JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UNCW track and field wrapped up the first day of the NCAA East First Round on a rainy Wednesday at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.

"The first day at the NCAA East First Round has this group fired up," head coach Jeff Klaves said. Coming off the conference championships and carrying that momentum into this meet, the belief train is real. We're on to day two. Let's go Hawks!"

In the men's javelin throw, Miles Higgins delivered his best performance of the season and the third-best of his career. Higgins, a junior, tossed 66.11 meters (216-10) and sat in second place out of 24 competitors after the first two flights. 

Higgins remained in sixth after the third flight before a weather delay halted the meet for several hours. He went on to finish in 17th place.

"This year was built differently for Miles. One of the things that we wanted to do was be at our best at the end of the year when it mattered most. He has bought into this full-body throw and finished on a season-best. He laid everything out there to be able to give himself a shot to punch his ticket."

In the fourth heat of the men's 110-meter hurdles late into the night, junior Cameron Wright, the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association Champion, ran 14.11 seconds and finished 30th overall.

"Cam has earned every single thing that he has gotten this year. All we need is more opportunities and more chances for him to be in these moments. It's just a matter of time. He truly is one of the rising faces of our program because of his work ethic and who he is day in and day out."

J.T. Allen, a senior, ran 14.17 seconds in the fifth heat of the men's 110 hurdles to finish 33rd overall.

"J.T. is one of the best hurdlers in the country. I'm proud of his journey this year, and he's been nothing but resilient. He did a tremendous job during the last couple of weeks, giving himself a chance to be in the blocks to go after all the goals he wanted today. We are super proud of every rep and every race that J.T. has toed the line for us this year, and we're going to hang our hat on that."

Bryson Robinson, the CAA's back-to-back outdoor men's long jump gold medalist, concluded his junior season by jumping 7.14 meters (23-5 1/4) to place 36th.

"Bryson is the gamer that I would have on the runway at any time and we just needed a little bit more today. With Bryson's performances that he has had in his career, we know that he can have those performances here to show that it is possible for himself and our other jumpers in the program."

Jordyn Robbins, the two-time CAA women's javelin throw gold medalist, will be the lone Seahawk in action on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.