Braves Fifth After Day One At UNCW Seahawk Invitational

WILMINGTON – Junior Pardon Ndhlovu collected his second-consecutive first place finish in the 5000m run at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational to highlight the performances by the UNCP men's track and field team on Friday in the first day of competition to help the team log 11 points for a fifth place standing.

Ndhlovu crossed the finish line with a time of 14:57.89 which was more than three seconds ahead of the second place finisher, while Zach Bayless finished 12th with a time of 16:46.71. Freshman Jeremy Judd debuted in his first collegiate meet as a Brave in the 5000m run with a time of 17:08.10 for a 14th place finish.

In the field events, AJ Davis Jr. posted a throw of 43.24m to place eighth in the hammer throw, while Eric Upchurch competed for the first time in the event and finished 13th with a mark of 37.45m. Davis improved on his throw by 1.35m in the invitational from last year.

The men's track and field team will continue competition at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

BRAVES RESULTS
Men's 5000m Run
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1  Pardon Ndhlovu  14:57.89
12  Zach Bayless  16:46.71
14  Jeremy Judd  17:08.10

Men's Hammer Throw
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8  AJ Davis Jr.  43.24m
13  Eric Upchurch  37.45m

Team Results
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1  UNC Wilmington  68 points
2  North Dakota  30 points
3  Campbell  22 points
4  Slippery Rock  12 points
5  UNC Pembroke  11 points
6  Livingstone  10 points
7  Shaw  2 points
8  Barton  1 point