HIGH POINT — The High Point University Panthers are rewriting the record books once again. In a dominant display of athleticism and teamwork, HPU swept both the men's and women's titles at the Big South Conference Track and Field Championships, marking their sixth consecutive year of achieving this impressive double. The championships, held Monday through Wednesday at Vert Stadium, saw the Panthers' men's team amass 263.5 points, while the women's team secured a commanding victory with 269 points. Both teams comfortably outpaced second-place Charleston Southern, who finished with 167 points in the men's division and 247 in the women's.
Individual brilliance was on full display across the board. For the men, standout performances came from Camerin Williams (1:49.05 in the 800m), Gavin Stevens (3:45.67 in the 1500m), and Dominiq Northington (14.04 in the 110m hurdles). Field events saw Andrew Noblet dominate the javelin (64.67m), Shaun Thomas soar in the high jump (2.09m), Ricardo Montes de Oca clear 5.50m in the pole vault, and Justin Sluijter leap 7.48m in the long jump. Cole Wilson also impressed with a decathlon score of 7,777 points, while the men's 4x400m relay team clocked a winning time of 3:09.08.
On the women's side, Zamesha Myle was a force to be reckoned with, claiming victories in both the 100m (11.46) and 200m (23.11). Brianna Malone showcased her endurance by winning the 1500m (4:23.51) and the 5000m (17:01.01). In the field, Ashlyn Giles took the shot put (16.52m), Vanessa Kobialka dominated the discus (52.89m), Moriah Evans threw 47.53m in the javelin, and Emily Romano cleared 4.18m in the pole vault. The women's 4x100m relay team also added to the tally with a swift 44.60.
The awards ceremony was a celebration of HPU's depth. Cole Wilson was honored as the Most Outstanding Performer on the men's side, while Nigel Steenwinkel shared Co-Newcomer of the Year honors. Zamesha Myle earned Newcomer of the Year for the women. The coaching staffs for both teams were recognized as Coaching Staff of the Year, capping a season that has seen HPU claim 11 conference championships across 15 sports this school year.
In other HPU sports news, the women's golf team made history by competing in the NCAA's Chapel Hill regional as a team for the first time. Playing at UNC Finley Golf Club, the Panthers shot rounds of 300, 290, and 289 to finish ninth overall with a total of 879. Texas won the 12-team event with an 835, followed by North Carolina at 846, both advancing to the national tournament. Anna Howerton and Makayla Grubb tied for 32nd place with scores of 219, while Anais Arafi (221) and Eva Lye (218) also finished in the top 50.
Finally, HPU baseball's Dalton Olsovsky was awarded the Big South Conference's George A. Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence. The finance major from Keller, Texas, maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA and has already passed the Securities Industrial Essentials exam, setting a high standard for student-athletes across the league.