OAK RIDGE, Tenn.— The Montreat men's and women's track & field teams opened their 2024 indoor seasons on Tuesday at the Bill Martin First Chance Meet in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Despite chilly conditions in the region, the Cavaliers notched numerous high-level marks, including 10 top-three finishes, a trio of national standards and three new school records.
 
Coming off the NAIA Cross Country Championships less than two weeks ago, several Montreat cross country runners showed their mid-season form in the men's 5000m. Dylan Branch won the race, beating out 30 finishers with the event's top time (14:40.60). Not only was Branch's time good enough for first, but it also eclipsed the school's previous best clocked time by 8.81 seconds. Ethan Stamey, the owner of the previous program record, placed third overall with a time of 14:47.79, nearly two seconds better than his original top mark. Both times met the NAIA "A" standard.
 
Wyatt Wilson snagged the Cavs' other national standard on Tuesday in the men's 3000m race walk. A native of Shelby, N.C., Wilson took home first as the only competitor in the event; however, Wilson's time proved worthy of first place. Needing just 15:01.53 to move from start to finish, Wilson broke his own school record by over 40 seconds to win the race and collect an NAIA "B" standard in the process.
 
Montreat's third and final new school-record performance came from Kenzie Card. The upperclassman delivered the program's best effort in the women's weight throw, surpassing the prior distance by 1.35m. Card's 11.80m showing also captured second place in the event.
 
While the national standards and school records stopped, the first-place finishes didn't. Drew Bryant secured the top position in the men's long jump thanks to his 6.65m leap, a personal best. Emma Barnes claimed the No. 1 spot in the women's shot put and she launched her implement 10.55m.
 
A native of Waxhaw, N.C., Barnes also finished on the podium in her 60m sprint with the third-fastest time at 8.16 seconds. Darrian Bonilla placed similarly with his 52.37-second 400m race. Meanwhile, Kaylene Manternach impressed in her Montreat track & field debut. The multi-sport athlete garnered second place in the women's 400m as her 1:03.80 time fell just 0.55 seconds shy of a school record. Manternach also finished third in her first 1000m as a Cavalier (3:17.40).
 
For a complete look at results from the Bill Martin First Chance Meet, click here.
 
Both Montreat track & field teams continue the opening week of their indoor seasons this Saturday at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.