The UNC Asheville track and field team competed at Tryon Invitational, where junior Murielle Jeanite delivered one of the top performances in program history. Jeanite recorded a time of 41.70 sec in the 300 meter dash, placing her amongst the top three athletes all-time at UNC- Asheville and earning her a top 20 ranking in the Big South Conference.
The invitational featured several schools from across the state and region, providing Jeanite with a competitive field as she continued her strong start to the season. Her performance not only resulted in a high conference ranking but also added her name to the record books, further establishing her impact within the Bulldogs track and field program.
“It feels really cool. A lot of hard work has been put in and being able to see that pays off motivates me even more. I’m hoping to continue moving up in the rankings and put myself in position to medal at conference,” said Jeanine.
Jeanite’s performance at the Tryon Track Invitational came after weeks of consistent training and preparation leading into the indoor season. Competing against a strong field, her result placed her among the top five athletes in UNC Asheville program history and earned her recognition at the conference level.
“Before the race, I was thinking about my training and my blocks, especially my start, ”Jeanite said. “The 300 really gives you an idea of where your fitness is, so my goal was to execute the race the way I’ve been practicing and just go faster”.
Heading into the race, Jeanite focused on executing the fundamentals she had worked on in practice, particularly her start and overall race strategy. The 300 meters is often used as a benchmark event for assessing speed endurance and conditioning for the 400 during the season.
“It feels good to be alongside some of the best athletes in program history,” Jeanite said. “It really reflects the hard work that we’ve been putting in and I’m hoping to keep moving up in the rankings.”
By placing herself among the top five performers in school history, Jeanite joined a group of athletes who have left a lasting impact on the UNC Asheville track and field program. Her performance reflects both individual improvement and the overall progress of the program.
“For the rest of the season, I want to keep pushing myself in the long jump, because I know I can do better than where I am now,” Jeanite said. “In the 400 and 200, I ran faster in high school, so my goal is to get back to that competitiveness and drive before I graduate.”
As the season continues, Jeanite is focused on improving across multiple events. She is working to regain performances similar to those she achieved earlier in her career while maintaining a competitive mindset leading into her final season.
“The next thing I want to accomplish is dropping my 200 times, ”Jeanite said. “I ran a 25.8 last meet and my goal is to get down to a 24 by the end of indoor. That will benefit the team going into the conference, because everything is about the team and our chemistry.”
Jeanite has set specific performance goals that she believes will contribute to the team’s success at the conference level. Dropping her times remains a priority as the indoor season progresses into outdoor competition.
“I stay disciplined by making sure I’m eating healthy so practice feels easier and I don’t feel out of shape,”Jeanite said. “I also talk to my high school coach a lot when I’m overthinking things. He reminds me to trust my abilities and that I’m stronger than I think.”
Maintaining discipline both off and on the track has played a key role in Jeanite’s development. She credits her routine and support system for helping her stay mentally and physically prepared throughout the season.
“I know I have more in me and I’m just trying to trust my abilities and go for it,” Jeanite said. “I have the strength and grit, and I want to finish my season knowing I gave everything I had for myself and for the team.”
With the indoor season continuing and outdoor competition approaching, Jeanite remains focused on consistency, improvement and contributing to the team’s success. As she works toward lowering her times and strengthening her performances across events, her recent results have positioned her as a key contributor for UNC Asheville heading into conference competition.
