UNCG track teams open season at Niswonger Invitational

JOHNSON CITY, TN – Charles Jones broke the school indoor triple jump record to highlight UNC Greensboro’s opening weekend action at the Niswonger Invitiational Indoor Track Meet.

Jones, who became the first UNCG athlete to qualify for the National Outdoor Championships, broke the school indoor record by more than a meter over the weekend, recording a mark of 15.04 meters. He also placed third in the unseeded long jump, leaping 6.88 meters. That fell just shy of the school mark of 6.90 meters, which Jones set at last year’s Southern Conference Championships.

On the women’s side, Jess Weber and Kathy Oldham recorded Top 10 finishes in the mile. Weber crossed the line ninth in 5:29.01, while Oldham finished 10th in 5:29.83.

Also recording top 10 finishes on the men’s side were Xavier Rutz, Jeff Williams and Nick Vaccaro. Williams finished 10th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.20, while Vaccaro was 10th in the 3000 meters unseeded. Vaccaro crossed the line in a personal best 8:52.78. Rutz finished fourth in the 5000 meters, recording a personal best time of 15:12.76.

“This was a good opener for us,” said UNCG coach Rachelle Roberts. “It shows where we are fitness wise and what we need to work on for the next couple of meets.  We had four athletes run personal records including a school record and we look for more of those throughout the season.”

UNCG returns to action next week at the UNC Invitational in Chapel Hill.

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UNCG Results:

Women's Results

1 Mile: 9. Jess Weber, 5:29.01; 10. Kathy Oldham, 5:29.83; 25. Tricia O'Connell 5:45.54; 26. Erin Lord 5:46.32

5000 Meters: 11. Heidi Pinkerton 19:31.00; 22. Stephanie Maltais 20:43.80

Men's Results

800 Meters: 10. Jeff Williams 1:56.20

800 Meters (unseeded): 41. Chris Cousins 2:12.00

3000 Meters (unseeded): 10. Nicolas Vaccaro 8:52.78; 25. Ryan Rodd 9:13.93

5000 Meters: 4. Xavier Rutz 15:12.76; 16. Keith Gruchacz 15:47.49; 20. Josh Wyatt 16:00.65

Long Jump (unseeded): 3. Charles Jones 6.88 m (22-07); 16. Ramon Jobson-Brown 6.17 m (20-03)

Triple Jump: 3. Charles Jones 15.04 m (49-4.25); Ramon Jobson-Brown ND (FOUL)

Weight Throw: Brandon Spencer ND (FOUL)