ASHEVILLE, N.C. (April 13, 2024) – Maya Murchison, Frania Romero-Barba and Emily Coonce all won gold medals as ETSU men's and women's track and field totaled five podium finishes on Saturday at the Asheville Bulldog Invite from the newly renovated Karl Straus Track.
 
This marked the first career gold medals (outdoor season) for the trio of Buccaneers as Murchison won the high jump, Romero-Barba took home the top spot in the pole vault and Coonce – who is also on the triathlon team – won the 5000m.
 
Murchison, who has one indoor gold medal in the high jump, tied a personal best with a leap of 1.65m. The Buccaneer high jumper was the only competitor in the 15-person field to clear that height.
 
Staying on the field, Romero-Barba joined her sister as Buccaneers to win gold in the pole vault this season. A week after seeing Diana Romero-Barba take the top spot at the Flames Invitational, Frania won her first collegiate gold after clearing a personal best 3.45m.
 
On the track, Coonce was making her outdoor debut at the collegiate level and she didn't waste any time putting together a medal performance as she won the 5000m with a time of 18:20.52. Overall, ETSU's triathlon runners earned four of the top eight spots and six of the top 11 in the event.
 
Joining the Buccaneer trio with podium finishes on Saturday were Malgorzata Andersohn and Malachi Thomas.
 
Andersohn, who just made the move from volleyball to track and field, earned her first collegiate podium finish as she won silver in the javelin with a personal best mark of 38.23m, coming on her fifth attempt.
 
One week after Thomas made his season debut – where he won bronze in the high jump – the Chilhowie, Va. native had a repeat performance in Asheville. Thomas placed third on Saturday after clearing 1.95m.
 
The Bucs had several other athletes set personal bests on Saturday.
 
In the women's 100m, Molly Rhudy ran her fastest time of 12.58, placing her eighth overall. In the men's 100m, Makai Williams ran a wind-aided 12.56 en route to finishing seventh. Alex Magnuson made his collegiate debut in the 200m (22.86) and 400m (52.87). In the women's 200m, Gabby Walker and Emily Lindsey each set PRs. Walker finished sixth in 25.26, while Lindsey clocked in at 25.72 (10th place). In the middle distances, Melina Summey, Ashlynn Roy and Sarah Bayes each set PRs in the 800m and 1500m. In the field, Tyla Nicholson set PRs in the shot put (10.17m, 10th) and discus (38.66m, 8th).
 
In the throws, Logan Wagner had a season-best showing in the discus where he finished sixth with a mark of 44.05m. On the women's side, Anna Moore placed fifth in the shot put (11.25m), while she placed sixth in the hammer on Friday night with a distance of 41.90.
 
For a full list of results, click here.
 
ETSU is back in action next weekend as a group of Bucs will compete at the Wake Forest Invite (April 19) and others will compete at the Catamount Classic (April 19-20).
 
For more information about ETSU track and field, visit ETSUBucs.com.