Werking’s Program Record and Wright’s Podium Finish Highlight Day Two of Big South Championships

Tuesday, May 11

High Point, N.C.

Radford University

Big South Outdoor Championships Day Two

Photo by: Taylor Blue

Werking’s Program Record and Wright’s Podium Finish Highlight Day Two of Big South Championships

5/11/2021 8:30:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Highlanders continued their success into the second day of the Big South Championships Tuesday afternoon. Rachel Werking highlighted the day with her program record in the 3000m steeplechase which also earned her a podium finish. Maddie Wright also posted a podium finish at the conclusion of the heptathlon event.

"We had another outstanding day," commented director of track and field Shelli Sayers. "If something didn't go our way, we picked it up in another event."

The day started similarly to the first day of the championships as Wright took on the second half of the heptathlon. Wright set two more personal records and pushed further into the record books of the javelin throw en route to a podium finish for Radford. Her third-place finish with 4,393 points is also good for the second-highest total in program history.

"This was Maddie's first heptathlon in her life," added Sayers. "I am so proud of how she stayed composed and attacked the last event."

Wright's day didn't end there as she brought her success into the 100m hurdles. Wright posted a time good enough to qualify for the finals which will be held on Wednesday.

In the 1500m race, all four of the Highlanders who competed moved on to the finals which is a program record for competitors in the 1500m final. Kayland Bond punched her ticket to the finals with a top-four finish in her flight while Werking, Annsley Eckert, and Chloe Wellings all also qualified with strong times in their flight.

Eckert's success also carried with her further into the day. Later in the 800m race she set a new personal record by two seconds. MacKenzie Gardner also set a new personal record in the 800m race which ranks her tenth all-time and was good enough to advance her to the finals on Wednesday.

Julia Burkley joined the personal record and finals party with her performance in the 400m race. Burkley's time moved her into seventh all-time as she will now turn her focus to Wednesday's final.

The final event of the day came in the 3000m steeplechase where Werking set a new program record and grabbed Radford's third podium finish of the week. Werking's time of 10:39.76 was about a second improvement over her previous program record. Kayland Bond also competed well posting a season best time.

Multiple other Highlanders also saw their first Big South Championship action today. Makayla Jones competed in the long jump, Lauren Stuart competed in the javelin throw, and Felicia Hewitt competed hard in the 200m dash.

"The distance women were outstanding," Sayers added about the three distance events today. "MacKenzie in the 800m was amazing and all four women to 1500m is something we have never done. Werking closing with a third and new school record was just icing on the cake."

Next Up
Day three and the finale of the Big South Championships is up next. The Highlanders will get things started on Wednesday with the 4x100m relay at 4:30 p.m. with 14 Highlanders total scheduled to compete across 9 events. Live stats will be available all day, but coverage on ESPN+ is slated to begin at 4:15 p.m.

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