Shelton named Freshman of the Year, Outstanding Athlete of Meet
The Lions outdoor track and field team placed ninth at the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
HICKORY, N.C. - Eighteen Lions qualified to compete in the 2024 SAC Outdoor T&F Conference Championship hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne University on May 1st & 2nd.
The Lions scored 37 points overall as a team and finished ninth overall.
Jesse Shelton led the team in points earned. On day one of competition, Shelton placed fifth in Hammer with a personal best throw of 47.29m (155' 2"). Shelton broke his own school record with this throw.
He won the Shot Put event with a throw of 17.02m (55' 10.25"), earning 10 points for the team. Shelton followed up shot put with a second place finish in Discus. He threw 49.52m (162' 6") and earned an additional eight points for the team. He earned a combined 22 points overall.
For his achievements, Jesse Shelton earned 2024 Outdoor Track & Field Male Freshman of the Year honors as well as Outstanding Male Field Event Athlete of the Meet.
Justus Shelton competed in Javelin and Discus. Javelin took place on day one of competition. Shelton threw for a new personal best, 52.90m (173' 7"). His throw broke the previous school record throw of 166' 3.25", a record that stood for over 21-years. Shelton placed fourth overall and earned five points for the team. In Discus, he earned a trip to the finals, placing fifth overall with a throw of 42.11m Shelton earned four points for the team. Shelton earned a combined nine points overall.
Jared Benain competed in Triple Jump. Benain placed fifth overall with a mark of 14.52m (47' 52"). Benain earned four points for the team.
Ashtin Gainey competed in Shot Put. Gainey earned a trip to the finals with a huge personal best throw of 13.95m (45' 9.25"). Gainey placed seventh overall and earned two points towards the team total.
Additional Highlights:
Gabe Hunt competed in the 3000m Steeplechase. Hunt placed 14th overall with a personal best run of 10:07.14.
Brandon Wright competed in his first ever 3000m Steeplechase. Wright placed 15th overall with a time of 10:08.85.
Connor Cecil placed 28th in the 400m sprint with a personal best time of 53.32s.
Jackson McClain placed 12th in the 100m sprint with a time of 10.77s. McClain competed in Long Jump as well, placing 22nd overall with a season best jump of 6.24m.
Ethan Lee placed 22nd in the 100m sprint with a time of 11.13s. Lee competed in the 200m sprint as well, placing 25th with a time of 22.69s.
Levi Higgins placed 10th in High Jump with a season best jump of 1.91m.
Jasiah Robinson finished off his season with a personal best throw in Shot Put. Robinson placed 14th with a throw of 13.05m.
Antonio Lorenzo placed 9th in Shot Put with a throw of 13.80m.
Tarus Kipsang placed 19th in the Men's 5000m run with a time of 15:59.09.
Kelvin Kiprop placed 22nd in the Men's 10,000m run with a time of 34:48.22.
Meet results: https://live.rrtiming.com/meets/33217
Next up, a few athletes will travel to High Point University on Sunday, May 12th to compete in the Dani Palooza Last Chance Meet. These athletes will be making one last push to qualify for Outdoor Nationals the last week of May.
