Durham, N.C.----Four Wingate University track and field student-athletes competed in the Duke Invitational Friday, hosted by the NCAA Division I Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Bulldog sophomore Steve Hammond (Warsaw, Ohio) set a new school record in the men’s 5000 meters with a time of 15:07.12.
 
Hammond placed 16th in the Section B race. He was the number two NCAA Division II finisher, behind West Virginia Wesleyan senior Nathan Edwards (15:04.54). Hammond defeated NCAA Division I runners from Belmont, Charlotte, Furman, UMBC and Toledo.
 
Wingate sophomore Astute Evans (High Point, N.C.) finished sixth in a very competitive triple jump field. Evans recorded a jump of 13.98 meters. He was the top NCAA Division II leaper, outdistancing three jumpers from powerhouse Grand Valley State (Mich.) and one jumper from South Atlantic Conference rival Anderson (S.C.).
 
Bulldog sophomore Taylor Varnadoe (Marietta, Ohio) claimed 18th place in the women’s 10,000 meters. She was number two on the NCAA Division II charts behind Seton Hill (Pa.) freshman Jeannie Bujdos. Varnadoe defeated two runners from Concord (W.Va.). On the men’s side, Bulldog senior Ryan Burris (New London, N.C.) did not finish the men’s 10,000 meter race.
 
Evans and his teammates will compete in the Terrier Relays Saturday. The annual meet is hosted by Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. Field events begin at 10 a.m. Track events start at 11:30 a.m.