Tar Heels Tear Up the Track: Colton Sands Headlines Historic Weekend for Carolina Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - If there was any doubt that Carolina is becoming a distance-running powerhouse, Colton Sands just erased it.
Competing at the David Hemery Valentine Invite in Boston, Sands clocked a blistering 7:34.05 in the men’s 3000m - the fourth-fastest time in NCAA history and now third all-time in Carolina program history. That’s not just fast.
That’s “rewrite the record books” fast. And it’s part of a trend: Sands now joins teammates Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe, who last season ran the two fastest 3k times in NCAA and program history, also in Boston.
The Tar Heels aren’t just showing up at these meets - they’re owning them.
More Records Fall Across the Map
Sands wasn’t the only one making noise over the weekend. Three more Tar Heels etched their names into the Carolina record book, proving this team’s depth goes far beyond distance.
- Tomer Tarragano ran 13:27.37 in the men’s 5000m - good for third-fastest in program history - also at the Valentine Invite. That’s a strong statement from a runner who’s been steadily climbing the ranks.
- Over at the Tiger Paw Invitational, Skylar Bohlman launched the shot put 15.02m (49-3½) to place third and tie for seventh all-time in Carolina women’s history. That’s a personal best and a big-time podium finish.
- Meanwhile, Maddy Kelley soared in the women’s pole vault at Liberty, clearing 4.15m (13-07.25) to finish second and jump from tenth to fifth all-time in program history. That’s a massive leap - literally and figuratively.
Notable Performances: Across the Board Excellence
Carolina athletes were in action at multiple meets, and the results read like a highlight reel.
Tiger Paw Invitational - Clemson, SC
Men’s Weight Throw
- Myles Scott - 8th place, 18.09m (59-4¼)
- Sam Romerhaus - 12th place, 17.03m (55-10½)
Women’s Weight Throw
- McKynzie Mauney - 10th, 17.72m (58-1¾)
- Gracie Bolick - 11th, 17.61m (57-9½) - a new PR
Men’s Shot Put
- Nse Uffort - 8th, 16.37m (53-8½)
- Cooper Williams - 9th, 16.31m (53-6¼)
Women’s Shot Put
- Skylar Bohlman - 3rd, 15.02m (49-3½) - PR, 7th all-time at Carolina
David Hemery Valentine Invite - Boston, MA
Men’s 3000m
- Colton Sands - 2nd place, 7:34.05 - 4th-fastest in NCAA history
Men’s 5000m
- Tomer Tarragano - 7th place, 13:27.37 - 3rd in program history
Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
Women’s 60m Hurdles Prelims
- Tori Goodson - 1st, 8.38
- Kalani Witherspoon - 2nd, 8.47
- Aaliyah Berry - 6th, 8.57
Women’s 60m Hurdles Semis
- Kalani Witherspoon - 1st, 8.28
- Aaliyah Berry - 2nd, 8.33
- Tori Goodson - 4th, 8.44
Men’s 400m
- Evan Pardue - 3rd, 48.62
Men’s 400m Invite
- Killian Fahy - 6th, 48.27
- Nick Steed - 8th, 48.45
- Trevor Paschall - 12th, 48.79
Women’s 400m
- Aniya Edwards - 15th, 57.44
- Maameyaa Nyinah - 18th, 57.56
Women’s Pole Vault
- Peyton Berryman - 7th, 3.65m (11-11.75)
- Vivian Stovall - NH (No Height)
Women’s Pole Vault Elite
- Maddy Kelley - 2nd, 4.15m (13-07.25) - 5th all-time at Carolina
- Annie Kerr - 8th, 3.90m (12-09.50)
- Megan Kelleghan - NH
The Bottom Line
When you’ve got athletes rewriting NCAA history and climbing school leaderboards across multiple disciplines, it’s more than just a good weekend - it’s a program on the rise. From throws to sprints to distance and jumps, Carolina Track & Field is showing the kind of balance and depth that wins championships.
And with the indoor season heating up, this team is just getting started.