy it. Most importantly, they made it a point to show the light of Christ and rely on Him for strength." 

Friday: 

Briana Felter and Melody Davis were the first athletes on the starting line for the Bruins in the 100 meter dash. Felter barely beat out Davis with a time of 13.47 seconds. Davis, right behind her, set a personal best of 13.52 seconds.

In the men's 100 meter dash, Leo Mota and Kyle Williams lined up next. Mota set his personal best crossing the finish line in 11.37 seconds. Williams had a great start off the block that helped him finish with a time of 11.84 seconds.

Josiah Mackey, usually representing the Bruins by himself in the men's shot put, was joined by teammate John Vance. In the rain, it was very difficult to get a hold of the shot, but they still performed well. Mackey threw 8.65 meters followed by Vance at 7.83 meters.

Next in the women's 1500 meter race, Joy Hast and Liz Farley raced for the Bruins. Hast ran well and finished with a time of 5:27, but her night wasn't over. Farley had a great race crossing the finish line at 5:55 which is a personal best in this event.

Joel Batres, Luke VanDenBerghe, and Daniel Kyle were next in the men's 1500 meter race. Batres led the way with a time of 4:29 and he was followed by VanDenBerghe finishing at 4:41 which is his personal best. Kyle was close behind coming through the finish line at 4:46.

As it got dark and rain started to come down more, Trenton Goldsmith and Levi Gerbitz lined up for the 3k steeplechase. Goldsmith ran a strong race finishing at 10:41. Gerbitz learned the race and did very well coming in at 11:37 in his first ever time in the steeplechase.

To close out the night was the 5k, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the meet for the Bruins. Joy Hast was back on the track joined by Cora Gagne. Fresh off the 1500 meter race, Hast raced incredibly well and stayed consistent. That effort resulted in a personal best of 19:30 which shattered the school record by 14 seconds. Gagne also raced very well coming through with a season best of 22:28.

Evan Seaman and James Baer closed out the night for the Bruins and both showed up big time. Seaman ran another personal best with a time of 15:39 which placed him eighth place overall among 45 runners. Baer set a huge personal best with a time of 16:43 and ended the day for the Bruins on a high note.

Saturday: 

Josh Garian started the day for the Bruins from the discus cage. With an outside temperature of 30 degrees, Garian said that it was difficult to feel his fingers when he threw. He showed resilience, though, and threw for a great distance of 35.82 meters.

Grace Bailey and Abigail Woo continue their amazing season in the women's javelin throw. Bailey threw 32.36 meters and Woo threw 27.05 meters, both resulting in top ten finishes. The men's javelin throw was the last event of the day.

Melody Davis represented the Bruins in the 400 meter hurdles race and did very well. Her time of 1:13 set a new school record.

Misha Gray and Robert Ulsh were next in the men's 400 meter hurdles race. Gray came through right under a minute at 58.64 seconds followed by Ulsh at 1:01.29. Both men finished in the top ten.

Gracie Roland hit the track next for the Bruins in the women's open 400 meter race. Braving the wind on the back stretch, Roland pushed through for a good time of 1:07.6.

Six Bruins ran in the men's 400 meter race. Ian Flynn led the way with a great time of 53.51 seconds. In the next heat, Leo Mota set a personal best at 54.43 seconds. In the final heat of the event, Coach Roach put four distance runners to see how they would do. Trenton Goldsmith, Daniel Kyle, Levi Gerbitz, and Luke VanDenBerghe all lined up against each other. It was Goldsmith who came in front with a time of 57.10 seconds which barely beat out teammate Kyle who finished at 57.15 seconds. Gerbitz came through the finish line nearly at a minute flat (1:00.6) and VanDenBerghe hustled behind him finishing at 1:02.34.

Shortly after, the women's 800 meter race began. Kristen Dodds and Kate Amato represented the Bruins. Dodds finished at 2:41 and Amato followed at 2:52.

Joel Batres, Trenton Goldsmith, and Michael Leonard were next in the men's 800 meter race. Batres, who probably ran through the worst wind of the day, ran a quality race finishing with a time of 2:05. Leonard and Goldsmith ran in the same heat and nearly tied. Goldsmith outlasted an incredible final kick by Leonard and finished at 2:16.0. Leonard, in his first ever 800 meter race, did great and crossed the finish line at 2:16.2.

The 200 meter dash was the final running event of the day for the Bruins. Briana Felter came ran well and finished at 27.45 seconds. Mia Marks set a personal best in the event at 29.63 seconds.

In the men's 200 meter dash, Kyle Williams was joined by Samuel Ashley who ran his first ever collegiate race today. Williams finished at 24.94 seconds followed by Ashley at 26.56 seconds.

To close out the meet, several Bruins competed in the men's javelin throw. Sprinters Misha Gray and Michael Leonard, along with jumper John Vance, joined Samuel Ashley and Josh Landry. Gray and Leonard both threw very well for it being their first time in this event. Gray threw 35.23 meters and Leonard followed at 34.13 meters. Before transitioning to his 200 meter dash, Ashley threw 33.25 meters. John Vance followed throwing 32.78 meters in his first time throwing javelin. It was the powerhouse Landry that led the way for the Bruins throwing 51.22 meters and finishing in fifth place overall.

After many personal bests, a couple school records, and an overall successful weekend, the Bruins now look forward a couple weeks to their final regular season meet on April 26 at the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears Open.