TRYON, N.C. – The High Point University men's track and field team traveled to the western part of the state to compete at the Tryon International Collegiate Opener hosted by Big South Conference foe UNC Asheville. The Panthers used this meet as practice for the Big South Indoor Championships at the end of February at the same facility.
 
High Point sent a select group of student-athletes to compete, including throwers, high jumpers, distance runners and combined events athletes.
 
In the throwing events, Caleb Barley placed first in both the weight throw and shot put. He first threw a personal best 16.63 meters in the weight throw before throwing a personal best in the shot put, 16.72m. Bradley Weiner and Prince Brockington also placed in the top five in the weight throw as Weiner tossed in a new personal best 16.56m throw.
 
In the high jump Shaun Thomas took home first place after clearing 2.08m for a season-best height.
 
In the men's distance events, HPU had six athletes place in the top 10 in the 3000m race led by Brendan Cook with an 8:33.33 time in his first meet of his collegiate season. Max Bonilla, Blake Nicholson, Luke Simpson, Simon Triezenburg and Jake Fiorillo were among Cook in the top 10.
 
AJ Miller placed second in the mile and clocked a 4:19.13 in his first-ever mile event of his career. Greg Abel competed in the 800m and clocked a 2:02.03 time for fifth place in his second meet as a freshman.
 
The combined events athletes competed in three events, including the 60m hurdles, the high jump and the shot put. Cole Wilson placed sixth in the shot put (14.45m), fifth in the high jump (1.93m) and sixth in the 60m hurdles (8.54). Nigel Steenwinkel placed second in the 60m hurdles (8.40), 13th in the high jump (1.73m) and 14th in the shot put (12.16m).
 
UP NEXT: High Point travels to Blacksburg, Virginia for the Virginia Tech Invitational on January 16-17.