Charlotte, N.C.----Sixty-two Wingate University outdoor track and field student-athletes competed in the Charlotte 49er Classic inside the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center Friday and Saturday. The annual event served as the Bulldogs' outdoor opener for the '26 season.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate men's track and field junior Zuri Anderson
 
This weekend, I competed in the men's long jump and earned a 6.92-meter, personal-best mark. I finished eighth out of approximately 40 jumpers. This was a great competition and the atmosphere was amazing. I'd been kind of bummed out recently as I didn't perform like I wanted to during my indoor season due in large part to some nagging pains."
 
"During the Charlotte 49er Classic, I gained some confidence back…thanks to the grace of God. With the way I'm feeling and with some new things that I've learned, I really do think I can finally have some great jumps that can put me on the national level. We'll just have to wait and see! Finally, I would like to give teammate Assiya El Hafyan a huge shoutout for a tremendous meet."
 
Wingate women's track and field junior Assiya El Hafyan
 
"I'm really happy with how this weekend went at the Charlotte 49er Classic. Clearing 1.73 meters is my best mark so far in the USA…and it's a great way to open my outdoor season. I know I'm capable of jumping higher, but this result shows that I'm on the right track and going in the right direction."
 
"Looking ahead, I'm focused on continuing to improve and taking the season one step at a time. My goal is to qualify for NCAAs…and I truly believe my best performances are still ahead of me. When the time comes, I'm confident I can compete for a strong placement. This meet was a great starting point. I'm excited to keep progressing from here."
 
Wingate University 
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five 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, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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