CHARLOTTE, N.C. — WVU Tech track and field opened the outdoor season with a strong start at the 49er Classic, highlighted by two school records, a personal best and solid efforts across both the men's and women's squads against a deep field of competition.

Freshmen Isaac Agee and Hailey Ervin led the way for the Golden Bears with new outdoor school records in the hurdles. Agee clocked 14.96 in the 110-meter hurdles, while Ervin posted a 17.24 in the 100-meter hurdles, giving WVU Tech an impressive start to the spring campaign. Ervin's mark tied for 43rd in a field of 48 competitors, while also adding a 28.08 in the 200 meters, good for 87th out of 99.

Senior Nevaeh Wooding paced the Golden Bears in the women's 100 meters with a 14.57, placing 69th out of 72, and also competed in the 200 meters, where she ran 30.79 and placed 97th in a large field of 99. Freshman Jadyn Farmer added a 29.53 in the 200 meters, placing 94th, and followed with a 1:06.94 in the 400 meters, finishing 68th out of 75 competitors. Sophomore Peyton Asbury turned in a personal-best 3:23.45 in the 800 meters, placing 79th, and later ran 6:52.07 in the 1500 meters, finishing 86th.

On the men's side, Agee again set the tone with his record-setting hurdle performance and also competed in the long jump. WVU Tech's sprint group saw multiple athletes open their outdoor seasons in Charlotte, including Carlos Enrique Parra Soto, who ran 11.79 in the 100 meters and 23.92 in the 200 meters, and Owen Cameron, who posted 12.42 in the 100 meters and 24.70 in the 200 meters. Chucky Jordan added a 24.01 in the 200 meters, a personal best, and also ran 53.82 in the 400 meters. Tommy Wikel contributed a 55.76 in the 400 meters and 2:07.26 in the 800 meters as WVU Tech continued to build depth across the sprint and middle-distance events.

The Golden Bears also saw strong representation in the distance and field events. Evan McElwayne competed in the 10,000 meters and turned in a 33:01.33 effort, while Crutcher Hutchison represented Tech in the triple jump with a mark of 12.08 meters. Jonathan Cantley competed in three throwing events, recording 10.20 meters in the shot put, 23.61 meters in the discus, and 17.01 meters in the javelin. WVU Tech also fielded a men's 4x100-meter relay team, which posted a time of 44.35.

With school records from Agee and Ervin, a personal best from Asbury and multiple athletes competing across sprint, distance and field events, the Golden Bears opened outdoor season with momentum and a strong foundation to build on in the weeks ahead.

What's next

WVU Tech returns to action March 27-28 at West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia.