Houston, the 2018 U.S. indoor pole vault champion, becomes first male athlete to clear 18-0.50 (5.50m) indoors anywhere in North Carolina; North Carolina State’s Quarzo prevails in clash of Pennsylvania prep standouts against Furman commit Mulhern, with Garrett shining in 60 hurdles at JDL Fast Track

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Phil Ponder

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – An exciting showdown in the women’s 5,000 meters involving a pair of Pennsylvania prep standouts, past and present, a memorable men’s pole vault clearance and one of the top young hurdlers in the country highlighted the opening day of the 10th annual Camel City Invitational at JDL Fast Track.

North Carolina State sophomore Gionna Quarzo, a graduate of Brownsville Area High, battled Furman commit and West Chester Henderson senior Jenna Mulhern over a thrilling final 15 laps after former Wolfpack standout Ryen Frazier paced the athletes through 2,000 meters.

Quarzo had an extra gear during the final 400 and prevailed in 16 minutes, 16.25 seconds, with Mulhern placing runner-up in 16:17.47.

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With the 200-meter flat track conversion, Quarzo ran 16:05.90, giving North Carolina State four of the top 30 collegiate competitors this season, all under 16:10, joining Kelsey Chmiel, Allie Hays and Savannah Shaw.

Mulhern produced the second-fastest 5,000 by a Pennsylvania prep female athlete, trailing only the 16:11.85 achieved by former Abington Heights star Tessa Barrett when she won the 2014 New Balance Nationals indoor title at The Armory in New York, and elevated to the No. 8 all-time high school indoor girls competitor.

It marked Mulhern’s first race since finishing third Dec. 11 at the Eastbay Cross Country National Championships at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego. Her performance was the No. 2 absolute mark by a Pennsylvania prep female athlete, with Lydia Russell of Friends Central running 16:18.72 at the 2019 New Balance Nationals Outdoor final.

Scott Houston, the 2018 U.S. Indoor champion and High Point coach, won the men’s pole vault with an 18-0.50 (5.50m) clearance on his second attempt, eclipsing his own 2019 facility record of 17-11 (5.46m).

Houston became the first male vaulter to produce an 18-foot indoor clearance in the state of North Carolina.

Nathalie Elliott, a High Point senior, followed by winning the women’s pole vault with a season-best 12-11.50 (3.95m) clearance on her first attempt. She boasts an outdoor personal-best 13-11 (4.24m) and a top clearance of 13-8.50 (4.18m) indoors.

Akala Garrett, a junior at Harding University High in North Carolina, won the women’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.43 seconds to improve on the second-fastest time in the country this season after she produced an 8.47 effort Jan. 29 at the 114th Millrose Games at The Armory in New York.

Garrett also won her section of the seeded 200 in 25.25 and finished fourth overall.

Jharna Alston, an NCAA Division 2 indoor and outdoor All-American at Emmanuel College in Georgia, prevailed in the women’s seeded 200 in 24.97 and finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash final by a 7.61 to 7.63 margin behind JaEra Griffin of North Carolina A&T.

A pair of Division 2 programs also took center stage in the distance medley relay, with Carson Bix, Jeremiah McCain, Titus Lagat and Christian Noble winning the men’s race for Lee in 9:51.31.

Whitney Hanson, Brianna Quartararo, Kamryn Osterbind and Olivia Rish dominated the women’s competition for Anderson University in South Carolina, clocking 12:11.03.

Lee also earned a victory in the men’s 5,000, with Caleb Eagleson running 14:33.77.

Brandon Nya of North Carolina A&T won the men’s seeded 200 in 21.76, eclipsing the 2018 meet record of 21.77 achieved by Jared Hayes of Troy.

A pair of former North Carolina A&T sprinters squared off in the men’s 60-meter dash final, with Jaylan Mitchell matching the 2016 facility record of 6.61 to edge Christopher Belcher (6.68). Mitchell equaled the mark achieved by Ramon Gittens of Barbados.

Cory Poole of North Carolina A&T held off teammate Cedric McGriff by a 7.87 to 7.98 margin in the men’s 60-meter hurdles final, with Nia Frederick winning the seeded women’s 400 in 56.29 for the Aggies. North Carolina A&T also won the men’s 4x400 relay in 3:18.08.

Jordan McCleskey of Troy prevailed in the men’s seeded 400 in 49.66, with teammate Alan Johnson clocking 1:21.27 in the men’s 600.

Camryn Harper of High Point triumphed in the women’s 600 in 1:34.97 and teammate Alicia Dawson soared to a 19-7 (5.97m) effort in the women’s long jump.

Elon emerged victorious in the women’s 4x400 relay in 3:51.91, and added another triumphant performance with Kaitlin McGoogan in the women’s weight throw with her mark of 60-7.25 (18.47m).

Tyson Adams, a junior at West Forsyth High in North Carolina, secured victory in the men’s long jump with a leap of 24-2.50 (7.38m).

Wake Forest won a pair of events, with Tony Jones clearing 6-8.75 (2.05m) in the men’s high jump and Jack Pihlkar prevailing in the weight throw with an effort of 66-1.50 (20.15m).

Kenady Wilson of North Carolina A&T cleared 5-8.75 (1.75m) to earn the win in the women’s high jump.