In Boston, the Tar Heels made quite an impression on day two of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, with six athletes advancing to finals and a podium finish to boot.
Vera Sjöberg and Reese Dalton were the stars of the women’s mile prelims, clocking in at 4:35.38 and 4:35.50, respectively. Their stellar performances secured them first in their heat and second overall, setting the stage for an exciting final showdown on Saturday.
On the men's side, Aiden Neal is set to compete for the mile title after finishing second in his heat with a time of 4:03.99. His strong showing has him poised for a big finish.
Max Stakun-Pickering was a standout in the heptathlon, clinching a bronze medal with a total of 5666 points. His performance was highlighted by a personal best in the pole vault, soaring to 4.90m. Stakun-Pickering also placed in the top three in the shot put and high jump, demonstrating his versatility and skill across events.
In the women’s 60m hurdles, Aaliyah Berry and Kalani Witherspoon both earned spots in the finals. Berry secured an automatic qualifier by finishing second in her heat with a time of 8.24, while Witherspoon advanced on time, clocking in at 8.33. All three Carolina hurdlers competed in the same heat, showcasing their depth in this event.
Makayla Paige capped off the evening by winning her heat in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:03.92, finishing second overall and punching her ticket to the finals.
As it stands, the Tar Heel men are in third place with 28.5 points, while the women are in 13th with seven points. With finals on the horizon, Carolina is well-positioned to make a significant impact.
Results Recap:
Men's Mile (Prelims):
- Aiden Neal, 4:03.99 [Qualified]
- Luke Pash, 4:05.24
- Henry Strand, 4:05.41
Women's Mile (Prelims):
- Vera Sjöberg, 4:35.38 [Qualified]
- Reese Dalton, 4:35.50 [Qualified]
- Sydney Masciarelli, 4:40.09
Women's 60m Hurdles (Prelims):
- Aaliyah Berry, 8.24 [Qualified]
- Kalani Witherspoon, 8.33 [Qualified]
- Tori Goodson, 8.36
Men's 400m (Prelims):
- Killian Fahy, 47.52 (Season Best)
Women's 400m (Prelims):
- Delea Martins, 55.08
Women's 800m (Prelims):
- Makayla Paige, 2:03.92 [Qualified]
- Alli DeLisi, 2:06.43 (Personal Record)
- Cassidy Scott, 2:08.08
Women's High Jump (Final):
- Tyler Collins, 1.72m (5-7¾)
Heptathlon:
- Max Stakun-Pickering, 5666 points
- 60m Hurdles: 8.28
- Pole Vault: 4.90m (1st place)
- 1000m: 2:53.50
The Tar Heels are certainly making waves, and with more action to come, the excitement is just beginning.