EUGENE, Ore. – High Point University's Cole Wilson of the men's track and field team delivered the strongest decathlon of his career at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, closing out the two-day competition with multiple personal bests and a national finish in ninth place. Wilson registered 7,855 points for a new personal best, HPU program record and a Big South Conference record which had been held since 2008. Along with Wilson, Emily Romano of the women's track and field team earned All-American Honorable Mention in the women's pole vault after placing 18th overall.
Wilson opened the first day with a steady series of performances that kept him in contention throughout the afternoon. He recorded a 15th-place finish in the 100m, followed by 13th in the long jump, 4th in the shot put with a personal best 14.69m throw, 16th in the high jump with a personal best 1.95m, and 15th in the 400m with a season-best 49.74 time., positioning himself in ninth overall at the end of the first day.
Day two brought another stretch of composed, high-level efforts. Wilson finished 13th in the 110m hurdles, then produced a 44.65 meter personal best in the discus, one of the strongest throws of his career. He followed with a 4.71m clearance in the pole vault, maintaining his momentum into the final two events. Wilson then added a 53.66m personal best throw in the javelin, setting up a decisive finish in the 1500m.
He closed the decathlon with a sixth-place finish in the 1500m, running 4:31.47, another personal best that lifted his final score to 7,855 points, the highest total of his career. The performance earned him Second Team All-American honors and solidified his place among the top decathletes in the nation. His 7,855 points is the most points scored at an NCAA Championship from a ninth place contestant.
"To say I'm proud of Cole is an understatement," Assistant Coach Dr. Hillary Holmes exclaimed. "He competed with heart and represented High Point University in the best way we could ask. One spot out of First Team All-American stings in the moment, but everything Cole has accomplished during his time here easily places higher. He is the Big South Record Holder, School Record Holder, earned over 1000 point improvement, and is an incredible role model. To coach Cole has been a huge honor for all of us!!!"
Romano advanced to Eugene after one of the most dramatic qualifying moments at the NCAA East Regional Championships. Clean through 4.22 meters, she earned her place in the national field by surviving a multi-round jump off for the final qualifying position. Her composure at First Rounds placed her among the top vaulters in the country and sent her to the championship stage.
In Eugene, Romano opened her series with a confident clearance at 4.09m to secure an 18th place national finish. The result capped a season defined by steady progress, competitive maturity, and a return to form after early season setbacks. Her performance added another All-American honor to High Point's growing postseason résumé and highlighted the continued strength of the Panthers' women's vault group.
"Great experience for Emily to make it to the national championships," Assistant Coach Scott Houston stated. "Unfortunately, Emily has been dealing with nagging injuries since April, but she persevered to get through to qualify to this championship. Emily qualifying as a sophomore will only benefit her for her future."
High Point will be represented again on Saturday, June 13 when Mya Hines competes in the women's high jump at 7:30 P.M. ET.
#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam
