JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 19, 2024) – A record-setting performance from Diana Romero-Barba highlighted Friday's opening day of competition at the Catamount Classic, hosted at the Catamount Athletic Complex on the campus of Western Carolina University.
 
A BROKEN RECORD
Friday's competition saw Diana Romero-Barba set the ETSU pole vault record en route to claiming the meet title Friday. Romero-Barba's leap of 3.96m surpassed Buccaneer great Ashley Kessler's mark of 3.95m, set in 2014.
 
Romero-Barba's performance improved upon her previous personal mark best of 3.85m, set at the Flames Invitational – where she also took the meet title. The Buccaneer pole vaulter's effort also solidified her spot atop of the SoCon rankings heading into championship season.
 
HOWARD ALSO WINS GOLD
With Romero-Barba winning gold on the field, Rebekah Howard captured gold on the track as she won the 1500m with a time of 4:39.78. This marked Howard's first collegiate win in the 1500m.
 
MORE PODIUM FINISHES
Joining Romero-Barba and Howard with podium performances on Friday were Bonita Gray (1500m, 2nd – 4:43.18), Luke Young (1500m, 3rd – 3:54.03), Sophie Beach (5000m, 2nd – 18:20.57), Xian Campbell (5000m, 2nd – 15:00.46), Abdul Jaber (5000m, 3rd – 15:22.06) and Malgorzata Andersohn (javelin, 3rd – 34.98m).
 
IN THE FIELD
Frania-Romero Barba and Anna Moore earned fourth-place finishes in their respective event. Frania, the sister of Diana, cleared 3.40m in the pole vault and Moore tossed 44.63m in the women's hammer.
 
On the men's side, Brent Bell posted the top finish for the Bucs, placing sixth in the hammer with a throw of 47.83m.
 
IN WINSTON-SALEM
Staying in the Tar Heel state, five Buccaneers made the trip to Winston-Salem to compete in the Wake Forest Invite.
 
Myles Stoots and Miguel Parrilla both set season bests in their respective events. Stoots ran 9:01.10 in the steeplechase, while Parrilla crossed the line in 1:49.90 in the 800m. Stoots turned in his second-fastest time in the event, while Parrilla registered his third-fastest mark in the 800m.
 
DAY 2
·      The Buccaneers will complete competition in Cullowhee on Saturday at Noon when Ijeoma Chukwu-Amaechi, Anna Moore and Tyla Nicholson take the ring for the Discus Throw.
 
·      Gabby Walker will be competing in the women's 100m finals Saturday afternoon. Walker enters the final section seeded seventh after running 12.31 in the preliminaries.
 
·      Malachi Thomas is set to take the high jump apron at 2:15 p.m. Thomas enters the competition as the highest seed in the event.
 
For more information on Buccaneer track and field, visit ETSUBucs.com.