Two UNCW seniors set sights on NCAA Track Championship meet later this month
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — UNCW Chancellor Zito Sarterelli gave a long term thumbs up to the Seahawk track and field program last year.
Until he did that here was a lot of uncertainty, but the future for the team appears to be bright again and two track seniors have their sights set on the NCAA Championship meet later this month in Jacksonville, Florida. “It is important for us to show that we’re still competitive,” UNCW track and field coach Layne Schwier told WWAY on Thursday. “We took a big hit after everything we went through last year, but we’ve been able to keep the program alive and we’re highlighting some deserving seniors.”
Yes, Layne Schwier’s UNCW Seahawk track and field team is still alive even though the program was cut more than a year ago despite loads of success through the years. Ten Seahawks recently earned all-CAA honors at the conference meet. On top of that, two have their sights set on the upcoming NCAA Division One Track & Field Championship.
Senior Trey Jones placed second in the long jump at the CAA Championship. Jones won the triple jump at the CAA Championship. Jones is excited about his upcoming trip to the NCAA’s in order to take part in an event that he clearly loves. “You just imagine from a building to another building. It’s kinda like that. You just run as fast as you can, fast, fast, fast and take off and see if you make it and how deep you make it in the pit that’s fun.”
UNCW senior Meredith Bozzi has not earned a spot in the NCAA’s yet, but it does look promising. Regardless, she won the CAA 800 meters last week. In fact she’s the first Seahawk to have CAA bragging rights in the 800. “It’s la tough race, but it’s one of the things I love about it,” Bozzi said. “You’re going pretty close to full speed for two laps. It’s a long sprint.” Meredith says he senior season has been like a movie ending, but she’s quick to note her UNCW track career nearly ended prematurely. “We were cut officially and we fought and came back and that was awesome.”
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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — Ten Seahawks, including individual champions Trey Jones and Meredith Bozzi, earned All-Conference recognition in the recently completed Colonial Athletic Association Track & Field Championships at Elon’s Jerry and Jeanne Robertson Track & Field Complex.
The Seahawks finished third in the men’s meet and eighth on the women’s side, but featured several outstanding individual efforts in the competition.
“We knew going into the meet that our team results weren’t going to be great, so we were hoping to come away with several All-CAA performances and a few individual champions,” said Layne Schwier, UNCW’s interim head coach. “Our focus was on individual results.”
The versatile Jones topped the Seahawks with three All-CAA awards in the Triple Jump (first), Long Jump (second) and 4×100 Relay (second).
“Trey was disappointed with his second place finish in the Long Jump on Friday,” said Schwier. “He was extra motivated on Saturday to get the gold medal he’s been chasing for several years.”
Jones edged teammate Moe Holmes on his final attempt in the Triple Jump, leaping 47-07 for the gold. The Greensboro, N.C., product sits in 20th place in the Long Jump on the NCAA Division East Outdoor Qualifying List and should earn a spot at the NCAA Championships First Round Meet in Jacksonville, Fla., in three weeks.
Bozzi, meanwhile, became the first UNCW woman to win the 800 Meters with a time of 2:09.79, beating out Northeastern’s Corrine Myers at 2:11.44. The Basking Ridge, N.J., runner remains on the NCAA bubble and will have to wait until more meets are completed before learning her fate. She owns the 53rd best time in the 800 Meters and still has an excellent chance of making the required top-48 after final declarations on May 19.
Schwier said, “It was fitting that both Trey and Meredith came away with wins. Meredith went into the meet as the top seed and wanted the victory badly after getting edged at the line last year. She trained hard all year, took the race out hard and dared anyone to come get her. She ran away with it this year.”
UNCW All-CAA Performances | 2016 CAA Championships | May 6-7, 2016 | Elon, N.C.
Women
Meredith Bozzi 800 Meters (1) 2:09.79
Men
Moe Holmes 4×100 Relay (2) 42.14
Triple Jump (2) 46-11.50
Trey Jones 4×100 Relay (2) 42.14
Triple Jump (1) 47-07.00
Long Jump (2) 23-11.50
Rian Fowler 4×100 Relay (2) 42.14
Tim McNeill 4×100 Relay (2) 42.14
Nathan Rodgers 4×400 Relay (3) 3:30.73
Jamar Collins-Hall 4×400 Relay (3) 3:30.73
Zach Nifong 4×400 Relay (3) 3:30.73
Will Bunch 4×400 Relay (3) 3:30.73
Chase Johanson High Jump (2) 6-04.00
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