Blue Devils Win Men’s High Jump, Long Jump on Day Two

Saturday, April 2

High Point, N.C.

All Day

Duke University

Day Two at VertKlasse Meeting

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Win Men’s High Jump, Long Jump on Day Two

4/2/2022 7:44:00 PM | Track & Field

Final Results (PDF)

HIGHPOINT, N.C. – Juniors Beau Allen and Ezra Mellinger each won their respective events and the Duke track and field team set several career and season bests Saturday afternoon on the final day of the Vertklasse Meeting.

After passing on the first six heights, Allen took on the ensuing three heights and cleared each bar on his first attempt. The junior leapt 2.15m (7-0.50 feet) – a mark none of the other nine competitors were able to reach – to collect his second event win of the outdoor season, setting a new career best while moving into third all-time on the program list.

Mellinger took part in his first long jump event of the outdoor season and finished atop the 40-member field. The Ronks, Pa., native's last jump was his best as he flew out to a slightly wind-assisted 7.30m (23-11.50 feet) to place first overall.

For the second consecutive meet at Vert Stadium, junior Payton Little delivered a stellar showing in the women's discus. After recording a throw of 41.12m (134-11 feet) in the season-opening meet at High Point, Little improved upon that mark and launched the discus 42.55m (139-7 feet) to finish in third place. The Hampstead, N.C., native's toss set a new personal best while slotting herself into the No. 5 spot in program lore. She also competed in the women's hammer and recorded a season-best throw of 45.04m (147-9 feet).

Classmate Davis Howell also put on a personal-best performance in group A of the men's high jump as he cleared a height of 1.95m (6-4.75 feet) to finish fifth among the field. On the women's side, junior Hannah Kelly placed third in her section behind a season-best leap of 1.61m (5-3.25 feet).

Graduate student Erick Duffy was the top collegiate finisher in his section of the men's pole vault as he cleared 5.15m (16-10.75 feet) to finish as runner-up.

Competing in the women's hammer elite that opened Saturday's events, sophomore Moorea Mitchell delivered another solid performance. Mitchell registered a throw of 53.84m (176-8 feet), which was good for fourth among the field. Freshman Max Forte took part in the men's long jump with Mellinger, collecting fourth place behind a 7.12m (23-4.50 feet) jump.

For the full meet results, click HERE.

Up Next:
Duke returns to Durham as the Blue Devils are set to host its first and only home meet of the season in the Duke Invitational. The three-day meet will take place at Morris Williams Stadium from April 7-9. More information will be available on GoDuke.com closer to the start of the meet.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeTFXC."

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