Lady Braves Hold Strong In Seventh In USTFCCCA Region Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – The UNCP women's track and field team held continued in seventh place in the region rankings for the third consecutive week of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Tuesday after competition at the Johnson C. Smith Invitational.

There was no change from last week as Mount Olive still leads the region in first followed by Columbus State, King, Limestone, Wingate, and Anderson (S.C.). Lees-McRae, Queens (N.C.) and Barton finished the standings behind UNCP in eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.

Freshman Jazmiene Brown posted a personal best in the 400m dash with a time of 59.19 seconds to move into seventh in the individual rankings.

Senior Livia Mahaffie shattered the school record by six seconds in the 5000m run with a time of 18:35.61 help the Lady Braves with a seventh place individual ranking in the event. 

Junior Diricka Mitchell individually ranks second in the hammer throw with a mark of 42.83m as she set a new personal best, while freshman Hana Metzinger ranks fifth in the javelin with a mark of 35.75m to break the school record in the process.

The Lady Braves will continue competition on Friday and Saturday when UNCP competes at the Lenoir-Rhyne-hosted NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championships in Hickory on Friday and Saturday.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is the non-profit professional organization that represents men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members, including 91% of NCAA coaches. USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.