JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 15, 2017) – The ETSU Track & Field program will begin its outdoor season this weekend as the Buccaneers head to the Charlotte 49’er Classic, March 16-18.

The meet begins on Thursday, March 16 inside the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center with the Heptathlon at 11:00 a.m. followed by the Decathlon at 11:45 p.m. The first field event begins on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with the women’s hammer throw. The women’s 100m hurdle prelims will be the first track event of the meet beginning at noon.

A year ago, the Buccaneers had two event winners along with seven top ten finishes. Senior Sahara Fletcher (College Park, Ga.) recorded a top 15 finish, placing 12^th out of 100 runners in the 800-meter final with a time of 2:17.23. Fletcher was the highest placed Southern Conference runner in the final a season ago.

Senior Matthew Moore (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) placed fifth a year ago at the 49’er Classic in the 100 meters with a time of 10.68. The day before, Moore won his preliminary round with a personal best time of 10.66.

Returning on the men’s side for the Bucs will be senior Michael Williams (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) who was named a Second Team All-American in the 400mH after placing 14^th at the NCAA Championships with a personal best time of 50.49. Williams has won the previous two SoCon titles in the event.

On the women’s side, the blue and gold are led by sophomore Kyra Atkins (Greer, S.C.) who placed 24^th in the 100mH at the NCAA East Prelims in 2016 and tied the school record at the SoCon Outdoor Championships (13.42). Last season, Atkins earned SoCon Freshman of the Year honors in both indoor and outdoor.

 For more information on Buccaneer Track and field, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the track and field pages.