Track in State College, PA.

The Charlotte 49ers track team made the long trip up to State College, PA. over the weekend for the Penn State National. The trip was a long drive, but well worth it, as several program records were broken in the process. Adu Dentamo was part of two record-breaking performances as he broke Russell Slade’s mile-long record by finishing in 4:06.99 to finish seventh.

"It was a very productive weekend for us especially at Penn State. It's a long trip but each year we return knowing it was worth it and this year was no different," Head Coach Robert Olesen said following the event. "A successful weekend was necessary as it was a big weekend for indoor track in the A-10 with many teams having great meets. The conference ranking lists will look very different this week than they did going into the weekend."

Dentamo was joined in the race by Aaron Kauffman, Dakota Lowery and Tadarinn Phronebarger to break the 4x800m record, which was set in 2009 at the same event. The four ran the race in 7:43.01 to take home second place in the invitational.
Already with a spectacular senior campaign, Sunita Brathwaite continued her success as she broke the 60m hurdles record by running an 8.47 in the preliminary heat, which automatically quailified her for the semifinals. Ashley Bethune and Lanaire Lindo both set season records for themselves by running 8.65 and 8.54 respectively, to qualify for the semifinals.

With the record-breaking performance in State College, the Niners have now broken seven men’s and two women’s record this season with multiple records being broken more than once. The Niners also recorded eight new Top 10 performances last weekend for the women while the men recorded six.

In the women’s 400m event, Ebonie Cunningham and Yvonna Hines both turned in solid performances. Cunningham finished seventh and was closely followed by Hines in eighth, who set a personal record with a time of 57.18. Olivia Brown secured fourth place in the 500m with a time of 1:15.47, marking the season’s best performance.

Amanda Goetschius continued her stellar season by breaking her own personal record in the mile run by making it around the track in 4:53.71 to take home third place. Goetschius was followed by fellow Niner Keara Thomas, who ran the mile in a season-best 4:58.04.

Over on the men’s side, junior standout Darius Law ran his two quickest times of the season in the 200m and 400m dashes. Law took home second place in the 200m with a time of 21.67 and placed fourth in the 400m with a time of 47.58. Continuing the trend of Charlotte athletes running their season-best time, Law was joined by Reggie Hill in the 200m, who finished 10th with a time of 22.26.

Just barely missing his personal best in the 800m, Kauffman finished fourth with a time of 1:52.77. Dakota Lowery came away from the 3,000m with a personal-best time of 8:28.98 to take home second place in the event.

The Niners also competed in the Carolina Classic on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus on Friday afternoon but the event was cut short due to the brutal winter storm that covered much of the continental U.S.

Before the event was called off, five Niners claimed top seven finishes. In the 60m hurdles, Dewayne Chandler and Jake Wainwright finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

"The cancellation of day two of the Carolina Classic was very disappointing but obviously out of our control. It will make the success of the events that were cancelled that much more important in two weeks at our next meet at Clemson,” Olesen said. “It's ironic that we sent a large contingent north to Pennsylvania yet it was the group close to home here in North Carolina that experienced a winter weather related cancellation."

The Niners’ next event will be at the Tiger Paw Invitational in two weeks in Clemson, S.C. Folliwing the Tiger Paw Invite, the Niners will compete in the A-10 Championships in Kingston, R.I.