Thrilling Highlights from the Pirates’ 11th Annual Bill Carson Invitational at East Carolina University Athletics

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina track and field team shone brightly at the 11th Annual Bill Carson Invitational held at Bate Foundation Track & Field Facility. The Pirates took home an impressive ten event wins over the two-day event.

This year, the competition strayed from its traditional format by not keeping overall team scores. However, that didn’t stop the athletes from showcasing their talents.

On Friday’s opening day, the Pirates quickly made their presence known with four event wins. Shakiel Dacres dominated the men’s discus, throwing 53.16m (174-5), which not only secured his victory but also solidified his spot as sixth in the program’s history. Meanwhile, Jocelyn Pringle achieved a personal best of 58.93m (193-4) in the women’s hammer throw, ranking her seventh historically for ECU. The team swept the women’s hammer, with Lydia Simmons and A’riana Cumpler taking second and third places, respectively.

In the jumps, Jared Harrell made a stunning return, winning the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.16m (23-6). Emma Hall also made headlines by winning the 400m hurdles in 1:00.81, placing her eighth among East Carolina’s all-time best.

The success continued on Saturday, with the team claiming six more victories. Brandon Gayle stood out with his weight throw of 17.07m (56-0), which ranks fourth in ECU history, although it wasn’t quite enough for first place. Hall continued her strong performance by hitting a program top-10 mark in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.79 seconds, ranking her ninth historically.

Other triumphs included Faith Spencer’s winning triple jump of 12.62m (41-0.5), placing her fifth all-time in that event. Kaylee McCullough and Erin Pope finished first and second in the 5,000m race, with McCullough clocking 17:29.46. Similarly, Amaya Pleas and Natalie Mial swept the top spots in the 400m, as Pleas earned a personal record of 56.08 seconds.

To wrap up the meet, Pleas joined teammates Kamoy Campbell, Hall, and Kailey Elliott in winning the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:42.97. On the men’s side, Alex Sawyer took the victory in the 800m in 1:53.80, marking his return to competition after excelling in the mile at conference championships.

In another highlight, Sarah Smith cleared 3.53m (11-7) in the pole vault, claiming her second consecutive win at this invitational.

As the Pirates gear up for their next challenge at the Florida Relays on April 4-5, this performance highlights not just individual achievements but also how they contribute to the rich history of the program. Track and field events like this one showcase athletic growth, fostering both personal bests and a spirit of camaraderie among the athletes.

For more information on NCAA track rankings and athlete performances, you can check out the NCAA website.

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