Men's Track & Field | 5/26/2018 4:19:00 PM

Charlotte, N.C.----Wingate University added more All-America honors to its coffers on Saturday afternoon at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Senior Nate Patterson (Mauldin, S.C.) went sixth in the triple jump, while the 4x100 relay team of Ruva Mzinde (Mutare, Zimbabwe), Rhyan Madden (Burlington, N.C.), Justice Reeves (Atlanta, Ga.) and Tamerah Sebree (Fayetteville, N.C.) placed seventh with all garnering first team All-America honors (complete NCAA results).
 
Patterson repeats as an All-American as he finished seventh at last year's championships. He earned All-America honors earlier this year at the indoor championships when he was also seventh.
 
On Saturday, Patterson had his best jump in his first attempt, recording a leap of 15.37 meters. The senior produced three more jumps over 15 meters in his six tries, but could not better his initial jump.
 
Patterson holds the school and conference record with a leap of 15.65 meters. This jump came at the Tiffin/Wingate dual meet on March 30.
 
The 4x100 relay team clocked a time of 45.18 in the relay final. This time establishes a new school record, bettering the previous best of 45.30. Wingate had set the previous mark in Thursday's qualifying rounds when the team posted the third-best overall time. The Bulldog women's 4x100 meter relay quartet earns the first All-American relay recognition in Wingate's senior college school history.
 
The four runners in the finals of the relay will return for the Bulldogs. Senior Katrice Tolbert (Atlanta, Ga.) was the alternate for the relay at the championships.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
 
Wingate head track and field coach Travis LeFlore on Nate Patterson: "Nate ended his career with another All-American award. He put together a very strong series of jumps. I'm extremely proud of Nate…he has embodied everything a Wingate Bulldog is about over the last four years. We're going to miss him, but to end his career on the podium is a great way to go out!"
 
LeFlore on the Wingate women's 4x100 relay team: "This group of women continues to impress. In their first time at the NCAA finals, they stepped up with another school record and a seventh-place podium finish. We're extremely proud of these young ladies…and even more excited to see where this All-American finish is going to push them and the program in the future."