Oak Ridge native captures gold for second straight day

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 18, 2023) – All she does is win!

For the second straight day, ETSU’s Genevieve Schwarz (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) won gold as she defended her title in the 800m at the 49er Classic on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center.

Schwarz, who won for the third straight year in 1500m at the 49er Classic on Friday, turned in the top time in the 800m on Saturday as she clocked in at 2:10.92. Last year, Schwarz won this event in Charlotte with a time of 2:10.34.

Schwarz was joined on the podium by teammate Kiera Snyder (Clyde, Mich.). Snyder, the 2022 champion in the 3000m at the 49er Classic, placed third in the 800m with a time of 2:13.74. Saturday marked Snyder’s collegiate debut in the 800m.

Overall, three Bucs placed in the top-10 in the 800m, as Jessica Lord (Morristown, Tenn.) finished eighth with a time of 2:15.53.

The Blue & Gold celebrated a podium finish in the men’s 800m as Phelani Maduwa (Parys, Free State, South Africa) placed second with a time of 1:51.49. Conner Overly (Maryville, Tenn.) recorded a 10th-place finish in the 800m as he clocked in at 1:55.48.

The Buccaneer men had a second podium finish later on Saturday when Nate Hillis (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned a silver in the 5000m with a time of 8:34.80, marking his first time running the event at the collegiate level.

On the field, Logan Wagner (Greeneville, Tenn.) made a trip to the finals in the shot put where he placed eighth with his longest mark being 14.83m.

In women’s pole vault, Diana Romero-Barba (Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico) and Caitlin Cutshall (Kingsport, Tenn.) each placed in the top-eight in the event. Romero-Barba finished fifth as she cleared 3.60m and Cutshall placed eighth (3.00m). Tya Blake (Lynchburg, Va.), the SoCon indoor champion in the triple jump, finished seventh in the event (11.39m).

The Bucs are back in action next weekend when ETSU competes in the Raleigh Relays, beginning March 23.

For more information on Buccaneer men’s and women’s track and field, visit ETSUBucs.com.