University of Mount Olive senior Josh Faison emerged victorious in two individual events during the 2023 Trojan Relays contested on an overcast, breezy Saturday afternoon.
Faison claimed the top mark in the shot put — a throw of 16.52 meters, which occurred on his second attempt. The Smithfield-Selma High School alum secured the discus event with a mark of 55.39m on his final attempt.
Sprinter Justen Burnette seized the 200-meter dash in 20.86 seconds and crossed the finish line second in the 100 dash (10.55).
Alex Smith-Forte emerged as the top men’s hammer thrower with a distance of 55.69 meters (182 feet, 7 inches). Teammate Israel Long took second (52.22m) and Faison was fourth at 51.16m. He achieved the mark after four consecutive fouls.
UMO grabbed first in the women’s 4×4 relay with a time of 3:50.15. The foursome was comprised of Vinesha Briggs, Jaiden Moody, Channie Jefferson and Jaylin Reeves.
Jefferson won the 400 hurdles in 1:01.66.
Earlier in the day, the Trojan women wound up second behind UNC Wilmington in the 4×1 relay. The quartet of Jefferson, Reeves, Moody and Jamesha Howell posted a time of 45.83 seconds — a scant 0.16 seconds behind the Seahawks.
The Trojans’ Nate Bierly passed UNCW’s Luke Kiziah with two laps remaining to take second behind Conference Carolinas rival Lucas Nervo of UNC Pembroke in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. Bierly logged a time of 10:15.84.
Riley Willcox ended up third in the men’s 1,500 meters. Barton’s Deshawn Owens, a Charles B. Aycock alum, won the event. Another CBA alum, Joseph Mooneyham, collected fifth.
Owens holds the Wayne County record in the men’s 5k.
Returning national qualifier Mary Brigid Keck placed second in the hammer throw (52.99m) and third in discus competition (42.59m).
Other third-place finishers for the Trojans were Danielle Trimbur (women’s javelin), Zyshone White (men’s javelin), Demonte Lavender (men’s high jump), Trinity Fayer (women’s pole vault) and Andrew Nixon (men’s 400).
Approximately 200 athletes from Division I, II and III universities participated in the day-long event contested at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex.
UMO returns to action Apr 21-22 at the University of South Carolina.