BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Piedmont University track & field program kicked off the 2025 season Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama at the KMS Invitational. A total of three school records fell and multiple personal bests were set to start the season strong.
Freshman Jayden Smith set a school record in the shot put with a 13.94m throw earning second place behind Life University’s Geovanni Hawes mark of 14.73m.
Bella Caccamo set a personal best and the school record in the 600m with a time of 1:46.49 to earn ninth place overall as the top Division III competitor. In the men’s 600m, Silas Goolsby broke another school record with his 1:23.58 to earn fifth place also as the top Division III student-athlete.
Piedmont saw top-10 finishes in many field events as Bryant Murray earned fourth place in the men’s long jump with a 6.71m jump. Three men earned top-10 marks in the weight throw led by Ethan Jackson with a 14.01m throw in his return.
On the women’s side, Haley McLeer (2.45m) earned third in the women’s pole vault while Ja’Nia Gray (2.30m) took fourth. Tucker Pulliam (2.90m) took fifth in the men’s pole vault.
Kayla Ward earned fourth in the women’s shot put with a 10.53m mark while three women earned top-10 places in the women’s weight throw led by Kailyn Thomas who finished fifth (12.66m).
In the one mile, Skyler Seeber finished third on the women’s side (5:34.17) while Tucker Cox finished eighth for the men (4:35.11).
Up next, the Lions will head to Danville, Kentucky for the Centre Indoor Showcase on Saturday, January 25.
Field Events – Bold denotes school record
| W High Jump | — |
| M High Jump | — |
| M Long Jump | Bryant Murray (6.71m) – 4th Almarion Martin (6.03m) Johnny Taylor (5.81m) |
| W Long Jump | Allison Cantrell (4.86m) |
| W Triple Jump | — |
| M Triple Jump | Johnny Taylor (12.03m) – 8th |
| W Pole Vault | Haley McLeer (2.45m) – 3rd Ja’Nia Gray (2.30m) – 4th |
| M Pole Vault | Tucker Pulliam (2.90m) – 5th |
| W Shot Put | Kayla Ward (10.53m) – 4th Kailyn Thomas (9.23m) Allie Feltus (8.83m) |
| M Shot Put | Jayden Smith (13.94m) – 2nd Kerrigan McClain (9.72m) Ian Grimes (8.93m) |
| W Weight Throw | Kailyn Thomas (12.66m) – 5th Allie Feltus (12.54m) – 6th Shealee Gallegos (11.81m) – 8th |
| M Weight Throw | Ethan Jackson (14.01m) – 4th George Ketch (13.50m) – 5th Matthew Blocksom (12.58m) – 9th |
Track Events – Bold denotes school record (only finals included)
| W 60m Hurdles | — |
| M 60m Hurdles | — |
| W 60m | — |
| M 60m | — |
| W 200m | Allison Cantrell (27.68) Michelle Cates (28.81) Sara Bjerke (30.28) |
| M 200m | Silas Goolsby (22.56) Garrett Stadler (24.21) Xander Wiley (25.33) |
| W 400m | — |
| M 400m | Xander Wiley (57.07) |
| W 600m | Bella Caccamo (1:46.49) – 9th Michelle Cates (1:48.71) |
| M 600m | Silas Goolsby (1:23.58) – 5th Parker Snelson (1:29.43) – 10th Garrett Stadler (1:30.08) |
| W 800m | — |
| M 800m | Peter Sligh (2:18.77) |
| W 1 mile | Skyler Seeber (5:43.17) – 3rd |
| M 1 mile | Tucker Cox (4:35.11) – 8th Walker Capelle (4:48.35) Brody Geckler (5:04.65) |
| W 3000m | — |
| M 3000m | Jadon Gonzales (9:46.35) Keegan Ivey (10:38.61) |
| M 4x400m Relay | — |
| W 4x400m Relay | — |
