The High Point University men's and women's track and field teams returned to action on Saturday to finish its last weekend of competition ahead of the conference championships. Multiple Panthers posted personal bests between the Virginia Tech Challenge and the JDL DMR Invite.
 
Head coach Mike Esposito: "Chris Van Niekerk had a good series in the shot and is starting to get his mojo back. Klaus Mangeot had nice collegiate PR in the 3k and most importantly won his race. Our men's vaulters had an excellent weekend. Reid Holloway had a massive PR along with several of his teammates. Coach Houston does an amazing job with that group."
 
Van Niekerk finished as the runner-up in the shot put with a season-best mark of 17.87m while Alex Hoffman was fifth in the event with a mark of 15.21m. In the unseeded pole vault, Holloway won the event, clearing 4.90m for a new personal record while three others added new bests as well. Gabe Imery was second (4.80m), Adam Craig was third (4.70m), and Maxwell Robinson was fifth (4.60m).
 
At JDL, Mangeot ran to a seventh-place overall finish in the men's 3,000m run in 8:49.61, another personal best. Kyler Koning was eighth in 8:51.02 and Aiden Morrison was 12^th with a time of 8:54.13.
 
"For the women, Letizia Marsico broke her own school record in the shot. With a great day, she has a shot to win the shot at conference," said Esposito. "Amanda Scattergood had a massive PR in the weight throw as well. Coach Hall has our throwers rounding into great form at the perfect time."
 
Marsico bested her own indoor program record in the shot put with a heave of 14.99m in Blacksburg while Scattergood took fifth place in the weight throw at JDL, besting her previous personal record by over one meter (13.97m). Also at JDL, Madeline Quinn finished ninth in the women's mile in 5:16.53, a personal best.
 
"Conference week is coming up," Esposito stated. "As Neil Young sang, 'In the field of opportunity, its plowing time again.' This upcoming week is about maintenance and getting fully healthy."
 
Up Next: The Panther men and women will travel to Blacksburg again next weekend to compete at the Big South Indoor Championships. Both squads will look to avenge last season's runner-up finishes in Winston-Salem.