LYNCHBURG, Va. - High Point University track and field takes third at the Big South Championship after finishing the two-day meet with 130 points. The Panther men recorded three new indoor records on Saturday beating the fourth-place finish the team recorded in 2018. Finishing second in the 60m and fourth in the long jump, Panther first-year Daniel Bogle earned conference Freshman of the Year for his performance, while setting a new PR in the former.

"The kids really stepped up all weekend and it's just going to make us hungrier for outdoors," said Head Coach Mike Esposito. "I can't say enough about my staff, and how they prepared these kids all fall. I wouldn't trade this staff for anyone."

Day two of the Big South Championships started with the final three events of the heptathlon, where the day belonged to junior Pablo Romero. Clearing 4.42m in the pole vault and running 8.58 in the hurdles, Romero clinched his third straight victory in the meet heptathlon with a new personal record of 2:43.67 in the 1000m. The Spaniard's point total of 5,231 sets a new Panther program record, giving him the top-three totals for HPU all-time.

Gabriel Stainback and freshman Stephen Binkley each set new heptathlon career bests, with totals of 4,370 and 3,451 respectively. Stainback took third overall in the pole vault after clearing a height of 4.22m, while Binkley ran personal bests of 3:04.88 in the 1000m and 9.94 in the 60m hurdles. 

After running a record setting 21.89 in Friday's 200m prelim, freshman Paul Gore ran even faster on day two with his time of 21.70. Gore finished third overall with his record-setting time, in addition to taking fourth in the 60m earlier in the day (6.93). Fellow freshman Daniel Bogle led the Panthers with a second-place finish in the 60m, tying the PR he set in qualification the previous day at 6.88.

Holding the Panther program record in the weight throw, junior thrower Britton Mann further improved on the 15.92m he threw earlier this year with a toss of 16.15m. Mann holds his school's best in both the weight throw and the shot put (15.21m), with his performance on Saturday finishing sixth overall. 

"That's the beauty of our sport, it's all very measured and to be the best that's ever been at the university is a neat thing," said Esposito. "I think the records are going to go pretty quickly here moving forward, that's what we want as we get better...Britton is Britton. He works his butt off in the weight room. He's gotten better every year and that's what you want."

Over in the mile, Hocine Bouchrak crossed the finish line at a pace of 4:09.99 to take third in the field. Bouchrak claimed a podium spot in the 3000m as well with his time of 8:37.74, while freshman Spencer Smucker set a new career best at 8:49.76.

Top Performers
Heptathlon
1.Pablo Romero (5,231) – SR & PR
2.Gabriel Stainback (4,730) – PR
6. Stephen Binkley (3,451) - PR

Hept. 1000m
1. Pablo Romero (2:43.67) – PR
2. Stephen Binkley (3:04.88) - PR

Hept. Hurdles
2. Pablo Romero (8.58)
6. Stephen Binkley (9.94) – PR

Hept. Pole Vault
2. Pablo Romero (4.42m)
3. Gabriel Stainback (4.22m)

60m Dash
2. Daniel Bogle (6.88) - Ties PR
4. Paul Gore (6.93)

200m
3. Paul Gore (21.87) - SR & PR

Mile
3. Hocine Bouchrak (4:09.99)

3000m
3. Hocine Bouchrak (8:37.74)
8. Spencer Smucker (8:49.76) - PR

Long Jump
4. Daniel Bogle (7.13m)

Weight Throw
6. Britton Mann (16.15m) - SR & PR