BLACKSBURG – Men's Indoor Track and Field secured their fourth-ever runner-up finish at the Big South Championships on Saturday afternoon as they finished the day with 136.5 points. This marked the highest point total by the team in program history.
 
Charleston Southern continued to put on display the best distance crew in the Big South. The team placed eight runners between the mile and 3K during Saturday's action.
 
Jaden Kingsley won the 3K at the meet with a heroic close on the final lap to claim the victory at 8:30.68. He became the second-ever CSU runner to win this event in program history and made it back-to-back for Charleston Southern as Micah Gilpatric won it last February. Sam Waldin, Conan Harper and Caleb Kenyon went 3-4-5 in the event. Waldin was at 8:31 while the other two crossed at 8:37.
 
In the mile, Kingsley led the team to the finish as he took 3^rd overall in it. Griffin Gillespie was next in, crossing at 5^th with a personal best time of 4:13.20. Jack McGahey and Connor Smith rounded out the scorers as they went 7-8 and Smith had a career best time of 4:18.01. Also, the Bucs had McGahey compete in the 800 and he finished with a time of 1:57.72 for 6^th overall.
 
Shawn Langley Jr. was another top performer for the Buccaneers as well as among everyone in the league. He won the 400m with a time of 46.94, his fastest of the indoor season. Luciano Custodio also had a great run with a 48.47 for a season best as well to take second overall. Langley continued his great weekend with a second-place finish in the 200m with a time of 21.28.
 
Additionally in the sprint events, Carl Murray IV earned Big South Freshman of the Year with much of it because of his incredible runs in the 60m. He finished in 2^nd for the event with a time of 6.76.
 
In the 60m hurdles, Guz Cortezi had a great race in the finals, bouncing off his personal best in the prelims of the race. He took 7^th overall and had a time of 8.72 to claim it.
 
In the field events, Holden Gerth got the team started for the day with him in the high jump. He took 5^th in the event and his best jump was a 1.94m.
 
In the weight throw, Michael Calhoun had a podium finish for the event, taking third overall. He had his best heave with a 17.18m. Odin Ferency did not advance to the finals for it but set a new personal best in it.
 
In the final race of the day, the 4x400 relay, Charleston Southern took third overall in it. They crossed the line with a time of 3:17.91 with Custodio, Murray, Gillespie and Langley on the relay team. Langley ran the anchor leg for the team and took the baton with the team in 4^th and closed the multiple three and a half second deficit to less than half a second from first place. Langley ran a 46 on his leg, the fastest of anyone.
 
Today's meet marks the end of the 2024 indoor season for the Buccaneers. They will begin their outdoor track season next month on Friday, March 15 with the team's home meet, the CSU Buccaneer Invitational.
 
Final Standings
1 - High Point (219)
2 - Charleston Southern (151)
3 - Winthrop (96)
4 - UNC Asheville (89)
5 - USC Upstate (73)
6 - Gardner-Webb (65)

Men's Most Outstanding Performer
Chris Van Niekerk, High Point

Men's Most Valuable Athlete
Graham Ferguson, High Point

Men's Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year
Carl Murray IV, Charleston Southern

Men's Indoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year
A'lajuwan Robinson, High Point

Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year
Mike Esposito, High Point

Men's Indoor Track & Field All-Academic Team
Michael Calhoun, Charleston Southern
Quentin Peterson, Gardner-Webb
Graham Ferguson, High Point
Zac Weas, UNC Asheville
Jared Keklak, USC Upstate
Jurnii Lucas, Winthrop
 
Men's Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Graham Ferguson, High Point