HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb track and field team ended a very strong opening day at the 2026 Big South Outdoor Championships, with the men's team in second overall and the women's team in third

With the field events taking center stage early, GWU started strong in the men's hammer throw. Sophomore Jonathan Garrett won the conference title, posting a mark of 59.63, winning by over 2.5 meters. Senior Quentin Peterson also added another medal to his long list of accolades, placing third with a mark of 55.86 meters

Sophomore Joshua Powell added to an already impressive season with a silver medal in the men's long jump. Powell placed second by way of a mark of 7.48 meters

Competing in her first Big South Championship, freshman Hannah Hoffmanw as excellent in the women's hammer throw. Hoffman was second in the event, posting a mark of 53.62 meters for her first career championships podium

Gardner-Webb scored yet another impressive result in the men's javelin. Junior Blaine Blose posted a mark of 61.37 meters, more than enough to finish second place. Blose was one of just two athletes to clear the 60.00 meters mark

While the field events took center stage, the track events were largely limited to preliminary races. The first of the day was the women's 400 meter hurdles, where freshman Laura Covarrubias placed sixth. Her time of 1:02.68 was good enough to make finals

Senior TJ Peebles put in a similar performance in the men's 400 meter hurdles. Peebles was sixth in 54.04 seconds, advancing to the finals in the event

Freshman Skye Jackson also qualified for finals in the women's 200 meters. Jackson did so with a seventh place run in prelims, clocking in at 24.62 seconds

Competing in the men's decathlon for GWU was senior Christian Rutland. Of the five-part event, Rutland saved his best for shot put where he was fifth overall at 10.62 meters. Rutland is currenly seventh in the event standings after day one

Junior Isa van Sintemaartendijk took part in the women's heptathlon for the Dawgs. She saved her best for shot put as well, placing fourth at 10.34 meters. van Sintemaartendijk is fifth in the event standings after day one