Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University graduate student Jacob Willis broke the school record in the men's 3000-meter Steeplechase Saturday, highlighting another big day for the South Atlantic Conference members. The Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs sent track and field student-athletes to the adidas Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. and the Raleigh Relays at N.C. State.
 
In Raleigh, Willis posted an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time of 9:10.19. His time is the best in the SAC this season. In fact, the Bulldogs hold the top four 3000-meter Steeplechase times on the league charts this season (Willis, Soheil Boufrizi, Brent Surratt and Dalton Miles).
 
Bulldog freshman Jakob Rettschlag ran a 1:54.02 time in the Raleigh Relays men's 800 meters, leapfrogging to number two on the Wingate career list. In Rock Hill, throwers Danielle Crawford and Carly Platt collectively made three moves up the Bulldog ladder.
 
Newcomer Crawford continues her solid first WU season, as she competed in the shot put (12.58 meters) and the discus (36.45 meters). Crawford lands in second (shot put) and sixth (discus) on the Wingate career charts. A junior, Platt moves to number five on the WU shot put list with her Saturday mark of 12.28 meters.
 
What They Are Saying
 
Wingate graduate student distance specialist Jacob Willis: "Coaches Matt and Pol divided the team to participate in two separate meets in two different states. This weekend was a great opportunity to compete in our race-specific events at great levels. A few of my teammates were able to hit provisional times in the 10,000 meters. I hit an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 3000-meter Steeplechase."
 
"Today's steeple was a bit unorthodox, but full of great positives and learning points. I was able to race against a ton of tough competition, identify areas I need to improve and come away with the school record. I'm super proud of all my teammates as we had PRs and debuts across the board. We had two huge meets for us and a massive stepping stone in the outdoor process. The best is yet to come."
 
Wingate junior thrower Carly Platt: "Today we had our second outdoor meet of the season…and it was what all of us had been missing. It was devastating when our season got canceled last year, due to the pandemic. I am more thankful than ever that I've been given the opportunity to be in the sun, throw the implements I love, see familiar faces and even wrestle with the gnats again."
 
"This season, I am looking forward to having fun with my teammates and being able to enjoy the experiences given to me. Finally, being able to throw the discus again has solidified that it is going to be a great outdoor season for WUTF…and I'm happy to be a part of it!"
 
Just the facts...Wingate top 10 outdoor performances Saturday
 
MEN (Raleigh unless noted)
Jackson Ramey, Discus 39.73m #8 (Winthrop)
Jakob Rettschlag, 800m 1:54.02 #2
Jacob Willis, Steeplechase 9:10.19 (SR, NCAA)
 
WOMEN (Winthrop)
Danielle Crawford, Discus 36.45m #6
Danielle Crawford, Shot Put 12.58m #2
Jasmine Dunlap, 400m Hurdles 1:07.89 #5
Carly Platt, Shot Put 12.28m #5
Tori Robinson, 400m 58.91 #8
 
Saturday's Winthrop highlights (men)
 
- Boufrizi, Surratt and Henning Kunze were fifth, sixth and eighth in the 1500 meters
 
--Boufrizi was the top D2 finisher with his time of 4:06.16
 
- Surratt and Kunze posted times of 4:06.85 and 4:07.33, respectively
 
- Thomas Nulty and Dennis Trukawka finished third (44.85 meters) and fourth (44.67 meters), respectively, in the javelin
 
Saturday's Winthrop highlights (women)
 
- Crawford and Platt were fifth (12.58 meters) and sixth (12.28 meters) in the shot put
 
- Only one NCAA Division competitor did better Saturday (winner Elizabeth Weimer from Ashland, 12.90 meters)
 
- Ennessey Sorrells and Nia Portis finished third (10.70 meters) and fourth (10.49 meters) in the triple jump
 
- Tamerah Sebree claimed her second silver medal in as many days, taking the second place in the 100-meter dash with her time of 12.18
 
- Tori Robinson was seventh in the 400 meters with her time of 58.91
 
- Jasmine Dunlap was eighth in the 400-meter hurdles with her time of 1:07.89
 
- Robinson and Dunlap were joined by Catherine Bradsher and Caroline Saetre in the 400-meter relay
 
- The Bulldogs were the top non-Division I finisher, taking fourth place with a time of 4:04.53
 
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.
 
KEY
 
NCAA: NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark
SR: school record