CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers track and field team won 14 events at this weekend's annual Charlotte Invitational, held at the Irwin Belk Track. With the Atlantic 10 Championship just two weeks away, the Invite served as a tune up, with several Niners earning PRs and refining performances.

"For the second straight year, the Charlotte Invitational provided a great environment for teams entering the championship phases of their season," Director of Track and Field Bob Olesen commented. "The meet featured five teams, a small meet by most standards today, yet provided great competition for the participants preparing for their respective conference championships. We had favorable conditions and just the right amount of competition to record a large number of personal and seasons best performances, moving us up in the conference and our own record books."

T'Sheila Mungo won the women's 400m dash (53.75) with a new personal best and led the 4x400m relay to a victory as well (3:38.71). The 4x4, made up of Mungo, Joann Blakney, Leanna Morrison and Jaleah Wilder, set a new facility record with a time that currently ranks 10th in the NCAA East and 23rd nationally.

Wilder also PR'd in the 400m dash (55.06), qualifying for the USATF Junior Championships.

The women's 4x100m relay, composed of Ashley Bethune, Blakney, LaTrese Barker and Sirrell Butler, was also victorious with an A10-leading time of 45.72. Blakney, who won the 100m dash as well (11.52), set a new personal best to extend her conference lead.

Hurdlers LeAnna Morrison (1:00.46) and Cecily Young (1:00.90) finished first and second, respectively, in the women's 400m hurdles, with Young's time marking a season-best.

At the mid-distance level, junior Maraya Slatter was the top collegiate finisher in the 800m (2:10.38), less than three seconds behind Charlotte school record holder Aja Jackson.

On the distance end, Amanda Goetschius (9:49.80) and Zach Greth (8:37.16) won their respective 3,000m runs for the 49ers, while Hana Sutchar (18:15.78) won the women's 5,000m. 

Khyran Shank won the 100m (10.48) and the 200m (20.91), moving into fifth and third all-time, respectively. LeRoy Rouse also set new PRs in the 100m (10.72) and 200m (21.67). Isaac McReynolds took first in the 110m hurdles (14.20).

Dakota Lowery finished second in the men's 3,000m steeplechase (9:20.10), behind only Anthony Famiglietti (8:38.15), a former Olympian who was representing Reckless Running.

On the field side, Toby Jo Klauenberg won the women's shot put (46'2.75), shattering her own school record by three feet. She also PR'd in the discus (139'5) and hammer (154'0), ranking fifth all-time in school history in each category. Katrina Wright movedin into third all-time in the hammer with a personal best throw of 162'7 to finish second.

Rookie Trey McRae won the men's high jump with a PR and USATF Juniors qualifying height of 6'10.75. He moves into third all-time in school history in the event. Charlotte's Jake Deaton, who was competing unattached, also won the men's shot put (59'11.75) and discus (176'8).

"This was a very good meet for our final regular season competition," Olesen noted. "Now we'll do some fine tuning, apply some strategy to formulate our strongest travel squad and take next weekend off to rest up before heading to the Atlantic 10 Championship in Amherst, Mass. in two weeks."