Banner Elk, NC- Erskine sent nine runners to compete in the inaugural Conference Carolinas Championship Track meet this past weekend. The Fleet were well represented as they posted several top finishes.
The day began with the 1500m where Joseph Sell and Chance Ellison finished 4th and 6th respectively with times of 4:16.26 and 4:24.12. The 800m was to follow quickly and these two juniors were back on the starting line with freshman Zach Bayless. The pace went quickly through the 200m mark and Sell moved into second place. Ellison and Bayless settled into the back of the back, but began to make their move with one lap to go. Ellison was able to move all the way to 4th and finish in 2:03.75 while Bayless finished 10th in 2:08.73. Sell held second place for the entire race and finished in 1:59.27.
Next up was the women’s 5000m. The longer events of the day proved to be very challenging due to the thinner air as the track was nestled at 3,850 feet above sea level. But the girls ran well. Katie Henderson ran a new personal best of 20:54.74 for a 7th place available oxygen. Liz Loftis came in next for the Fleet in 21:58.25 for an 8th place finish. Sarah Wittke finished a tough fought race in 24:00.62.
The men’s 5000m was equally difficult. Chas Culberson led the way for Erskine through the 12.5 laps and finished in 17:01.19 for 7th place. Matt Diaz finished next in 18:12.96 and Robert McCarthy rolled in at 19:05.9.
Erskine will finish the spring season this coming weekend. Ellison, Sell, and Bayless will be heading to the NCAA II Southeast Regional meet in Hickory, NC to compete in the 1500m and 800m while the rest of the team heads to a local road race.