ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Longwood track battled the elements and came out strong to open the first day of the Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Monday.
 
Despite rainy weather and lightning that forced delays during the day, the Lancer men already garnered a point while both the Lancer men and women have positioned themselves well for day two with runners qualifying for multiple final events.
 
Kris Mickens led the charge with a huge leap forward in the men's long jump. He finished eighth in the final, earning a point for the Lancer men, in only his third meet.
 
NOTABLE RESULTS:
 
Mickens posted a 6.62m (21' 8 ¾") jump that was nearly five inches better than his previous best effort to finish eighth in the long jump. He has set a new personal best in three straight meets now.
 
In addition, Clinton Clancy earned a spot in the ever-competitive men's 1,500m finals with a 4:03.95 that doubled as his personal best time this season by almost two seconds.
 
For the women, Sophie Farley won her heat in the women's 1,500m with a 4:54.96, and she will be joined in the final by Sam Bolen (4:57.19) and Lanie Grogg (5:00.85).
 
Nyomi Rhodes also laid down a 1:05.41 in the women's 400m hurdles, crushing her prior best mark by more than 2.5 seconds. Her time was sixth-fastest to guarantee her a spot in the finals.
 
Longwood also had several runners post personal best times, despite not qualifying for the finals, in the men's and women's 200m as well as the women's 400m hurdles. Ayden Stewart clocked a 22.07 on the men's side, which was seven hundredths faster than his previous best. Liliana Arevalo (25.95), Mayson Jenkins (26.52) and Taylor Samuels (26.60) all posted their fastest times in the women's 200m. Alyssa Pillow (1:14.39) and Jocelyn Zanca (1:14.76) added PR's in the women's 400m hurdles.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"The team executed day one perfectly," said Longwood Head Coach Brooke Craig. "The goal was to improve upon last year, and we've advanced more to the finals than we did last season, so mission accomplished. We are excited for tomorrow!"
 
FULL RESULTS:
 
Team Standings (Men)
Day 1 (4 of 21 events scored)
1. High Point: 59
2. Gardner-Webb: 27
3. USC Upstate: 25
4. UNC Asheville: 23
5. Charleston Southern: 14
6. Winthrop: 4
7. Longwood: 1
8. Radford: 0
 
Team Standings (Women)
Day 1 (3 of 21 events scored)
1. High Point: 39
2. Gardner-Webb: 26
3. USC Upstate: 24
4. Charleston Southern: 14
5. UNC Asheville: 8
6. Radford: 6
T7. Longwood: 0
T7. Winthrop: 0
 
Individual
Men's Long Jump (Final)
8. Kris Mickens: 6.62m (21' 8 ¾")
13. Matthew Fitzner: 6.21m (20' 4 ½")
 
Men's 200m (Prelim)
12. Ayden Stewart: 22.07
17. Cullen Carter: 22.37
18. Justin Goode: 22.70
 
Women's 200m (Prelim)
15. Liliana Arevalo: 25.95
21. Mayson Jenkins: 26.52
22. Taylor Samuels: 26.60
 
Men's 400m Hurdles (Prelim)
9. Tristan Duplissey: 1:01.37
10. Jacob Childs: 1:04.20
 
Women's 400m Hurdles (Prelim: q indicates qualified for finals)
6. Nyomi Rhodes: 1:05.41q
13. Alyssa Pillow: 1:14.39
14. Jocelyn Zanca: 1:14.76
 
Men's 1,500m (Prelim: q indicates qualified for finals)
12. Clinton Clancy: 4:03.95q
13. Andrew Hathaway: 4:05.21
15. Ben Goulet: 4:11.08
16. Christian Reid: 4:13.23
 
Women's 1,500m (Prelim: Q indicates won heat, q indicates qualified for finals)
6. Sophie Farley: 4:54.96Q
10. Sam Bolen: 4:57.19q
12. Lanie Grogg: 5:00.85q
13. Priscilla Keller: 5:01.70
15. Nicole Pinder: 5:04.95
16. Madison Davis: 5:12.17
 
Men's 10,000m Final
14. Ethan Pettyjohn: 33:34.15
15. Jordyn Dillavou: 34:24.78
16. Misha Wiley: 35:21.42
 
UP NEXT:
 
The second day of events begins on Tuesday with field events throughout the day. The track events begin in the evening. Live stats are available here: https://snapresults.snaptiming.com/meets/52979, and portions of the afternoon will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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