WINSTON SALEM, N.C.--The High Point University women's track and field team competed at the JDL College Team Challenge on Thursday night (Feb. 13). Mackenzie Horn set a new JDL College Team Challenge meet record with a mark of 4.07m in the pole vault earning her first place. Nyile Facey took home first place in the women's 60m hurdles with a time of 8.78. 

"The challenge on the bus was that we wanted to treat this more like a business trip and bring a lot more energy," said Associate Head Coach Scott Hall. "Talking to Espo when he called earlier in the day, he wanted to see two things, a lot of excitement and energy out there when we competed and then some really good effort. For the most part, I thought that was pretty good today we had some young kids win heats, place near the top in their events and that's positive. It is a big step forward compared to where they were a week ago at this time. That is really what the important thing is at this stage of the game. Some of these athletes won't compete at the conference championships, some of them will. So, we need to use this as a stepping stone to bigger and better things in the next couple of weeks. "

Facey was one of two Panthers to finish first in her event on Thursday night. Facey won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.78. Madison Reynolds finished third overall and won her heat with a time of 9.17. Anika Weisbrod finished third in her heat and fifth overall with a time of 9.22.

Alicia Dawson, Reynolds, and Weisbrod all recorded 1.50m in the high jump. Dawson and Weisbrod cleared the bar on the first try and finished tied for fourth. Reynolds finished sixth.

In the women's 400m Leah Bolden recorded a podium finish with a time of 58.26 earning Bolden second place. Taylor Arthur won her heat in the 400 with a time of 59.56, she finished fourth overall.

HPU swept in the pole vault claiming first, second, and third. Mackenzie Horn had a standout performance as she set a new JDL College Team Challenge meet record with a mark of 4.07m. Nathalie Elliott finished second with a mark of 3.92m and Rachel Berndsen finished.

We were happy to go one, two three, on the women's side, said Scott Houston pole vault coach. "Mackenzie set a season-best and collegiate-best at 4.07 so she is right back in the mix to take the shots at some national qualifying bars. Rachel had a season-best at 3.62 which her lifetime best is 3.65 so 3 centimeters just underneath that, really good jumping and she had some really good attempts at the next bar again to take third at this meet, we are happy to sweep.

Up next the Panthers have distance runners competing at the Music City Challenge while HPU will also be in Lynchburg, Va. for the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.

Top Performers

Women's 60m Hurdles

1 Nyile Facey (8.78)

3 Madison Reynolds (9.17) Won her heat

5 Anika Weisbrod (9.22)

Women's 400m

2 Leah Bolden (58.26)

4 Taylor Arthur (59.56) Won her heat

High Jump

4 Anika Weisbrod (1.50m)

4 Alicia Dawson (1.50m)

6 Madison Reynolds (1.50m)

Pole Vault

1 Mackenzie Horn (4.07m) JDL COLLEGE TEAM CHALLENGE MEET RECORD

2 Nathalie Elliott (3.92m)

3 Rachel Berndsen (3.62m)

#GoHPU