CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb outdoor track and field teams opened the 2019 outdoor season, as a handful of members of the team took part in the 49er Classic this weekend at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center in Charlotte, N.C.
 
Natasha Akbarizadeh placed second in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 58.97 meters, followed by Petra Jakeljic in third at 56.19 meters.
 
In the men's shot put, Julian Smallwood finished seventh overall with a toss of 15.78 meters.
 
In the women's 800-meter run, Amy Turlington placed 48^th with a time 2:27.32.
 
Mitchell Brown clocked in at 4:22.27 in the men's 1,500-meter run, placing 98^th.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action next weekend at the VertKlasse Meeting, hosting by High Point University in High Point, N.C.