WC’s Heys makes history at Raleigh Relays

The Wilmington College men’s track & field team had five individuals in action last weekend at both the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina and the Don McGarey Invitational in Georgia.

These were the first two meets the Quakers competed in to begin their 2025 Outdoor Track & Field season.

It started in Raleigh as graduate student Simon Heys re-introduced himself to the Division III world, as he began his final collegiate season for Wilmington. He competed in the 5000 Meter Run and finished with a personal best time of 13:57.78, taking 54th place in a field loaded with the best runners in the country, regardless of division.

Heys became the 20th man in NCAA Division III history to break 14 minutes in the 5K outdoors, and his time is good for 15th all-time in Division III.

Down in Kennesaw, Ga. at Kennesaw State University, the Quakers had a great showing in the Hammer Throw as Nathen Borgan, JJ Durr and Justin Shuga competed for Wilmington.

Borgan got off to as hot a start as possible to the outdoor season, coming off an All-American fourth place finish in the Weight Throw at indoor nationals. He finished first with a personal best mark of 64.56m. He cleared 62 meters on every one of his throws and beat a field littered with Division I talent, as he, Durr, and Shuga were the only Division III throwers in the event.

Durr, coming off a National Championship in the Weight Throw, finished the competition in fourth place with a toss of 58.58m on two occasions. Shuga took 14th for Wilmington with a mark of 46.70m on his second throw.

Also competing in Raleigh was two-time outdoor High Jump All-American and former Division III Co-High Jump National Champion, Brady Vilvens. He got his season off to a great start, finishing seventh with a clearance of 2.05m.

He cleared 1.90 on his first attempt, 1.95 on his second, 2.00 on his first, and 2.05 on his second before failing what would have been a personal best clearance of 2.10m. The winning mark was 2.15m, cleared by three Division I jumpers, as Vilvens was one of just two Division III competitors in the event.

These five athletes are scheduled to be back in action Saturday at home in Wilmington, where the Quakers host the JENNASTRONG Track & Field Invitational April 5.
 
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