SMC Men’s Track & Field Sets Three School Records, 13 PRs at Lenoir-Rhyne Invite
The Spartanburg Methodist College men's track and field team recorded 13 personal records (PRs) and set three new school records at the Southside Power and Fitness Invitational, hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, North Carolina.
The first PR and school record came on Friday when junior Ryan Hunter captured the individual title in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:34.96. He eclipsed his previous mark of 14:37.88, and the time also meets the NAIA "B" qualifying standard. His performance currently ranks 10th in the NAIA outdoor season. Also competing in the 5,000m, junior Steven Strange posted a season-best time of 19:40.23.
The next record-setting performance also came Friday, as senior Parker Balog broke his own school record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.56, improving his previous mark by 0.46 seconds. The performance secures him a spot in the AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In the same event, John Jones recorded the first of his two PRs on the weekend, finishing in 1:03.59. He added another PR on Saturday in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.01.
The third school record was set by junior Romeo Brown in the 200-meter dash. The Newberry, South Carolina native led three PR performances with a third-place finish in 21.10. The time meets the NAIA "B" qualifying standard, ranks ninth in the NAIA outdoor season, and qualifies him for the AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Also setting PRs in the event were Javion Brannon (21.86) and Qya Clemons (21.96), who finished 11th and 13th, respectively.
Freshman Dante Hudnall recorded PRs in both the 800 meters (2:07.69) and the 1,500 meters (4:17.47). In field events, freshman thrower Devon Brown set PRs in the discus (98-1) and shot put (35-7.25).
The Pioneers will compete in one final meet before the AAC Championships as they travel to the 2026 Golden Bulls Invitational on Friday, April 17, at Johnson C. Smith University's Irwin Belk Complex in Charlotte.
