High Point, N.C. - Senior Carson Sears won his first individual event of the season, taking 1st place honors in the men's hammer throw to lead Gardner-Webb's track & field teams at the Vertklasse Meeting, hosted by High Point University.

In addition to Sears' 1st place finish, Gardner-Webb got several top-flight performances, including a pair of 3rd place finishes from its women's relays.

Gardner-Webb achieved a 3rd place finish in the women's 4x100 m relay, getting fast runs from the quartet of Jordan Davis, Meredith Byl, Kayin Mujahid, and Sarah Perkins for a combined time of 48.05.

The Runnin' Bulldog women also achieved a 3rd place showing in the women's 4x400 m relay. Davis, Nicole Saxton, Mujahid, and Perkins teamed up to finish in 3:52.14.

Also on the women's side, freshman Jenna Ford (Wasilla, Alaska) turned in a 12th place showing in the women's 5000 m run, racing to a time of 19:06.74 in the event.

In the women's 3000 m steeplechase, sophomore Claire Cates (Hillsborough, N.C.) raced to a time of 12:37.90, good for 8th place in the event.

Sophomore Kaylan Myers (Lexington, N.C.) led GWU in the women's high jump in High Point over the weekend, clearing the 1.55 m mark to place 13th in the event.

Two Gardner-Webb women cleared the bar at 3.57 m in the women's pole vault. Freshman Elise Moffatt (Kennesaw, Ga.) as well as sophomore Megan Melton (Riverside, Calif.) topped 3.57 m in the event, and sophomore Kailey Robinson (Connelly Springs, N.C.) cleared 3.27 m to give GWU three Top 10 finishers in the event.

In the women's shot put, freshman Sarah Mitchell (Roswell, Ga.) led the way with a 6th place finish and distance of 13.14 m, and senior Stephanie Hamilton (Blair, Neb.) added an 11th place showing after throwing 11.87 m in a strong event for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb's throwers continued to impress in the women's discus throw, putting four student-athletes in the Top 15 of the event. Senior Jasmine Miles (Amelia, Va.) led the way with a 4th place finish (42.01 m), Mitchell placed 6th (40.84 m), Hamilton was 8th (38.71 m) and senior Kyntoya Hansford (Miami, Fla.) finished 13th (34.54 m).

Mitchell secured her third Top 8 finish of the weekend in the women's hammer throw, garnering 6th place thanks to a 44.30 m throw. Hansford tossed 40.65 m to take 10th place in the event for GWU.

GWU men's track & field turned in a successful weekend as well.

In the men's 800 m run, senior Josiah Stanton-Brooks (Seattle, Wash.) achieved a 3rd place finish, turning in a time of 1:52.26. Stanton-Brooks' final time was just off Wake Forest's Kyle Eager's (1:50.75) and Kyle Graves' (1:51.22) 1st and 2nd place times.

Senior Mike McClay (Lawrenceville, Ga.) captured 4th place in the men's 5000 m run, crossing the finish line at 15:14.02.

In the men's long jump, multi athlete Ben Bell (Greensboro, N.C.) turned in the 14th best performance on they day. The sophomore leaped 6.44 m in the event.

Senior Trey Crook (Lexington, N.C.) raced to the 20h fastest time in the men's 400 m dash, leading Gardner-Webb in the event with a time of 53.92.

In the men's pole vault, sophomores Tyler Samotis and Tyler Marsengill turned in Top 8 finishes. Samotis (Hendersonville, N.C.) cleared 4.72 m to place 5th and Marsengill (Rock Hill, S.C.) topped 4.42 m for a 7th place finish.

Sophomore Chuboy Umeadi placed 7th in the men's triple jump, achieving a distance of 13.10 m.

Gardner-Webb's throwers impressed on the men's side as well, starting with Top 10 finishes from Jordan Smith, A.J. White, and Sears. Smith placed a career-best 3rd thanks to a personal best 14.61 m throw, White took 5th behind a personal best 14.60 m, and Sears placed 7th with a distance of 14.16 m.

In the men's discus throw, White (Hurricane, W.Va.) led the way with an 8th place finish (43.30 m). Padfield (LaVergne, Tenn.) added a 10th place finish with a personal best distance of 42.03 m.

Sears (Suwanee, Ga.) and Padfield achieved a 1-2 finish in the men's hammer throw, tossing 57.62 m and a personal best 56.75 m, respectively. White set another personal best in the event by tossing 49.98 m, good for a 9th place finish.

GWU took 7th in the men's 4x400 m relay, achieving a time of 3:21.97 from the combination of Joseph Martin, Malik Crawford, Richard Jules, and Stanton-Brooks.

Gardner-Webb track & field next competes at the Carolinas Cup (Rock Hill, S.C.) on Thursday, April 10.