UNC Asheville Bulldogs excel during the Gamecock Opener
The UNC Asheville indoor track and field team made a strong impression at the 2025 Gamecock Opener, securing 25 top-10 finishes and breaking records. Notable performances included Nkosi Jeju setting a new school long jump record. Team members also excelled in the 1,000m and various field events. With impressive achievements and several personal bests, the Bulldogs are now looking forward to the upcoming Virginia Tech Invitational.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville indoor track and field team made quite a splash at the 2025 Gamecock Opener, held on January 11th in the charming city of Columbia, South Carolina. With a whopping 47 Bulldogs in attendance, including 24 men and 23 women, it was a day to remember for both seasoned athletes and newcomers, as 21 individuals made their collegiate indoor track debut.
The Bulldogs secured a fantastic total of 25 top-10 finishes, showcasing their hard work and dedication. This included an impressive 11 top-five finishes and an exciting five podium positions during the competitive event. The athletes not only performed well, but they also made their mark in the school’s history books!
One of the standout moments came from Nkosi Jeju, who soared to new heights in the men’s long jump. He set a new school record with a remarkable distance of 7.34 meters, surpassing the previous record of 7.08 meters set by Victor Mathuthu back in 2018. This electrifying performance is sure to light a fire in the hearts of his teammates as they strive for greatness.
In the men’s 1,000m event, Jaheem O’Hara capped off an impressive run, finishing third with a time of 2:32.79. His teammate Logan Russo was hot on his heels, crossing the finish line just behind him in fourth place at 2:33.08. Both athletes found their names on Asheville’s Top Performance List, taking the coveted No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
The women showed their mettle as well, with Isabel Richardson snagging third in the women’s 1,000m at 2:58.49, ranking her at No. 2 on the Top Performance List. Not to be outdone, Lily Kelpin and Ella Warren finished respectively in fifth and sixth places, with Kelpin notching a time of 3:09.63 (No. 3 on the list) and Warren completing the race at 3:12.10 (No. 4).
The Bulldogs didn’t just dominate in the 1,000m. Paul Kiprotich brought home a bronze medal in the men’s mile with a time of 4:18.17. On the women’s side, Ella Moore trailed close behind in the mile, placing fourth at 5:16.42 and improving her previous personal best by over two seconds. A special mention goes to Addi Corl, who made her collegiate track debut finishing third in the women’s 3,000m with a solid time of 10:22.96.
The excitement didn’t stop there! Chaniya Owens achieved a fifth-place finish in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 11.22 meters, while Madison Hannah shone in the weight throw, placing fifth with a personal record of 13.28 meters.
While there were personal bests galore, including for Shemarr Session in the men’s 60m hurdles and Madison Eaches in the women’s 60m hurdles, there were highlights in the sprints too. Jalen Anderson secured sixth in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.29, and Murielle Jeanite achieved a personal record of 26.45 in the women’s equivalent.
With such outstanding performances, the Bulldogs are geared up and ready to face their next challenge at the Virginia Tech Invitational taking place from January 17-18 in Blacksburg, Virginia. With the momentum of the Gamecock Opener to carry them forward, one can only wonder what thrilling records and podium finishes await them!
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