COLUMBIA, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's and women's track & field teams competed against some top competition at the two-day Carolina Challenge, hosted by the University of South Carolina for their second meet of the season.
 
The Spartans saw multiple career-first appearances in events, while three on the men's side ran career-best times.
 
Senior Nicholas Thoma was two seconds off his personal best in the 800-meter run clocking in a time of 1:59.04. He placed 22^nd out of 44 competitors.
 
Senior Colin Alexander was a second shy of his career-best time in the mile, running the race in 4:16.74 placing 15^th. Freshman Colin Keck, in his first-collegiate race, ran a time of 4:29.01 finishing 33^rd out of 57 competitors. Both finished second in their heat.
 
With a career-best time of 8:31.54 in the 3000-meter run, senior Dylan Christopher took the best mark for the Blue & Gold taking second in his heat and 11^th overall. Classmate Thomas Knepshield also ran a career-best time of 8:37.03, taking 16^th overall.
 
In the first 3000-meter runs of their careers, senior Joe Thoma clocked in a time of 8:51.11 placing 22^nd out of 44 competitors, while freshman Ethan Long took home 29^th with a time of 9:00.88.

Sophomore Shay Soukup placed 21^st overall with a time of 10:31.47 in her first-collegiate 3000-meter run. Senior Chandler McCaslin also competed in the event and finished 25^th out of 40 competitors clocking in a time of 10:46.33.
 
Freshmen Bella Manfre, Camille Carlson, and Serena Henderson took three-straight marks in the mile, placing 45^th, 46^th, and 47^th, respectively. Manfre clocked in a time of 5:39.35 taking 4^th in her heat, while Carlson ran a time of 5:40.26. Henderson crossed the finish with a time of 5:44.99. All three ran their first-collegiate mile.
 
Junior Meredith Roberts clocked in a career-best time in the mile with a time of 6:07.03.

Up Next
UNCG plans on traveling to Lexington, Va. to compete at the two-day VMI Winter Relays from Friday, January 28 to Saturday, January 29.
 
 
Results - Women
3000m
21. Shay Soukup – 10:31.47
25. Chandler McCaslin. – 10:46.33
 
Mile
45. Bella Manfre – 5:39.35
46. Camille Carlson – 5:40.26
47. Serena Henderson – 5:44.99
55. Meredith Roberts - 6:07.03
 
Results - Men
800M
22. Nicholas Thoma – 1:59.04
 
Mile
15. Colin Alexander – 4:16.74
33. Colin Keck – 4:29.01
 
3000m
11. Dylan Christopher – 8:31.54
16. Thomas Knepshield – 8:37.03
22. Joe Thoma – 8:51.11, 11^th
29. Ethan Long – 9:00.88, 12^th