CHAPEL HILL - N.C. Appalachian State men’s track opened the new year Friday by placing third in the Tar Heel Invitational hosted by North Carolina. The Mountaineers finished with 106 points, just five shy of the second-place host, and 19 back of SoCon rival Western Carolina.

Several Mountaineers kicked off 2010 with solid performances at Chapel Hill including juniors Malcolm Styers and Tim Daly, who took home first and second place in the weight throw. Styers claimed top honors with a throw of 56-5 while Daly’s throw came in at 55-6. Sophomore Jared Stalling (49-6, fifth overall), and junior Jerod Gardner (47-3, eighth overall) also contributed points in the weight throw.

Patrick Morgan had an impressive opening to the 2010 season as well, placing second in the mile with a time 4:24.85 to finish just a second behind St. Augustine’s George Smith. Morgan was followed closely by classmate Alex Taylor, who came in a fourth with a time of 4:28.98.

Freshman Landon Powell got the new year started off nicely, finishing third in the 60m dash with a time of 6.92, just .15 seconds behind winner Ramon Gittens from St. Augustine.

Freshman Will Raby took home sixth place in the 3,000m run with a time 8:57.85, and junior Nick O'Keefe placed third in the 800m after carding a 1:57.73.

Matt Boruff and Darius Purcell had strong showings in the high jump for the Apps, tying for fourth place with a leap of 6-5. Boruff also took home a fourth-place finish in the pole vault with a jump of 15-1.

Appalachian’s women also finished in third place overall. The Mountaineers ended the day with 102 points, trailing only Western Carolina (114.5) and winner North Carolina (149).

Junior Kiara Crutchfield had a big day for the Apps, taking home first place in the long jump (17-3) and fourth place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.12.

Senior Whitney Smyre picked up in 2010 right where she left in December. The reigning outdoor SoCon weight throw champion took home first place with a toss of 56-0. Freshman Gayshawna Watkins placed fifth in the weight throw with a 44-0 toss.

The Pole Vault was another strong event for the Mountaineers Friday. Junior Ashley Beale and senior Julie Ward shared top honors after respective 10-10 leaps. Freshman Meredith Wilson also broke into the scoring column, placing fourth with a jump of 10-5.

Senior Ashley McKiver also picked up some valuable points for the Apps, taking home third place in the 200m dash and eighth in the 60m. Naadia Crutchfield turned in an eighth place performance in the 800m with a time of 2:49.35, and also was a member of the 4x400m relay team (N. Crutchfield, Asia Dunlap, Lynda Hiller, D'Shawrna McLucas) that took home fourth place as well.

Senior Danielle Thorpe also took home a first place finish for the Mountaineers, claiming the triple jump title with a leap of 39-9. Junior Bianca Harvey (33-0) placed fifth in the event.

In the 3,000m run, junior Dani Reese claimed fifth place with a time of 10:59.57.

ASU track and field will return to action this Friday, when they play host to the Appalachian Open at the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone for their first home meet of 2010.