Tar Heel Triumphs: A Deep Dive into UNC Athletics

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On Saturday, January 18, the North Carolina Track and Field team excelled on the second day of the Dick Taylor Challenge, clinching victory in eleven distinct events.

In the men’s pole vault, Carolina secured first and second places with Paul Signorelli (5.25m) claiming the title, achieving the 17th-best height nationwide. Nick Pennington (4.87m) followed as the runner-up and recorded a top 100 mark across the nation.

Thomas Kitchell (18.87m) ascended to third place all-time in men’s shot put, surpassing Allen Bradd (18.71m) from 1999. Kitchell ended up in second place, yet he achieved the longest throw among collegiate competitors. All four UNC shot putters made it to the finals.

Carolina dominated the 300m event, with Sydney Campbell (40.20) and Nick Sneed (34.87) finishing first in their race. Sneed made his debut as a Tar Heel.

The Tar Heels also secured the top two times in the women’s 1000m, with Cassidy Scott( 2:51.27) winning in her initial appearance with the team.

Aaliyah Berry (8.20) launched ahead in the 60m hurdles finals, achieving a personal record and currently holds the ninth fastest time in Division 1. She topped the race, defeating 2020 Olympic athlete Gabbi Cunningham.

Blaise Atkinson (7.90) achieved a personal best during the men’s 60m hurdles, placing sixth all-time, exceeding the record set by Marcus Krah (7.91) in 2018. Atkinson finished second in the race yet was the leading collegiate competitor.

Alyssa Hernandez (1:14.88) triumphed in the 500-meter race while Skylar Bohlman (13.97m) won the women’s shot put, as both were the sole Tar Heels participating in their respective events.

Patrick Anderson (4:04.83) spearheaded the men’s mile event, breaking away from the group and winning by around five seconds. Carolina occupied the top four positions.

Following her mile victory, Makayla Paige (4:38.31) achieved a seventh-place all-time ranking, surpassing Lizzy Whelan (4:38.41) from 2014, as Carolina achieved the top five finishes in the competition.

The notable performance in the running events continued with a sweep of the women’s 4×400 podium as Gwyneth Goldowski, Leah Spindell, Aaliyah Berry, and Makayla Paige (3:48.73) recorded the 39th fastest time in Division 1.

Results

Men’s Shot Put 

2. Tommy Kitchell 18.87m [Tar Heel debut], third all-time

4. Matt Appel, 17.16m (56-03.75)

5. Ethan Richter 16.50m (54-01.75)

9. Tyler Mayerhoff 15.22m (49-11.25)

Women’s Shot Put 

1. Skylar Bohlman 13.97m (45-10.00)

Men’s Pole Vault 

1. Paul Signorelli, 5.25 (17-02.75), [#17 in D1] 

2. Nick Pennington, 4.87m (15-11.75),[#100 in D1] 

 Women’s Pole Vault 

2. Megan Kelleghan, 4.02m (13-02.25) 

3. Peyton Berryman, 4.02m (13-02.25)

5. Maddy Kelley, 3.75m (12-03.50) [Tar Heel debut]

10. Vivian Stovall, 3.60m (11-09.75)

Women’s 300-Meters 

1. Sydney Campbell, 40.20 seconds

3. Jocelyn Johnson 40.43 seconds, PR

4. Lea Spindell, 40.65 seconds, [Tar Heel Debut]

7. Maameyaa Nyinah 41.13

Men’s 300-Meters 

1. Nick Steed, 34.87 seconds [Tar Heel debut]

6.  Donovan Calhoun, 35.67 seconds [Tar Heel debut]

Women’s 1000m 

1. Cassidy Scott 2:51.27, [Tar Heel Debut]

2. Ella Auderset, 2:51.51 

4. Lilly Shapiro, 2:57.46 [Tar Heel debut]

Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles 

1. Aaliyah Berry, 8.20 seconds [#9 in D1] 

6. Evie Culbreath, 8.75 seconds

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles

2. Blaise Atkinson, 7.90 seconds, [6th all time]

Women’s500-Meters

1. Alyssa Hernandez, 1:14.88 

Women’s Mile 

1. Makayla Paige, 4:38.31, [7th in history]

2. Brynn Brown, 4:39.20

3. Taryn Parks, 4:40.96

4. Ciara O’Shea, 5:04.02,4:44.22 [Tar Heel Debt]

5. Logan St. John-Kletter, 4:45.22 [Tar Heel Debt]

8. Eva Klingbeil, 4:55.17

11. Grace Hanson, 5:01.93, [Tar Heel Debt]

15. Maddie Gardiner 5:06.21  [Tar Heel Debt]

16. Kelsey Harrington 5:07.53

Men’s Mile 

1. Patrick Anderson, 4:04.83 [#54 in D1]

2. Mac Conwell, 4:09.46 [Tar Heel Debut] 

3. Jacob Laney, 4:10.67 

4. Henry Strand, 4:11.86 [Tar Heel Debut]

Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay 

1. G. Goldowski, L. Spindell, A. Berry, M. Paige 3:48.73, [#39 in D1] 

2. J. Johnson, D. Martins, E. Auderset, A. Hernandez 3:49.37

3. M. Nyinah, E. Culbreath, C. Scott, T. Parks 3:56.63

Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay 

1. K. Fahy, J. Rivera, B. Atkinson, M. Stakun-Pickering (3:16.87), [#59 in D1]

2. T. Paschall, A. Regnier, K. Balakrishnan, H. Strand (3:17.41)

Coming Up:  Track and Field will participate in the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, VA on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.

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