Boston, Mass. – The High Point University women’s track and field team headed to Boston for the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University. It was an exciting day for a few distance runners, including Brianna Malone, Alyssa Hendrix, and Danielle Jensen.
Malone kicked off the competition in the women’s 3000m. She fought her way to the front in the last laps, finishing seventh in her heat with a time of 9:11.64. Notably, she competed against athletes from Villanova, Yale, Washington, and N.C. State. Malone was just two seconds shy of breaking her own school record.
In the women’s 5000m, both Hendrix and Jensen had strong performances. Hendrix scored a personal best of 16:22.04, cutting five seconds from her previous time. Jensen also stood out, achieving a new best at 16:30.82—30 seconds faster than her last personal record at the Big South Indoor Championships last year.
Recent trends in distance running show that more athletes are prioritizing personal records (PRs) in their early-season meets. In a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations, 70% of athletes indicated that breaking PRs is a key motivation for competing. It emphasizes how competitive and challenging the sport can be, inspiring athletes to push their limits.
The team’s next competition is set for January 10, 2026, at the Tryon Intercollegiate Opener in Tryon, N.C. This venue will also host the Big South Indoor Championships next month.
As they continue their season, fans are cheering them on with enthusiasm, showing their support on social media with hashtags like #GoHPU and #DefendTheTeam. Keep an eye on these athletes; each meet is a step toward their goals.
