Duke Competes Hard on Day One of VertKlasse Meeting

Friday, April 5

High Point, N.C.

All Day

Duke University

Day One at VertKlasse Meeting

Kirstin West throws the javelin at the Raleigh Relays

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Competes Hard on Day One of VertKlasse Meeting

4/6/2024 12:16:00 AM | Track & Field

Day 1 Results (PDF)

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Duke track and field turned in a strong day of competition on the opening day of the VertKlasse Meeting as the Blue Devils posted eight top-three placements across seven different field events, including a pair of wins in the men's long jump and men's pole vault, Friday afternoon at Vert Stadium.

TOP PERFORMANCES

Sophomore Jonathan Horn and graduate student Ezra Mellinger provided the highlight performances of the day with the duo accounting for Duke's event wins on Friday.
Taking part in the men's long jump, Mellinger delivered the best performance of his career as he came through with a monster leap of 7.53m (24-8.50 feet) on his fifth jump – more than a foot further than the runner-up – to cement himself atop the 41-member field.
Horn collected the victory in the men's pole vault (Group B) via a clearance of 4.71m (15-5.50 feet). The sophomore passed on the first four heights before taking on the bars set at 4.56m and 4.71m, clearing the heights on his second and third attempts, respectively.
Duke notched a trio of runner-up finishes behind the efforts of freshman Grant Janish, sophomore Matthew Prebola and graduate student Kirstin West.
Prebola took part in the men's javelin and parlayed his second throw into his second top-five placement of the year. The rookie's toss measured 65.81m (215-11 feet) and improved his previous best by nearly two feet.
Over on the women's side, West turned in her furthest throw of the season thus far on her fifth throw of the competition, stepping up and launching her javelin 42.81m (140-5 feet) for the second-place finish.
Janish represented the Blue Devils in the 'B' group of the men's high jump and used an impressive performance to slot himself second among the event standings. After passing on the first three heights, Janish cleared the ensuing three on his initial attempt before ultimately bowing out with a final clearance of 1.89m (6-2.25 feet).
The Blue Devils also posted third-place finishes in the women's hammer throw, women's long jump and men's javelin to give them eight top-three placements on the day.
Zoe Waddell continued her steady season with another solid showing, parlaying her toss of 56.42m (185-1 feet) on the fourth attempt into her second top-five placement of the outdoor campaign.
The women's long jump saw Gianna Locci make her third leap the charm as the sophomore flew out to 6.03m (19-9.50 feet).
Competing alongside Prebola in the men's javelin, graduate student Joe DiDario earned his spot amid the top three of the field on his second throw measuring 62.43m (204-10 feet).
The complete results from day one of the meet are available here.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils get the day started with the women's 100m (9:45 a.m.) with field events scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m., in the men's shot put (10 a.m.).

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