Burnette, Faison, Johnson hit NCAA marks
WINSTON-SALEM – The University of Mount Olive men’s track and field program recorded four NCAA provisional marks and set two school records, while multiple athletes qualified for the conference meet at the JDL Early Bird Invitational on Dec. 4.
Senior Joshua Faison broke his school record for a second straight day in the shot put while reaching an NCAA provisional mark and setting a new meet record. He claimed a victory in the event with a distance of 16.63 meters. The previous meet record at the JDL Fast Track was held by Max Adams of Wake Forest, who set the mark of 15.71 meters back in 2016.
Junior Kamden Johnson tied the school record in the high jump and finished second overall after reaching an NCAA standard of 2.05 meters. He is now tied with Franz Beyer and Angus Sinclair, who reached the feat in 2015. Additionally, Johnson recorded a personal record in the long jump with a conference qualifying mark of 6.88 meters, which ties for seventh all-time at UMO.
Senior Justen Burnette collected two NCAA provisional times and event wins in his first appearance of the season in the 60-meter dash and 200 meters. He finished first in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.85 seconds before crossing the line in 21.94 to win the 200 meters. Burnette is a four-time All-Region recipient during the indoor season and two-time conference champion in the 200 meters.
Additionally, freshman Jason Hart qualified for the league championship in the 200 meters with a time of 22.63, which was the ninth-best time in team history.
Sophomore Demonte Lavender set a pair of conference marks on Sunday in the high jump and triple jump. He placed fourth in the high jump after clearing 1.95 meters, while qualifying in the triple jump with a distance of 13.48 meters.
Freshman Amari Pearson had an impressive performance in his debut with the program this weekend. He hit the league mark and placed eighth overall in the high jump after clearing 1.85 meters. Pearson also qualified in the long jump with a mark of 6.69 meters to finish sixth in the event.
Sophomore Lynwood Smith-Fort’e also surpassed his league qualifying mark from yesterday and hit 17.58 meters (57-8.25 feet) in the weight throw to place second.
— From University of Mount Olive Athletics
