Pirates Gear Up for Excitement at the Duke Invitational
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina University (ECU) track and field team is set to make a splash at the Duke Invitational, running from Thursday, April 10 through Saturday, April 12 at the prestigious Morris Williams Stadium in Durham, N.C. Fans can stay updated with live results available through FlashResults as the action unfolds.
Thrilling Events Await
The three-day event promises an array of exhilarating competitions, kicking off on Thursday with the decathlon and heptathlon. Don’t miss the spirited men’s and women’s hammer throw, featuring standout performances from Alyssa Croke in her heptathlon debut. Joining her will be fellow athletes Jocelyn Pringle, Lydia Simmons, and A’riana Crumpler competing in the hammer throw, with Pringle aiming to become the fifth Pirate to launch a throw beyond the 60m barrier. After reeling off a personal best of 59.59m at last weekend’s meet in Florida, all eyes will be on her!
Friday: The Heart of the Competition
As the sun rises on Friday, expect a surge of adrenaline with the Norm Ogilvie Distance Carnival. Over a dozen Pirates will take to the track, tackling distances from 1,500m to 5,000m. The day will also encompass a variety of thrilling field events, alongside the preliminaries for the 100m, 100m hurdles, and 110m hurdles.
A Grand Finale on Saturday
The final day, Saturday, will be nothing short of spectacular, featuring the completion of field events and sprint races, culminating in the highly anticipated 4x400m relays at 4:35 p.m. Faith Spencer, coming off an indoor season where she narrowly missed the program record in the triple jump, is ready to soar to new heights, while Sarah Smith, looking to build upon her impressive indoor performance, will dazzle in the pole vault.
ECU Athletes to Watch
Women
- 100m: Andralyn Livingston
- 400m: Natalie Mial
- 800m: Madelyn Mead, Katrina Ford, Brianna Winsett, Eliza Greengrass
- 1,500m: Abrielle Schweitzer
- 5,000m: Hayley Whoolery, Bella Wood
- Pole Vault: Sarah Smith
Men
- 800m: Sam Dewar
- 1,500m: Alex Sawyer, Ryan Tarapchak
- 5,000m: Judah Lacroix
- Hammer: Brock Lasure
Recap of the Last Competitive Outing
In their most recent appearance, the Pirates competed at the Pepsi Florida Relays at the James G. Pressly Stadium, where Kelly Ufodiama lit up the track. Ufodiama broke records in the 200m, clocking the fastest time in ECU history, while also achieving remarkable results in the 100m, where she secured the fastest all-conditions time in program history.
Moreover, Jocelyn Pringle made headlines once again, solidifying her place in the record books with a mark of 59.59m in the women’s hammer throw, capably breaking into the top five of ECU’s all-time performers. With more records anticipated to tumble at the Duke Invitational, keep a close watch on this talented team as they prepare to make their mark on the national stage.
As the ECU Pirates gear up for what’s sure to be a thrilling Duke Invitational, the spotlight is on these remarkable student-athletes. Stay tuned for updates, and let’s cheer on our Pirates as they aim for glory!
