CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Anderson University Men's Outdoor Track & Field opened its 2026 campaign at the Charlotte 49er Classic hosted by UNC Charlotte March 19-21, earning eight top five finishes and a program record.
 
The competition field featured top Div. I programs including Charlotte, Pittsburgh, N.C. State and Appalachian State, along with fellow SAC opponents Catawba and Wingate.
 
Junior Chase Brightharp (Trenton, S.C.) set a new program record the men's discus throw with an incredible toss of 47.19m for a fourth-place finish just after freshman Avery Butler (Seneca, S.C.) broke the same record with a distance of 46.93m to finish fifth.
 
The field also featured some noteworthy performances in the men's pole vault with freshman Ryan Lee (Honea Path, S.C.) placing first in the second group of vaulters after clearing the 4.43m bar in his first collegiate outdoor meet. Senior Will O'Cain (Columbia, S.C.) took third in the second group with a height of 4.13m.
 
The Track saw nine personal records for the Black and Gold including two from sophomore Brayden Anderson (Yakima, Wash). The Yakima native finished with a time of 22.29 in the 200m for a 42nd place finish out of 111 while also recording a 400m time of 49.01 to finish 15th out of 78 on the track. Freshman Gavin Malloy (Harrisburg, N.C.) finished with a personal best in the 800m, recording a time of 1:52.02 for a fourth-place finish. In the men's 1500, senior Spain Vaughan (Greer, S.C.) set a new personal best with a time of 3:53.83 to finish 11th out of 98 finishers. Junior Jack Barett (Greenville, S.C.) posted a PR time of 31:51.22 in the 10k, finishing 11th of 35.
 
Also on the track was the men's 5k with three Trojans boasting personal bests and four top 10 finishes. Junior Angel Galan (Santa Marta De Tormes, Spain) posted a PR time of 14:51.22 to secure second place in the open 5k. In the 5k invite, senior Elliot Dotson (Simpsonville, S.C.) finished fourth with a time of 13:23.80 followed by sophomore Will Cronin (Lexington, S.C.) in sixth with a PR time of 14:27.24. Just behind Cronin was senior Joey Tindale (Rock Hill, S.C.) with a new personal best time of 14:35.83 to finish eighth.
 
Rounding out the Trojans personal bests and scoring finishes was junior David Brown (Menomonie, Wis.). The Menomonie native finished fifth in the men's decathlon with 5800 points.
 
A select group of Trojans will take the trip to Raleigh, N.C. for three days to compete in the Raleigh Relays hosted by NC State Thursday, March 26-Saturday, March 28. Live results can be found at AUTrojans.com.