Duke Wraps Tiger Paw Invitational With Strong Field Performances

Saturday, February 15

Clemson, SC

Duke University

Day Two at Tiger Paw Invite

Athletes compete during the 2019 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Blacksburg, Va., Saturday Feb. 23, 2019. (Photo by Michael Shroyer, the ACC)

Duke Wraps Tiger Paw Invitational With Strong Field Performances

2/15/2020 8:16:00 PM | Track & Field

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Duke track & field team wrapped up the Tiger Paw Invitational with a program record and three more top-five performances in program history on Saturday.

After breaking the school record in the men's 200m last week at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet, freshman Ezra Mellinger did so once again, clocking a 21.46. Freshman Joseph Laster III recorded a personal best time as well with a 22.13 time.

Redshirt junior Ben Beatty provided Duke with another all-time mark in the men's shot put. His mark of 18.01m not only won the event, it also ranks second all-time in program history and is the fourth-farthest distance in the shot put in the ACC this indoor season. Freshman Aiden Felty also recorded a personal-best in the event with a distance of 17.53.

In the women's 200m, sophomore Kelcie Simmons recorded the third-fastest time by a Duke runner in program history at 23.82. Freshman Halle Bieber also PR'd in the event with a time of 24.21.

Freshman Beau Allen also worked his way into the record books on Saturday, clearing 2.12m in the men's high jump for the fourth-best mark ever at Duke. His performance was a collegiate best and placed fourth in the event.

The four Duke representatives in the men's 3000m took four of the top eight finishes – sophomore CJ Ambrosio (fourth place; 8:18.15), junior Josh Romine (fifth; 8:19.16), junior Alex Miley (seventh; 8:21.78) and senior Tom Sullivan (eighth; 8:22.50). Romine, Miley and Sullivan all set personal-record times in the event.

Senior Matt Wisner, against a loaded field that featured the nation's top-ranked time this indoor season, held his own in the men's 800m, placing fourth with a time of 1:52.43 – less than a second behind the winner at 1:51.74. Sophomore Matt Politis set an indoor personal record by clocking 1:55.85 in the event.

A pair of freshman in Samantha Schadler (2:12.60) and Emily Cole (2:17.71) clocked personal-best times in the women's 800m.

The Blue Devils will split for two meets next weekend, competing at the Virginia Tech Classic in Blacksburg, Va., and the JDL/DMR Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C. Both meets will take place Feb. 21-22.

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