MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. -- Sophomore Cristina Villanueva posted the best jump in the preliminary round, then went even farther in the finals to take the long jump title Friday on the opening day of the 2021 Conference Carolinas Women's Track and Field Championship. The performance helped the Crusaders to fifth place in the league standings entering tomorrow's final events.

All six of Villanueva's attempts passed five meters with her top three marks all besting every other competitors' efforts. She cleared 5.32m (17'-5.5") on her final try in the first round, then jumped 5.49m (18'-0.25") on her second jump in the finals.

Freshman Meghan Little finished third in the 10,000 meters, covering the distance in 41:15.97. The time cut more than a minute off her previous personal best. Freshman Katrina Morse scored points in both her events. She set the school record in the hammer at 38.90m (127'-7"), good enough for sixth, then placed fifth in the javelin (31.72m/104'-1").

Action concludes tomorrow with the running finals and other field finals.

BELMONT ABBEY RESULTS

Women 100 Meter Dash
Shanekera Faulk, 22nd, 14.46

Women 200 Meter Dash
A'Miya McIntosh, 20th, 30.91
Shanekera Faulk, 21st, 31.27

Women 400 Meter Dash
Maria Yarussi, 7th, 1:00.81 (qualified for finals)
Tamiya Ellis, 14th, 1:11.67

Women 800 Meter Run
Grace Hetzel, 7th, 2:30.92 (qualified for finals)
Tory Manno, 9th, 2:33.31
Layla Figueroa, 15th, 2:49.52

Women 1500 Meter Run
Sarah Sparkman, 14th, 6:45.86

Women 10000 Meter Run
Meghan Little, 3rd, 41:15.97

Women 400 Meter Hurdles
Sekyah Chestnut, 8th, 1:09.48 (qualified for finals)

Women High Jump
Macie Sims, 8th, J1.51m
Katrina Morse, 9th, 1.46m

Women Long Jump
Cristina Villanueva, 1st, 5.49m
Emily Smith, 13th, 4.14m

Women Hammer Throw
Katrina Morse, 6th, 38.90m (school record)

Women Javelin Throw
Katrina Morse, 5th, 31.72m
Macie Sims, 7th, 27.51m
Emily Smith, 8th, 27.23m