Birmingham, Ala.----With 329 days between competitions, the Wingate University indoor track and field team looked anything but rusty in the KMS Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex Sunday (complete results). Thirty-two Bulldog student-athletes competed in the one-day extravaganza.
 
Wingate's last competition was the 2020 South Atlantic Conference indoor track and field championship meet Feb. 29-March 1 at the JDL Fast Track. The Bulldogs picked a big stage for their return, as the Birmingham CrossPlex will host the 2021 NCAA Division II national indoor track and field championships March 11-13.

Bulldog graduate student Tai Smith competed in the 2021 Magic City Elite Meet #1 at the same facility, racing in the 5000 meters. The University of Mount Olive transfer did not disappoint, shaving almost 29 seconds from the school-record with his NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 14:24.81. The previous record belonged to fellow WU graduate student Micah Kipchumba ('20), who ran a 14:53.41 5000 meters at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet in February of 2020.
 
What They Are Saying
 
Wingate Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Matt Van Lierop: "This is a solid start to our indoor season (regardless of Covid)…we are in a much better place than we were at the same time last year. We are looking forward to seeing what else develops through the coming weeks…we cannot wait to see where we eventually end up in May."
 
Wingate senior thrower Tucker Mullis (Monroe, N.C.): "It is a blessing to be back in the ring competing and I definitely want to give a special thanks to everyone who has put in the effort and taken the precautionary measures to make this season possible. After being out of the ring for nearly a year, it was very exciting to PR in the weight throw. I thought I threw a good opener in shot put as well."
 
"The best part was being able to watch my fellow throwers have an amazing day, showcasing their hard work. It is going to be a great year and this meet was only the beginning. Of course, I give all glory to God for blessing me with the ability to throw and another special thanks to assistant coach Billy Edwards ('20) for all of the hard work he puts in and the time and effort he gives towards coaching us. If Covid has taught me anything, it is to cherish every moment and opportunity because you never know when you may get another."
 
Wingate sophomore thrower Danielle Crawford (Buena Vista, Va.): "My teammates and I have been working very hard in our offseason…it was really great to see this work pay off today. Coach Billy Edwards has done a wonderful job teaching and inspiring all of us in and out of the ring. For us to be back in the competition setting today felt unfamiliar and comforting at the same time. In summary, today was a great season opener…I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season holds for my teammates and I!" 
 
KMS Notes
 
WU Men's Track and Field
 
- Tucker Mullis hit a personal-best in the weight throw at 15.22 meters, giving him the number seven spot on Wingate's all-time list
 
- Gerhardus Bezuidenhout cracked the WU top 10 (number nine) with his 1:59.96 time in the 800 meters, a collegiate indoor-best
 
- Mark Burks had a big collegiate debut, posting a collegiate indoor-best time of 50.85 in the 400 meters, good for number three on Wingate's all-time charts
 
- Joshua Tiller ran a personal-best time of 51.70 in the 400 meters, placing him in the number eight slot on Wingate's all-time list
 
- Jake Tyndale found his way to number 10 on Wingate's 800 meters all-time chart with his collegiate indoor-best time of 2:00.47

- Bulldog veterans Thomas Nulty (200 meter dash, 60 meter hurdles) and Darius Weathers (long and triple jumps) competed in two events each
 
- Nulty posted a PR in the 200 meters with his time of 23.74
 
WU Women's Track and Field
 
- Danielle Crawford broke her own school record in the shot put with a personal best of 13.30 meters
 
- Crawford posted a personal-best mark in the weight throw at 14.19 meters, good for sixth place on the WU all-time charts
 
- Tori Robinson recorded a collegiate indoor personal best of 1:01.27 in the 400 meters, vaulting her to sixth on Wingate's all-time list
 
- Tamerah Sebree secured a spot in the 60 meter dash semifinals with her time of 7.81
 
- Sebree was a member of Wingate's first All-American relay team, helping the Bulldogs collect first team laurels in the 4x100 event at the 2018 NCAA outdoor nationals

- Sophomore Jasmine Dunlap (60 meter hurdles, 200 meter dash) and freshman Emilie Edouard (60 and 200 meter dash) competed in two events each
 
- Dunlap had WU's top 60 meter hurdles time of 10.59, while Edouard's 200 meter dash time of 27.56 led the Bulldog pack
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 36 undergraduate majors as well as six master's and four doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is the leading healthcare education provider in western North Carolina, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Athletes on Wingate's 23 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.