BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — The Montreat College men's track & field team resumed its 2026 outdoor season on Friday and Saturday at the Montreat College Open on its home track. With 28 entries across 15 events, the Cavaliers turned in a solid early-season performance, totaling four personal bests and 14 top-10 finishes.
Drew Bryant led the way on day one, opening competition in the 110m hurdles. The Candler, N.C. native delivered a personal-best 16.13, 0.38 seconds faster than his previous mark, to place sixth in a field of 10. He carried that momentum into the sprints, adding two more personal records. Bryant ran 10.95 in the 100m to take fifth out of 28, and then followed with a 21.89 in the 200m, improving by .02 seconds to secure fourth in a field of 23.
In the 1500m, Ryan Stade paced Montreat with a 3:58.54, earning third place in a competitive field of 40. Close behind, Brock Lauer turned in a breakthrough effort, dropping nearly nine seconds from his previous best to clock 3:59.93 and finish fourth. Several Cavaliers made their first appearance in the event, led by Hugo Petat-Hemono's 4:04.79 for sixth. Ronald Way placed 10th in 4:07.81, while Senor Glenn (4:18.76) and Elijah Eppley (4:24.07) finished 20th and 22nd, respectively.
Lauer also competed in the 5000m, where he added another third-place result with a time of 15:49.75 in a 20-man field. Hunter Smathers contributed a top-10 finish as well, crossing in 16:44.38 to take 10th.
In relay action, the 4x400m group of Cameron Rice, Senor Glenn, Mark Blalock and David Irabor combined for a 3:28.39 to place second overall. Rice also competed in the 100m, recording a 10.78 to earn a runner-up finish.
William Wood represented Montreat in the field on day one, making his collegiate outdoor debut in the javelin. The Andrews High School product recorded a mark of 37.25m, placing ninth in a field of 13.
Day two featured only field events for the Cavaliers. Bryant continued his productive weekend with two podium finishes, tying for second in the high jump with a clearance of 1.81m in a field of 13. He followed with another second-place result in the long jump, reaching 6.71m against 14 competitors.
Wood returned to competition in three throwing events, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in the discus with a mark of 43.12m in a field of 35. The Andrews, N.C. native also posted marks of 36.67m in the hammer to place 14th and 11.27m in the shot put to finish 18th.
For full results from the Montreat College Open, click here.
Montreat will split its squad across three meets next week, beginning on March 26-28 at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. Additional athletes will compete on March 27-28 at the King University Invite in Bristol, Tenn., before wrapping up on Saturday, March 28 at the Landon Bond Classic in Berea, Ky.
